www.bricksNclicksPROFITS.com

Winning Internet Integration Strategies for Today's Retailer

 

 

INTERNET COMMERCE TERMINOLOGY

USEFUL LINKS

As a new business channel, Internet retailing is developing its own terminology.  Here is a selected glossary of phrases and their definitions as used in Viewpoint articles published at bricksNclicksPROFITS.com.

ASP - Application Service Provider.  A company selling a menu of software applications; metered and sold on a per-occasion of use basis.

Blog - Contraction of web log.  A website or portion of a website presenting a regularly updated short-form discussion on a topic or topics of interest to visitors to the website.

C-commerce - Collaborative commerce.  Internet business services provided jointly to a client company or consumer by two or more independent partners.  

CSP - Commerce Solution Provider.  A company selling e-commerce website design, development and complementary services.  Typically sold by contract.  

Dot.com – A company whose primary medium to conduct its business is the Internet. 

E-commerce (e-business) - Electronic commerce.  Any form of Internet-based business transaction.  

E-marketing – The entire slate of activities that you undertake to expand the awareness of and audience for your webstore.  Activities include advertising, PR, sponsorships, window displays, vehicle signage, staff uniforms, in-store signage, etc.

E-merchandising (webstore) – The placement of product images, product descriptions, feature items and other selling content in the webstore.  Retailers know it as detailing the shelves, creating end-cap displays, etc.

E-promotion – The marketing activities that directly support a specific event of your web store.  A time-sensitive call-to-action usually distinguishes promotion from other marketing activities.

Internet-integrated retailing (e-retailing) – Real-world (bricks and mortar) retail businesses utilizing the Internet to extend and enhance retail sales activities.  The common jargon for Internet-integrated retailing is "bricks ‘n’ clicks." 

Multi-channel - Combining and integrating presentation, sales, fulfillment, and service processes in some combination of webstore, retail storefront, direct mail, and other retail operating models.

M-commerce - Mobile commerce.  E-commerce conducted from wireless devices.

Real-world – Occurring in physical time and space.  Trading messages with someone in an Internet chat room is not real-world; meeting that person on the street is real-world.

T-commerce - Television commerce.  The next frontier in Internet-integrated retailing; e-shopping through a television set-top box or similar connection while watching TV.

Virtual – Occurring entirely through the Internet without any requirement for real-world (direct) contact.

Webstore – A website that provides the complete e-commerce experience including payment, delivery, etc.  The hierarchy of retail websites  from a single static home page, to a brochure, to a products/services catalogue, to fully transactional (webstore).  Sites that provide e-mail or fax forms to place orders are catalogue sites, not webstores.

If you want further information regarding online retailing strategies and best practices, here are some recommended websites to visit.

 

National Retail Federation

www.shop.org

Shop.org is the source for knowledge in the online retailing space.  Shop.org serves as the NRF's online retailing arm...

www.shop.org

 

Better Business Bureau

BBB OnLine

www.bbbonline.org

BBB OnLine's mission is to promote trust and confidence on the Internet...

www.bbbonline.org

 

Industry Canada

"Retailing on the Internet"

strategis.ic.gc.ca

Designed to assist small- and medium-sized Canadian retailers in determining: (1) what role the Internet could play in their retail operations; (2) how to go about setting up an Internet presence; and (3) how to use the Internet to enhance their competitiveness...
strategis.ic.gc.ca

 

Industry Canada 

"Retail Interactive.ca"

strategis.ic.gc.ca

Are your customers shopping on the Internet? Who are your online competitors? What are the new retail formats? How can technology help you improve your bottom line? You will find the answers to these and many other questions here...

strategis.ic.gc.ca

 

Retail Council of Canada

www.retailcouncil.org

Represents e-tailers and e-commerce marketers on an international and domestic level...

www.retailcouncil.org

 

RETURN TO PAGE ONE

Our Privacy Pledge

To Contact  Peter Parrish

To Contact bricksNclicksPROFITS.com

Archives Index

Useful Links and Other Information