E-tailers Have Merry Christmas

Jan. 1, 2006
Reports of this past holiday seasons retail and online sales results are beginning to trickle in. This report from NetSuite Inc. (San Mateo, Calif.) indicates

Reports of this past holiday season’s retail and online sales results are beginning to trickle in. This report from NetSuite Inc. (San Mateo, Calif.) indicates business was good. Apparently, 58 million visitors spent more than $100 million at NetSuite-powered sites in 2005.

NetSuite reported that in 2005, its e-commerce customer base experienced significant results: 58,329,083 unique visitors; 301,776,615 page views; and 1,274,445 Web transactions totaling more than $140 million.

During the holiday season of December 2005, its customers experienced: 7,800,000+ unique visitors; 36,500,000+ page views; and 164,000+ transactions with total revenue of more than $18 million.

According to a recent research report by comScore, online holiday sales from November 1 through December 21, 2005 increased 24% over 2004. NetSuite says many of its users blew away this mark, with many reporting between 100% and 900% growth year over year of 2004 and 2005.

Some of the NetSuite e-commerce users who reported rapid e-commerce growth include Oriel Wines. Its Web Store sales rose 900% from 2004 to 2005. "We increased our holiday Web orders almost ten fold year over year," said John Hunt, founder of New York City-based Oriel Wines. "We were able to accurately monitor consumer preferences and distribute precisely targeted email offers that generated strong sales results. Our holiday Web Store sales increased 1,100% in 2005 versus 2004."

ProSoap Hand Cleaner sales 2004 to 2005 rose 622%. "Our web store has improved the efficiency of serving our customers, and the compliments continue to come in with regard to the ease of re-ordering our product," said Scott Self, president of ProSoap, a manufacturer of hand cleaners based in Rockwall, Texas.

Miglia Technology sales 2004 to 2005 rose 150%. "Our sales doubled over the last year, our Web site hits increased by over 150%, and our cart abandonment rate dropped from 39% to 24% on average," said Simon Ellson, managing director of Miglia Technology, a European manufacturer of video and storage products for PCs and Apple computers, selling them worldwide from its head office in Tring, Herts (UK).

Country Pet Foods is a unique company. A remote company might be a better choice of words. It has no warehouse, yet its Web store sales 2004 to 2005 rose 125%. "With our Web store, we have instigated a totally remote company - no office, no warehouse, just a bunch of people scattered around the planet working together through NetSuite," said Richard Osborne, owner of Country Pet Foods, based in New Zealand and Santa Monica, Calif. "Our sales grew 125% in 2005, and we are expecting similar growth in 2006."

Source: NetSuite