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December 10, 2004
More Evidence that Web-based Sales Helping Smaller Businesses
I wrote about the strong web-based sales reported for the opening of this year's Holiday shopping season in a recent post. Inc.com cites a new study of small businesses that found that four of five small businesses report web-based sales are now an important source of sales.
"Of small business owners who said they have a business website, 77% claimed their business is healthier--defined as having a better competitive advantage or stronger economic footing--as the result of the website, while 81% reported that their websites generate business leads.
The Holiday season is becoming particularly important for these trends.
"Forty-five percent of respondents said that they anticipated online holiday sales to improve this year, while 42% said they expected similar sales to last year. When asked how they planned to prepare for the holiday shopping season, 58% said that they would update their website, while about a third said they would offer special promotions, engage in direct-marketing efforts or increase the number of items or services they sell."
The long awaited emergence of on-line channels of distribution is finally occurring for small businesses.
Posted December 10, 2004 08:49 AM
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at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He consults with a variety of businesses on start-up and growth related issues, and with larger corporations on re-establishing entrepreneurial cultures within their organizations. Dr. Cornwall's current research interests include entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurial ethics. He has authored or co-authored four books.
