America Online - the Leader in Online Shopping - Kicks Off 1998 Online Shopping Season.DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1998-- Launches New Holiday Features and Seasonal Programming to Make Holiday Shopping Online Easier and More Convenient Than Ever Provides the Largest Audience of Online Shoppers With Easy and Convenient Access to Mainstream Retailers and Leading E-Tailers Offering More Than Five Million Brand-Name Products With 14 million members, who represent the strongest buying power Buying Power The money an investor has available to buy securities. In a margin account, the buying power is the total cash held in the brokerage account plus maximum margin available. Also referred to as "Excess Equity. in cyberspace Coined by William Gibson in his 1984 novel "Neuromancer," it is a futuristic computer network that people use by plugging their minds into it! The term now refers to the Internet or to the online or digital world in general. See Internet and virtual reality. Contrast with meatspace. , and as the No. 1 online shopping destination, America Online See AOL. - the world leader in electronic commerce - is preparing for a record-breaking holiday shopping season. The Company today announced that it is launching new holiday Shopping Channel Shopping channels are television specialty channels that present shopping related content, particularly for home shopping enthusiasts. Home shopping pioneers:
Bob Pittman, President and Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. of America Online, Inc., said: "As the leader in e-commerce, AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. is driving a fundamental shift in consumer buying habits, bringing online shopping into the retail mainstream. Since the 1997 holiday season, the number of AOL members who have bought products and services online has nearly doubled, and many more members have done extensive window-shopping." In an AOL/Roper Starch starch, white, odorless, tasteless, carbohydrate powder. It plays a vital role in the biochemistry of both plants and animals and has important commercial uses. research report soon to be released by America Online, 85% of Internet online users who shop online regularly or occasionally say "shopping online is easier than the way they used to do it." Pittman added: "Research also tells us that the members who have tried shopping on AOL are overwhelmingly satisfied, to the point where most have recommended the experience to a friend. So we're heading into the peak '98 holiday shopping season with unprecedented momentum." As the most convenient online shopping destination with cyberspace's largest audience of shoppers and browsers, it is anticipated that more people will "window-shop" and buy with AOL and its partners this holiday season than with any other shopping site online or on the Web. The Company expects its strong growth in the holiday shopping category to be driven by: -- The increasing popularity of the AOL Shopping Channel; -- High satisfaction levels among AOL shoppers; -- Innovative holiday programming and promotions; -- Continued conversion of online "window-shoppers" to frequent buyers; -- Its expansive roster of well-known and established shopping partners; -- The extension of its AOL Shopping Channel to AOL.COM; and -- A rapidly climbing member base. AOL Online Shopping Numbers Continue to Grow According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Media Metrix's September research, AOL's Shopping Channel is the No. 1 shopping destination in cyberspace. More than 6.9 million AOL members use the Channel every month from home and work to browse, research and shop for consumer goods consumer goods Any tangible commodity purchased by households to satisfy their wants and needs. Consumer goods may be durable or nondurable. Durable goods (e.g., autos, furniture, and appliances) have a significant life span, often defined as three years or more, and -- more shoppers and browsers than any other Web or "portal" shopping site. This holiday season, AOL and its more than 110 Shopping Channel partners will offer consumers convenient access to a selection of more than 5 million brand-name products across 16 easy-to-shop departments -- all backed with the AOL Guarantee. With the addition of 40 new partners, the Company will offer holiday shoppers access to an even broader array of products than ever before. Merchants in the Shopping Channel include both mainstream "brick and mortar See bricks and mortar. " retailers such as, Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer Eddie Bauer (NASDAQ: EBHI) is a clothing store chain. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, and a subsidiary of Eddie Bauer Holdings (formerly Spiegel, Inc.), the company was founded in Seattle in 1920 as "Eddie Bauer's Sport Shop" by its namesake, Eddie Bauer (1899 – , FAO FAO, n See Food and Agriculture Organization. Schwarz, Godiva, J.Crew, JCPenney, Macy's, The Gap and Toys R Us, and most of the top "e-tailers," such as Amazon.com, Beyond.com (1) (Computer Output Microfilm) Creating microfilm or microfiche from the computer. A COM machine receives print-image output from the computer either online or via tape or disk and creates a film image of each page. , CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. SportsLine, Digital Chef, eToys, Fragrance Counter, Music Boulevard, Videos Now and 1-800-FLOWERS. Leading e-tailers recognize AOL as an integral part of their consumer marketing strategy: Jon Diamond, Vice Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of N2K Inc. said: "AOL is the ideal partner in any season and this is a relationship that has consistently performed above expectations. As early as July, Music Boulevard started to plan this year's holiday shopping program with AOL. The 14 million AOL users represent a tremendous music buying audience and we expect this holiday season to be a benchmark for online shopping sales." Phil Polishook, Vice President of Marketing for eToys said: "America Online was the cornerstone of eToys' launch last Christmas season and remains a key element in our continuing success." Brian Sugar, J. Crew's New Media Director, said: "If you are serious about your online business, a marketing partnership with AOL is a must." Research Shows High Satisfaction Levels and Increasing Numbers of AOL Shoppers According to Bennett, Petts & Blumenthal research, the number of AOL members who are shopping online is rapidly increasing: today, 85% more AOL members are buying online than last year. Bennett, Petts, Blumenthal is a leading national survey research and strategic consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a based in Washington DC. Additionally, among AOL members who have shopped online, 94% are likely to purchase again, and 94% have recommended shopping online to a friend, according to research conducted by Ascolese Associates, a firm specializing in information-based marketing solutions for the telecommunications, online and interactive industries. Commenting on these statistics, Bob Pittman stated: "We're pleased to see our efforts are making online shopping easier and more convenient for our members. We know that ease-of-use, convenience and a secure shopping environment are the keys to converting window-shoppers to buyers, and we are excited to see the number of AOL shoppers continue to grow." Innovative Holiday Promotions & Programming To provide a superior shopping environment this holiday season, AOL's Shopping Channel will introduce a series of special promotions, new programming features and customer services that will make for a quick, fun, and rewarding shopping experience for "newbies" and experienced shoppers alike. Special seasonal promotions include: The Perfect Gift - This specialty store Noun 1. specialty store - a store that sells only one kind of merchandise shop, store - a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services; "he bought it at a shop on Cape Cod" makes it easy for consumers to locate and buy the perfect gift, whatever their budget, by bringing together 400 to 500 ideal gift suggestions ranging from $.95 to almost $4,000. Perfect Gifts will be prominently positioned on the AOL Shopping main screen, beginning in late-November. All merchandise will be available by price, category and/or gender. Gift Finder - America Online recently acquired PersonalLogic, which has developed a decision guiding technology that helps consumers narrow down product choices by simply describing their preferences through a series of interactive exercises. Based on what you know about the recipient, the Gift Finder guide will help you pick the perfect holiday gift. Deals & Steals - Scheduled to launch in late November, Deals & Steals will offer shoppers great discounts and savings, including: at least 20% off hundreds of products in a wide range of consumer categories; free shipping; AOL exclusive merchandise; and bonus merchandise (e.g., buy one, get one free "Buy one, get one free" is a common form of sales promotion. While rarely presented to customers in acronym form, this marketing technique is universally known in the marketing industry by the acronym BOGOF offers). Wendy Brown Wendy Brown is a professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley. She has made major contributions to post-Foucaultian political theory and feminist theory. , Vice President of Electronic Commerce for America Online, said: "In addition to the most desirable online shopping, our tremendous popularity among online and Web users and our strong retail partnerships allow us to offer exclusive merchandise and some of the best values in cyberspace, offers that can't be found anywhere else online or on the Web." First-time Buyers first-time buyer n → persona que compra su primera vivienda first-time buyer n → personne achetant une maison ou un appartement pour la première fois first-time buyer Area - Scheduled to launch in early December, AOL's First-time Buyers Area features a selection of lower-priced merchandise, a quick tutorial with slideshow demonstration on how to shop online, and detailed information on the AOL Guarantee. By fully integrating shopping into the interactive experience through innovative content and programming, AOL makes the shopping experience more accessible, intuitive and fun. This "commerce in context" increases the exposure for members to the products they need, and for marketers to a rapidly growing member base. AOL Interactive Services President Barry Schuler Barry Martin Schuler (born September 7, 1953 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is American Internet pioneer, perhaps best known for making the Internet easy to use consumers while working for America Online for seven years, and being the CEO for three years. highlighted AOL's unique ability to offer commerce in context, saying, "Where else can you chat with a movie star, find a theater where her film is playing, and buy the movie's soundtrack, in just a few minutes' time and with just a few clicks of the mouse? For consumers, AOL is the ultimate in convenience. For retailers, it is the ultimate marketing tool." Special AOL shopping services and features include: AOL Wishbooks - Shoppers no longer have to keep dropping hints about what they want to receive for the holidays. Now, with AOL Wishbooks, they will choose what they want to receive from among AOL's many gift ideas - for men, women and children - and AOL will send gifts suggestions in an e-mail to the recipients of the shoppers' choice. They will even mail the suggestions to Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint. Santa Claus jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937] See : Christmas Santa Claus . Gift Reminder Service - More than one million people have registered for an average of 10 special dates that they want to be reminded of, and for which they want to receive gift suggestions. In addition to a reminder message, the emails include great gift ideas based on the designated profile of the gift recipient. Customer Service - Ready to provide 'round-the-clock shopping tips and technical support, AOL's Customer Service representatives are always just a click away. Local Malls Locator LOCATOR, civil law. He who leases or lets a thing to hire to another. His duties are, 1st. To deliver to the hirer the thing hired, that he may use it. 2d. To guaranty to the hirer the free enjoyment of it. 3d. - Shoppers can search for malls closest to their home or office, or search for the nearest location of individual merchants. They will also find up-to-date information on local sales, malls and fashion events and a Personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. Shopping email service See Internet e-mail service. that will notify them of sales at the stores of their choice. Message Boards - Online shoppers can share information with each other by posting questions, answers, tips and advice on AOL Message Boards. They can also sign up for a free Deals & Steals AOL Shopping newsletter sent weekly via email. AOL Guarantee - America Online ensures that all of its Certified Merchants offer return policies that are backed up by the Company's 100% Guarantee of satisfaction. In addition to this comprehensive guarantee, AOL is also committed to ensuring the safety of transactions that occur through its flagship service and its Web site, AOL.COM. The Company provides the most advanced, up-to-date security technology available today. AOL Brings Shopping Channel to AOL.COM In Time for Holiday Season Further anticipating a banner holiday shopping season, America Online recently extended its Shopping Channel offerings and AOL Guarantee to AOL.COM, the No. 1 consumer Web site. According to Media Metrix's September research, 28.5 million consumers use AOL.COM every month, or more than 45% of all those who use the World Wide Web in the U.S. The new and improved AOL Shopping Channel on AOL.COM provides AOL's shopping partners with unique access to cyberspace's largest audience of consumers, and extends the AOL shopping experience to both the home and the office. It also makes it possible for AOL members and visitors to AOL.COM to conveniently access all of their favorite shopping merchants in one dynamic and entertaining area, wherever they may be, even when they are not logged onto the AOL service. "AOL and AOL.COM provide the prime real estate that is critical to the establishment of any retail brand - online and 'off-line,'" said Wendy Brown. She added: "In addition, savvy retailers today also recognize that a strong presence online is increasingly influencing consumer buying off-line by reaching a key customer base, providing increased convenience and up-to-the-minute information, and prompting purchases." About America Online America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia Dulles, Virginia is an unincorporated census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The headquarters of AOL, Orbital Sciences Corporation and ODIN technologies and the former headquarters of MCI Inc. are located in Dulles. , is the world's leader in branded interactive services and content. America Online, Inc. operates two worldwide Internet online services: America Online, with more than 14 million members; and CompuServe, with approximately 2 million members. America Online, Inc. also operates AOL Studios, a leading builder of Internet brands for new market segments. Other branded Internet services operated by America Online, Inc. include AOL.COM, the world's most accessed Web site from home; Digital City, Inc., the No. 1 branded local content network and community guide on AOL and the Internet; AOL NetFind, AOL's comprehensive guide to the Internet; AOL Instant Messenger See AIM. , an instant messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or tool available on both AOL and the Internet; and ICQ ("I Seek You") A conferencing program for the Internet from Mirabilis, Tel Aviv, Israel (www.icq.com). It provides interactive chat, e-mail and file transfer and can alert you when someone on your predefined list has also come online. , an instant communication and chat technology on the Internet. |
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