A new study by The Strategis Group reports that 25% of Internet users have shopped on-line while 12% have actually banked on the Internet. Another report by the company, Electronic Commerce: Internet Payment Systems, finds that 18% of all users have purchased something on-line. Strategisís Internet User Trends reports that 30% of the nationís households regularly use the at home or work, with multiple users per household. Additionally, 40% of the current users have household income of more than $60,000. A different report by IDC Research indicates that Internet Commerce, which was $2.6 billion in 1996 will jump to $220 billion in 2001, and the percentage of users who purchase on the net will jump from 25% in 1996 to 39% in 2001.
If you donít think the Internet holds tremendous income potential for you, you may want to check out the Strategis studies ($1300 and $1500) or check out Strategis Group at http://www. strategisgroup.com. Or, you can find the information in the enclosed summer issue of GSQ: The Payment Systems Quarterly, which focuses specifically on Internet Commerce and the ISO.
Retail Sales Predictions
The National Retail Federation predicts sales of general merchandise, furniture, and home-furnishings will continue at high levels of growth in 1998. These could be great markets to target for your sales efforts. The NRF also predicts a decline in clothing prices in 1998 due to imports from the Middle East, which suggests specialty apparel will be in a cost-savings mode for the balance of the year
Sales Professionals will be wise to reshape their approach for these markets, talking cost savings and increased sales to the apparel industry, while presenting new programs to general merchandise, home-furnishings, and furniture markets.
