When we evaluate a new line or line extension, web sales must be considered. We begin our move to a 30,000 sq ft facility 16 ft clear to the ceiling next month. Web business allows us the opportunity to enhance our physical world presence. Maybe that is another first. I just don't buy into that theory one bit.
Goods move in the physical world and physical world presence is the key to Internet operations.
Fulfillment is still an issue. We have agreements with several virtual stores to back end for them. We are currently developing a more robust affiliate style system then the simple url link that is prevalent today which will allow any site to offer our products as their own using their own look and feel. We simply become the fulfillment house for those products. The concept that the manufacturer will bypass it's current distribution system and back end for these types of companies is not a model I think many mfg's will purse.