Boutique Sites to Benefit from Increased Christmas Spending Online.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers CARLSBAD Carlsbad, cities, United States Carlsbad (kärlz`băd). 1 City (1990 pop. 63,126), San Diego co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast; settled in the 1880s, inc. 1952. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2000 Christmas Christmas [Christ's Mass], in the Christian calendar, feast of the nativity of Jesus, celebrated in Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches on Dec. 25. In liturgical importance it ranks after Easter, Pentecost, and Epiphany (Jan. 6). Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the spending in 2000 will increase by about 86 percent over the $10.3 billion spent in 1999 to $19.2 billion for this season, 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. the latest projections from Computer Economics. Compared to the 1999 season, this year's shopping conditions are expected to improve considerably because the need for honest statements about product availability and delivery time were strongly reinforced this summer when the Federal Trade Commission fined several Web retailers for last year's mess. There will be at least one new twist this year. "We expect Web boutiques, or small specialty sites, to do much better this year and that they will experience an above average increase in sales," said Michael Erbschloe, vice president of research for Computer Economics. There are several factors that influence the growth in Web boutique Boutique A small investment firm specializing in offering specific, but limited services to a select number of individuals. Notes: These investment firms are the alternatives to large financial supermarkets. They provide a highly personalized environment for investing. sales. "Many shoppers were frustrated frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: with the hassles of 1999 and are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. more 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. service and as well as unique items." "Finding a reliable Web boutique can be challenging and we urge consumers to check out the companies before shopping," Erbschloe said. A Computer Economics test of buying neckties on the Web provides an example of what shoppers may experience. "We started out with a list of over 40 sites to buy neckties and narrowed that down to about 15 that actually worked and conducted retail sales on their Web site. We called those with phone numbers to make sure they were really in business," Erbschloe said. "We were then down to ten sites that we would consider buying neckties from and of the ten, only six companies answered the phone when we called to ask questions," Erbschloe said. Boutique Web Sites That Sell Neckties and Met the Computer Economics Online Shopping Tests
Phone Phone Web Site
Company Name Web Site URL Number Response Functions
As Ties Go www.astiesgoby.com 412/414-9066 Answered Okay
BuyTies.com www.buyties.com 888/849-TIES Recording Good
D.C.
Enterprises www.dc-enterprises.com 408/453-7843 Answered Good
Gentlemen's
Essentials www.gentlemensessentials.com
800/909-6565 Answered Good
Raffaello Ties www.raffaelloties.com 619/839-3964 Recording Good
The Tie Guys www.tieguys.com 888/440-TIES Voice
Response Good
Ties.com www.ties.com 210/614-8433 Answered Good
Vineyard Vines www.vineyardvines.com 800/892-4982 Answered Good
Wild Ties www.wildties.com 877/WILD-TIES Answering Good
service
World-Ties.com www.world-ties.com 704/366-4006 Answered Good
Computer Economics is an independent research firm specializing in helping businesses plan, manage, and control technology costs through advisory services advisory services advisory services provided to the public, in their capacity as owners and managers of animals, are an important part of veterinary science. They may be provided by government bureaux, by commercial companies who deal in pharmaceuticals or animals or animal , analyst support, and innovative advisory Web sites. Based in Carlsbad, Computer Economics serves 82 percent of the Fortune 500. |
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