But Europe seems to be trying hard to catch up, especially the British. There's a scramble going on, particularly for Christmas. It's quite a different market than a year ago. There are also a reasonable number of me-too sites that are using models pioneered over in the States. Quite a few European ventures realize that if they launch before the US sites realize there is a market over here, they will be the movers, before a comparable US firm moves into Europe.
Companies have to take local tendencies into consideration.
According to Forrester, Germans buy books online twice as often as the Dutch, and the British buy airline tickets online twice as often as the Swedes. Every shop we have makes special offers for Christmas. Sohet herself buys concert tickets and CDs over the Internet, but has not tried Christmas shopping yet. You don't have to worry about turning on the PC or waiting for it to warm up or getting an Internet connection. You don't even have to move from your spot on the sofa.