2009
8th Annual Merchant Survey

Title
Merchants Optimize to Profit in Turbulent Times Tweaking, Testing, and Targeting the eCommerce Channel

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from 190 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce. Results provide a unique overview --- from the sellers' perspective, with observations and guidelines interjected from the e-tailing group, inc. based on 15 years of e-commerce and over 50+ years of retail experience.

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of 45 questions relating to:
Internet Strategies
Merchandising Features and Functionality
Up-Sells/Cross-Sells
Shopping Cart Abandonment
Marketing Strategies
Email Performance, Usage and Challenges
Segmentation, Customization and Personalization
International Initiatives
Cross-Channel Initiatives
eCommerce Platforms
Mobile Initiatives

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Profile of Participants
III. Executive Summary
IV. Internet Strategy
V. Merchandising Features and Functionality
VI. Up-Sells and Cross-Sells
VII. Shopping Cart Abandonment
VIII. Marketing Strategies
IX. Email Performance, Usage and Challenges
X. Segmentation, Customization and Personalization
XI. International
XII. Cross-Channel Initiatives
XIII. eCommerce Platforms
XIV. Mobile Initiatives
XV. Merchants' Commentary
XVI. Checklist
XVII. About the e-tailing group

CHARTS AND TABLES
Internet Strategy & Analytics
Online sales penetration
Merchant sales channels
Internet revenue change 2009 vs. 2009
Impact of the current economic climate on e-commerce investments
Dedicated employee counts
Management satisfaction levels
Current and year-over-year conversion rates
Rankings of strategic goal initiatives
Initiatives planned for improving website performance
Marketing and customer service tactics for retaining customers
Contribution of gifting to overall sales

Merchandising
Sources of information used to make merchandising decisions
Merchandising and navigational tactics for retaining customers
Rankings of value and presence of 52 merchandising features
      o Search
      o Visualization/Rich Media
      o Product/Content Features
      o Multi-Product Selling
      o Promotional Tactics
      o Seasonal/Gifting Features
      o Customer Service
      o Suggestive Selling
      o Viral Strategies
      o Email as a Merchandising/Customer Service Vehicle
      o Customization/Personalization
      o Cross-Channel

Rich media impact
Gifting vs. personal consumption as a percent of sales
Up-sell/Cross-sell contributions to overall website revenue
Up-sell/Cross-sell conversion rates on product pages and in the shopping cart
Policies on merchandise left in the cart
Communication tactics post cart abandonment
Current cart abandonment rates

Marketing
Sources of e-commerce demand
Customer acquisition expenditure determination
Email frequency and content
Rankings of top email uses and challenges
Improving email performance
Level of customer segmentation sophistication
Personalization defined
Merchandising products to personalization them on the web
Shipping/selling internationally

Cross-Channel
Time frame for coordinating marketing across channels
Timeline for providing cross-channel features including in-store pickup
Measuring cross-channel behavior
Integrating the web into the store experience
Advantages of offering multi-channel/cross-channel conveniences
eCommerce Platforms
Timeline to change e-commerce platforms
Consideration when looking to switching platforms
Ranking of most important criteria in selecting a new platform

Mobile Initiatives
Current customer engagement in mobile
Level of involvement with mobile merchandising and marketing Merchants' Commentary
Areas of focus



2008
7th Annual Merchant Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from 204 senior executives with responsibility
for e-commerce.

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of 40 questions relating to:
Internet Strategy
Merchandising Organization
Website Merchandising
Website Design
Shopping Cart Abandonment
Features and Functionality
Up-sells/ Cross-sells
Analytics/Measurement
Marketing Strategy
E-mail Performance & Related Metrics
Personalization and Segmentation
Cross-Channel and International Initiatives
Retention and Loyalty
Results provide a unique overview - from the seller's perspective with insight from the e-tailing group's 14 years of e-commerce and 50+ years of retail experience



2007
6th Annual Merchant Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from over 167 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce.

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of 40 questions relating to:
Internet Strategy
Merchandising Organization
Website Merchandising
Website Design
Shopping Cart Abandonment
Features and Functionality
Up-sells/ Cross-sells
Analytics/Measurement
Marketing Strategy
E-mail Performance & Related Metrics
Personalization and Segmentation
Cross-Channel and International Initiatives
Retention and Loyalty

Results provide a unique overview - from the seller's perspective with insight from the e-tailing group's 13 years of e-commerce and 50+ years of retail experience




2006
5th Annual Merchant Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from just under 200 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce.

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of more than 40 questions relating to:
Internet Strategy
Merchandising Organization
Website Merchandising
Website Design
Features and Functionality
Up-sells/ Cross-sells
Analytics/Measurement
Marketing Strategy
E-mail Performance & Related Metrics
Personalization and Segmentation

Results provide a unique overview - from the seller's perspective with insight from the e-tailing group's 12 years of e-commerce and 50+ years of retail experience




2005
4th Annual Merchant Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from over 250 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce.

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of more than 40 questions relating to:
Internet Strategy
Merchandising Organization
Web Site Merchandising
Features and Functionality
Merchandising Measurement
Up-sells/ Cross-sells
Analytics/Measurement
E-mail Performance & Related Metrics
Personalization and Segmentation

Results provide a unique overview - from the seller's perspective with insight from the e-tailing group's 11 years of e-commerce and 50+ years of retail experience




2004
1st Annual Online Marketing & Email Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from over 150 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce, sponsored by Exmplar, Inc.

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of more than 15 questions relating to:
Marketing Strategy
Strategic Issues
Key Metrics
Email Performance
Personalization
Segmentation

Results conclude that the promise of a personalized web remains elusive as multi-channel merchants maintain a tactical focus




3rd Annual Merchant Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from over 300 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of more than 40 questions relating to:
Internet Strategy
Organization
Website Merchandising
Features/Functionality
Merchandising Measurement
Upsells
Technology Adoption
Marketing

Results provide a unique overview – from the seller’s perspective with insight from the e-tailing group’s 10 years of e-commerce and 50 years of retail experience

2003
2nd Annual Merchant Survey

Description
A compilation of responses and commentary from over 300 senior executives with responsibility for e-commerce

What's Included
Each participant has completed our survey of more than 40 questions relating to:
Internet Strategy
Organization
Website Merchandising
Features/Functionality
Merchandising Measurement
Upsells
Technology Adoption
Marketing

Results provide a unique overview – from the seller’s perspective with insight from the e-tailing group’s 9 years of e-commerce and 50 years of retail experience

© 2003. the e-tailing group, inc.