The Internet may be a global marketplace, but not everyone is setting their sights on reaching the world. Imagine renting a movie online and having it arrive at your house within an hour, or using the Web to arrange to get your dry cleaning done or your film developed. Local cyber-services are growing fast, and people are quickly taking to these Web sites for help with everyday chores, most of the time in a speedy and efficient way.
Analysts see a huge potential in the local market.
When looking at overall Internet sales, local services are still very small. But the market is expanding. Local e-tailers aren't striving to offer the vast selection or cheap prices that many of their online peers are known for. Instead, they are being driven by the convenience factor, and are aggressively going after the 80 percent of a person's income that is spent within five miles of their home. The biggest push so far in the local Internet market has come from those selling food.