Retailers Broaden Options with Bandwidth
By George Anderson
A report by Forrester Research says online retailers have a significant opportunity
to drive greater sales through consumers with broadband connections if sites
are upgraded to take advantage of the added bandwidth.
Internet Retailer says 19 million households in the US had a broadband
connection installed by the end of 2002.
Forrester recommends “sellers of consumer electronics, computers, media products
and some apparel should be live with the right tools and services, as consumers
say they buy more of these products online once they have broadband connections.
Retail sites that attract a broader segment of customers already equipped with
high-speed connections also need to move faster on making sure tools and services
are broadband-friendly, according to Forrester, which means this should be a
priority for those such as Lands’ End and Banana Republic. For the same reason,
sites such as Lowe’s, J.C. Penney and Wal-Mart will have more time to catch
up, as broadband penetration in their existing core audiences is not as deep.”
Moderator’s Comment: What is the broadband business
opportunity? What does it mean for retailers selling to consumers online?
We understand the power of broadband friendly sites. After
all, weren’t we the ones who just a couple of days ago purchased Lisa Marie
Presley’s debut album, “To Whom It May Concern”, after listening to cuts on
her web site – http://www.lisapresley.com/store_home.html.
The King would be proud. [George
Anderson – Moderator]