The wish lists they compile by scanning are downloaded into personal Web pages at mall kiosks. At home, teens can organize their lists and e-mail them to relatives with bigger wallets, who can then buy the products at the mall or online. J.C. Penney owns the Eckerd drugstore chain, and customers can return products bought online at selected Eckerd locations. This year the company parlayed its logistics infrastructure into an order- fulfillment division that warehouses and ships products for other online merchants. Suppliers of production parts are hooked up too, shaving a third off Honeywell's lead times and inventories.
Bean lets others blaze new trails.
Reluctant to jeopardize its sterling customer service reputation, the company says it won't consider any technology that doesn't have all the bugs worked out first. That hasn't stopped online business, which began in 1996, from growing. The company expects Internet sales to increase at least 90 percent over last year's. And Yankee prudence does have its rewards online. After decades of direct selling through its catalog, the company knew enough not to be caught by surprise last holiday season.