E-Commerce

Chapter 3: Retailing on the Internet

BusinessWeek Activities

E-Tailing Displaying Merchandise Online

Merchandising your products in an appealing manner is key to selling on the Internet. One way to find out how to display your merchandise successfully is to view the way others have done so.

Using the Internet, find an example of an e-tailer whose merchandise is displayed in a pleasing manner and one that is not. Look for the following features:

• Are the products categorized by price, type, size, or color?
• What merchandising cues are used to present the products and motivate consumers?
• Are video clips, color change interfaces, or zoom photos available?

Write a paragraph describing what you liked and did not like about each site. Research the company behind the site on BusinessWeek.com. How is the company performing?

Then, redesign the site that you did not like. Use the computer or draw your ideas on paper. Share your redesign with another student and ask for a critique of the changes.