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Web Watch

Trust still a hurdle for e-commerce
Even with last year’s spectacular growth in Internet sales, some consumers have yet to be persuaded that e-commerce is the wave of the future. The main reason: concerns that their personal information will not be kept confidential, reported NFO Interactive, a Greenwich, Conn.-based online market research firm. In a yet-to-be released survey of more than 4,500 online consumers (buyers and nonbuyers), NFO found that the main attribute that would entice a consumer to Web purchasing is trust that the site will keep information private. Nonbuyers specifically cited addressing confidentiality concerns as the No. 1 way to draw their business, followed by the need for larger discounts and, interestingly, the ability to return products to a store.

Gift Websites remain hot
Sites such as www.911gifts.com continue to capitalize on the online shopping trend. The company, formed in 1997, reports that its Father’s Day sales this year reached almost $1 million, more than 10 times greater than in 1998. Hot sellers for the holiday were a self-powered radio and flashlight, followed by a full-body massage mat and fresh baked cookies in a fly-fishing basket.

Edens & Avant launches E&AOnsite
Edens & Avant has launched E&AOnsite, a proprietary property search program targeted at retailers who want to expand their store locations. The site was created to link retailers to shopping centers in the company’s portfolio, allowing them to search for sites that meet their store’s location and demographics requirements.

Website promotion kiosk rolls out
Developers and retailers interested in promoting their own Websites can do so in their own malls and stores now, thanks to an in-store kiosk called E-TV. E-TV, from Kiosk Information Systems, Broomfield, Colo., comes in different configurations, though the base product is a 28-inch large-screen TV. E-TV products can accept credit cards, offer loyalty point programs, build customer databases and handle customer service. Each configuration, including a single monitor that can be hung on the wall or built into a custom kiosk platform, can be enhanced with DVD video, high-res graphics and stereo sound.

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