Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.16

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of March
27, 2000, is entered into by and among E Com Ventures, Inc., a Florida
corporation, with headquarters located at 11701 N.W. 101st Road, Miami, Florida
33178 (the "Company"), and the investors listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto
(individually, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").

         WHEREAS:

         A. The Company and the Buyers are executing and delivering this
Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded
by Rule 506 of Regulation D ("Regulation D") as promulgated by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act");

         B. The Company has authorized the following new series of convertible
notes: the Company's Series D Convertible Notes (the "Convertible Notes"), which
shall be convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01
per share (the "Common Stock") (as converted, the "Conversion Shares"), in
accordance with the terms of the Company's Series D Convertible Notes,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;

         C. The Buyers wish to purchase, upon the terms and conditions stated in
this Agreement, an aggregate of $5,000,000 worth of Convertible Notes in the
respective amounts set forth opposite each Buyer's name on Schedule 1; and

         D. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Registration Rights
Agreement") pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Buyers hereby agree as follows:

1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF CONVERTIBLE NOTES.

         a. Purchase of Convertible Notes. Subject to the satisfaction (or
waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall
issue and sell (the "Offering") to each Buyer and each Buyer severally agrees to
purchase from the Company the amount of Convertible Notes set forth opposite
such Buyer's name on Schedule 1 (the "Closing"). The aggregate purchase price
(the "Purchase Price") of all the Convertible Notes offered and sold pursuant to
the Offering at the Closing shall be $5,000,000.

         b. Closing Date. The date and time of the Closing (the "Closing Date")
shall be 10:00 a.m. Central Time, within two (2) business days following the
date hereof, subject to notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the
conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below (or such later
date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and the Buyers). The Closing shall
occur on the Closing Date at the offices of Katten Muchin & Zavis, 525 West
Monroe Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60661-3693.

         c. Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay the
Purchase Price to the Company for the Convertible Notes to be issued and sold to
such Buyer at the Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in
accordance with the Company's written wire instructions, and (ii) the Company
shall deliver to each Buyer, the Convertible Notes (in the denominations as such
Buyer shall request) which such Buyer is then purchasing (as indicated opposite
such Buyer's name on Schedule 1) hereunder, duly executed on behalf of the
Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.

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2. BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         Each Buyer represents and warrants with respect to only itself that:

         a. Investment Purpose. Such Buyer is acquiring the Convertible Notes
(the Convertible Notes may also be referred to herein as the "Securities"), for
its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale
in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to
sales registered or exempt from registration under the 1933 Act; provided,
however, that by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree to
hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves
the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or
pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption from registration under the
1933 Act.

         b. Accredited Investor Status. Such Buyer is an "accredited investor"
as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D.

         c. Reliance on Exemptions. Such Buyer understands that the Securities
are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the
registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and
that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such
Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements,
acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to
determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer
to acquire such Securities.

         d. Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been
furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations
of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities
which have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any,
have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such
inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or
its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such
Buyer's right to rely on the Company's representations and warranties contained
in Section 3 below. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities
involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and
tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment
decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

         e. No Governmental Review. Such Buyer understands that no United States
federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has
passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the
fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such
authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the
Securities.

         f. Transfer or Resale. Such Buyer understands that except as provided
in the Registration Rights Agreement: (i) the Securities have not been and are
not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may
not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently
registered thereunder, (B) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company an
opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such
Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or
transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer
provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold,
assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as
amended, (or a successor rule thereto) ("Rule 144"); (ii) any sale of the
Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the
terms of Rule 144 and further, if such Buyer intends to utilize Rule 144 but
Rule 144 is not applicable to such resale, any resale of the Securities under
circumstances in which such Buyer (or the person through whom the sale is made)
may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may
require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and
regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other
person is under any obligation to register such Securities under the 1933 Act or
any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any
exemption thereunder.

         g. Legends. Such Buyer understands that the certificates or other
instruments representing the Convertible Notes and, until such time as the sale
of the Conversion Shares has been registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated
by the Registration Rights Agreement, the stock certificates representing the
Conversion Shares, except as set forth below, shall bear a restrictive legend in
substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed
against transfer of such stock certificates):

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                  THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
                  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT"),
                  OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN
                  ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD,
                  TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (1) IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
                  REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE 1933 ACT,
                  AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (2) IN THE ABSENCE OF
                  AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT
                  REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE 1933 ACT OR (3) UNLESS
                  SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE
                  1933 ACT.

         The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue
a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Securities upon which it
is stamped, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, (i) such
Securities are registered for sale under the 1933 Act, (ii) in connection with a
sale transaction, such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel,
in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that a public sale, assignment or
transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the 1933 Act,
or (iii) such holder provides the Company with reasonable assurances that the
Securities can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without any restriction as to the
number of securities acquired as of a particular date that can then be
immediately sold.

         h. Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and is a valid and
binding agreement of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance
with its terms, subject as to enforceability to general principles of equity and
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation
and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of
applicable creditors' rights and remedies.

         i. Residency. Such Buyer is a resident of that state and country
specified in its address on Schedule 1.

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

         The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that:

         a. Organization and Qualification. The Company and its "Subsidiaries"
(which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company,
directly or indirectly, owns a majority of the capital stock or holds a majority
equity or similar interest) are corporations duly organized and validly existing
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are
incorporated, and have the requisite corporate power and authorization to own
their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted. Each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership
of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such
qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As
used in this Agreement, "Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse
effect on the business, properties, assets, operations, results or operations,
or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a
whole.

         b. Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. (i) The Company has the
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent
Instructions (as defined in Section 5) and each of the other agreements entered
into by the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (collectively, the "Transaction Documents"), the Convertible
Notes, and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and
thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the
Convertible Notes by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including without limitation the issuance of
the Convertible Notes and the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the
Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion thereof, have been duly authorized by
the Company's Board of Directors and no further consent or authorization is
required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders, (iii) the
Transaction Documents have been duly

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executed and delivered by the Company, and (iv) the Transaction Documents
constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or
affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies.

         c. Issuance of Securities. The Convertible Notes are duly authorized
and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be (i) validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) free from all taxes, liens and
charges with respect to the issue thereof and (iii) entitled to the rights and
preferences as set forth in the Convertible Notes. 1,100,000 shares of Common
Stock (subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company's covenant set forth in
Section 4(d) below) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon
conversion of the Convertible Notes. Upon conversion in accordance with the
Convertible Notes, the Conversion Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the
issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a
holder of Common Stock. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Buyers set forth herein, and in reliance thereon, the issuance
by the Company of the Securities is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

         d. No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the
Transaction Documents by the Company, the performance by the Company of its
obligations under the Convertible Notes and the consummation by the Company of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation,
the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Conversion Shares) will not (i)
result in a violation of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, any
outstanding series of notes or preferred stock of the Company or the Company's
By-laws or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with
notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others
any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any
material agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation,
order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and
regulations and the rules and regulations of the Principal Market (as defined
below)) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any
property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or
affected, except in the case of (ii) above, where such conflict or default would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is
in violation of any term of or in default under its Articles of Incorporation,
any outstanding series of notes or preferred stock of the Company or By-laws or
their organizational charter or by-laws, respectively. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under any
contract, agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment,
decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or
its Subsidiaries, except for possible violations or defaults which would not
have a Material Adverse Effect. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is not being conducted, and shall not be conducted, in violation of any law,
ordinance, regulation of any governmental entity, except for possible violations
the sanctions for which either individually or in the aggregate would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement
and as required under the 1933 Act, the Company is not required to obtain any
consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any
court or governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency in
order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or
contemplated by the Transaction Documents or to perform its obligations under
the Convertible Notes, in each case in accordance with the terms hereof or
thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which
the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been
obtained or effected on or prior to the date hereof. The Company and its
Subsidiaries are unaware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to
any of the foregoing. The Company is not in violation of the listing
requirements of the Principal Market (as defined below).

         e. SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Since December 16, 1998, the
Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") (all of the
foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and
financial statements and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by
reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the "SEC Documents"). The
Company has delivered to the Buyers or their respective representatives true and
complete copies of the SEC Documents. As of their respective dates, the SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934
Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable
to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed
with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or

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omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial
statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in
all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be
otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii)
in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude
footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments). No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to
the Buyers which is not included in the SEC Documents, including, without
limitation, information referred to in Section 2(d) of this Agreement, contains
any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstance under which they are or were made, not misleading. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or any of their officers, directors,
employees or agents have provided the Buyers with any material, nonpublic
information.

         f. Absence of Certain Changes. Since the filing of the most recent SEC
Document, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse
development in the business, properties, operations, financial condition, or
results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company has not
taken any steps, and does not currently expect to take any steps, to seek
protection pursuant to any bankruptcy law nor does the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries have any knowledge that its creditors intend to initiate
involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.

         g. Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents,
there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any
court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
threatened against or affecting the Company, the Common Stock or any of the
Company's Subsidiaries or any of the Company's or the Company's Subsidiaries'
officers or directors in their capacities as such, except as to which an adverse
outcome would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         h. Acknowledgment Regarding Buyers' Purchase of Convertible Notes. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Buyers is acting solely in the
capacity of arm's length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further
acknowledges that each Buyer is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary
of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction
Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any advice
given by any of the Buyers or any of their respective representatives or agents
in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer's purchase of the
Securities. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company's
decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the
independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.

         i. No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances.
No event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is
contemplated to occur, with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their
respective business, properties, prospects, operations or financial condition,
that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable
securities laws on a registration statement filed with the SEC relating to an
issuance and sale by the Company of its Common Stock and which has not been
publicly announced.

         j. No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any
form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of
Regulation D under the 1933 Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the
Securities.

         k. No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or
indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to
buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of any of
the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause this offering of the Securities to be
integrated with prior offerings by the Company to third parties other than the
Buyers for purposes of the 1933 Act so as to render invalid the exemption from
registration provided under Rule

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506 or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without
limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated
quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or
designated, nor will the Company or any of its Subsidiaries take any action or
steps that would require registration of any of the Securities under the 1933
Act or cause the offering of the Securities to be integrated with other
offerings so as to render invalid the exemption from registration provided under
Rule 506.

         l. Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the
number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes
will increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that
its obligation to issue Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Convertible
Notes in accordance with this Agreement and the Convertible Notes is absolute
and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have
on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.

         m. Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
is involved in any union labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, is any such dispute threatened. None of the Company's
or its Subsidiaries' employees is a member of a union, neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the
Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their employees
are good.

         n. Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries own
or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names,
service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent
rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental
authorizations, trade secrets and rights necessary to conduct their respective
businesses as now conducted. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any
knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its Subsidiaries of trademark,
trade name rights, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses,
service names, service marks, service mark registrations, trade secret or other
similar rights of others, and there is no claim, action or proceeding which has
been brought against, or to the Company's knowledge, being threatened against,
the Company or its Subsidiaries regarding trademark, trade name, patents, patent
rights, invention, copyright, license, service names, service marks, service
mark registrations, trade secret or other infringement. To the extent deemed
necessary by the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable
security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of
their intellectual properties.

         o. Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in
compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws
and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the
environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants ("Environmental Laws"_tc \l1 "("Environmental Laws"_), (ii) have
received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under
applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii)
are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval, except, in the case of any of the foregoing where non-compliance or
non-receipt would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         p. Title. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable
title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all
personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and
defects, except for such liens, encumbrances and defects which do not materially
affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made of such
property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and
facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are held
by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as
are not material and do not interfere with the use made of such property and
buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

         q. Regulatory Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all
certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal,
state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective
businesses, except where such non-possession would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice
of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
certificate, authorization or permit.

         r. [Reserved]

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         s. Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has made or
filed all federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and
declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject (unless and
only to the extent that the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has set aside
on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and
unreported taxes) and has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and
charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such
returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith
and has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of
all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports
or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed
to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction.

         t. Transactions With Affiliates. Except as set forth in the SEC
Documents, none of the officers, directors, or employees of the Company is
presently a party to any material transaction with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than for services as employees, officers and directors),
including any material contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for
the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal
property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer,
director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any corporation,
partnership, trust or other entity in which any officer, director, or any such
employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or
partner.

4. COVENANTS.

         a. Best Efforts. Each party shall use its best efforts timely to
satisfy each of the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Sections 6
and 7 of this Agreement.

         b. Form D and Blue Sky. The Company agrees to file a Form D with
respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy
thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or
before the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably
determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the
Securities for sale to the Buyers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement
under applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United
States, and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on
or prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall make all filings and reports
relating the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable
securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United States following the
Closing Date.

         c. Reporting Status. Until the earlier of (i) the date which is one
year after the date as of which the Investors (as that term is defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) may sell all of the Conversion Shares without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the 1933 Act (or successor
thereto), or (ii) the date on which (A) the Investors shall have sold all the
Conversion Shares and (B) none of the Convertible Notes is outstanding (the
"Registration Period"), the Company shall file all reports required to be filed
with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its
status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934
Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would otherwise permit such
termination.

         d. Reservation of Shares. The Company shall take all action necessary
to at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no
less than 200% of the number of shares of Common Stock needed to provide for the
issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon conversion of all outstanding
Convertible Notes; provided that after the Registration Statement (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) which covers the Conversion Shares for
resale, has been declared effective, this Section 4(d) shall not be violated if
the Company reserves greater than 185% of the number of shares of the Common
Stock required to be issued upon conversion of the outstanding Convertible
Notes, provided, further, however, that the Company utilizes its best efforts to
reserve no less than 200% as soon as possible of the number of shares of Common
Stock required to be issued upon conversion of the outstanding Convertible
Notes.

         e. Limitation on Beneficial Ownership. The Company shall not effect any
conversion of Convertible Notes and no Buyer of Convertible Notes shall have the
right to convert any Convertible Notes pursuant to Section 2(b) of such
Convertible Note to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion such
Buyer (together with such Buyer's affiliates) (A) would beneficially own in
excess of 4.9% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock following
such conversion and (B) would have acquired, through conversion of Convertible
Notes or otherwise, in excess of 4.9% of the outstanding shares of the Company's
Common Stock following such conversion during the 60-day period ending on and
including such date of conversion. For purposes

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of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by a Buyer and its affiliates or acquired by a Buyer and its affiliates,
as the case may be, shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Convertible Notes with respect to which the determination
of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common
Stock which would be issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, nonconverted
Convertible Notes beneficially owned by such Buyer and its affiliates and (ii)
exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any warrants) subject
to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained
herein beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates. Except as set forth
in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 4(e), beneficial
ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, each conversion notice shall constitute a representation by
the Buyer submitting such conversion notice that, after giving effect to such
conversion notice, (A) the holder will not beneficially own (as determined in
accordance with this Section 4(e)) and (B) during the 60-day period ending on
and including such conversion date, the holder will not have acquired, through
conversion of Convertible Notes or otherwise, a number of shares of Common Stock
in excess of 4.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in the
Company's most recent Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as the case may be, or more recent
public press release or other public notice by the Company setting forth the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, but after giving effect to
conversions of Convertible Notes by such holder since the date as of which such
number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.

         f. Listing. The Company shall promptly secure the listing of all of the
Registrable Securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) upon each national securities exchange and automated quotation
system, if any, upon which shares of Common Stock are then listed (subject to
official notice of issuance) and shall maintain, so long as any other shares of
Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing of all Registrable Securities from
time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents and the
Convertible Notes. The Company shall maintain the Common Stock's authorization
for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
or The American Stock Exchange, Inc. (collectively, the "Principal Market").
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action which
would be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the
Common Stock on the Principal Market. The Company shall promptly, and in no
event later than the following business day, provide to each Buyer copies of any
notices it receives from the Principal Market regarding the continued
eligibility of the Common Stock for listing on such automated quotation system
or securities exchange. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in
connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 4(f).

         g. Transactions With Affiliates. So long as (i) any Convertible Notes
are outstanding or (ii) any Buyer owns Conversion Shares with a market value
equal to or greater than $500,000, the Company shall not, and shall cause each
of its Subsidiaries not to, enter into, amend, modify or supplement, or permit
any Subsidiary to enter into, amend, modify or supplement, any agreement,
transaction, commitment or arrangement with any of its or any Subsidiary's
officers, directors, person who were officers or directors at any time during
the previous two years, stockholders who beneficially own 5% or more of the
Common Stock, or affiliates or with any individual related by blood, marriage or
adoption to any such individual or with any entity in which any such entity or
individual owns a 5% or more beneficial interest (each a "Related Party"),
except for (a) customary employment arrangements and benefit programs on
reasonable terms, (b) any agreement, transaction, commitment or arrangement on
an arms-length basis on terms no less favorable than terms which would have been
obtainable from a person other than such Related Party, or (c) any agreement,
transaction, commitment or arrangement which is approved by a majority of the
disinterested directors of the Company. For purposes hereof, any director who is
also an officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall not be a
disinterested director with respect to any such agreement, transaction,
commitment or arrangement. "Affiliate" for purposes hereof means, with respect
to any person or entity, another person or entity that, directly or indirectly,
(i) has a 5% or more equity interest in that person or entity, (i) has 5% or
more common ownership with that person or entity, (iii) controls that person or
entity, or (iv) shares common control with that person or entity. "Control" or
"controls" for purposes hereof means that a person or entity has the power,
direct or indirect, to conduct or govern the policies of another person or
entity.

         h. Limitation on Filing Registration Statements. Except in the event
that Parlux Fragrances, Inc. invokes its demand registration rights or with
respect to the Company's Series C Convertible Notes, the Company shall not file
a registration statement (other than the Registration Statement (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) or a registration statement on Form S-8)
covering the sale or resale of shares of Common Stock with

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

the SEC during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date
which is 180 days after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC.

         i. Independent Auditors. The Company shall, until at least three (3)
years after the Closing Date, maintain as its independent auditors an accounting
firm authorized to practice before the SEC.

         j. Corporate Existence and Taxes. The Company shall, until at least the
later of (i) the date that is three (3) years after the Closing Date or (ii) the
conversion or redemption of all of the Convertible Notes purchased pursuant to
this Agreement, maintain its corporate existence in good standing (provided,
however, that the foregoing covenant shall not prevent the Company from entering
into any merger or corporate reorganization as long as the surviving entity in
such transaction, if not the Company, assumes the Company's obligations with
respect to the Convertible Notes and has Common Stock listed for trading on the
Principal Market) and shall pay all its taxes when due except for taxes which
the Company disputes.

5. TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.

         The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to its transfer agent,
and any subsequent transfer agent, to issue certificates, registered in the name
of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s), for the Conversion Shares in such
amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon
conversion of the Convertible Notes (the "Irrevocable Transfer Agent
Instructions"). Prior to registration of the Conversion Shares under the 1933
Act, all such certificates shall bear the restrictive legend specified in
Section 2(g) of this Agreement. The Company warrants that no instruction other
than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section 5,
and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(f) hereof (in the
case of the Conversion Shares, prior to registration of the Conversion Shares
under the 1933 Act) will be given by the Company to its transfer agent and that
the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records
of the Company as and to the extent provided in this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Section 5 shall affect in any way
each Buyer's obligations and agreements set forth in Section 2(g) to comply with
all applicable prospectus delivery requirements, if any, upon resale of the
Securities. If a Buyer provides the Company with an opinion of counsel, in a
generally acceptable form, to the effect that a public sale, assignment or
transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the 1933 Act
or the Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurances that the Securities
can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without any restriction as to the number of
securities acquired as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold,
the Company shall permit the transfer, and, in the case of the Conversion
Shares, promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates
in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer and without
any restrictive legend. In the event that the Company appoints a different
transfer agent (other than the Company's transfer agent in service as of the
Closing) to serve as the Company's transfer agent, the Company shall
immediately, but in no event later than five (5) days from such appointment
issue irrevocable instructions to such transfer agent in substantially the same
form as the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions issued to the Company's
transfer agent in service as of the Closing. The Company acknowledges that a
breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the
Buyers by vitiating the intent and purpose of the transaction contemplated
hereby. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a
breach of its obligations under this Section 5 will be inadequate and agrees, in
the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of
this Section 5, that the Buyers shall be entitled, in addition to all other
available remedies, to seek an order and/or injunction restraining any breach
and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing
economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL.

         The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the
Convertible Notes to each Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction,
at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided
that these conditions are for the Company's sole benefit and may be waived by
the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with
prior written notice thereof:

         a. Such Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to
which it is a party and delivered the same to Katten Muchin & Zavis, care of
Anthony J. Ribaudo, Esq., as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent") for the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

         b. The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing
Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that
speak as of a specific date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and
complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such
Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.

7. CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.

         The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Convertible
Notes at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing
Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are
for each Buyer's sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its
sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

         a. The Company shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents
and delivered the same to the Escrow Agent.

         b. The Company's common stock shall be authorized for quotation on the
Principal Market and trading in Company common stock shall not have been
suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market.

         c. The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and
correct as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at
that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific
date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied with the
covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be
performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing
Date. The Company shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent a certificate,
executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing
Date, to the foregoing effect.

         d. The Company shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent the opinion of
the Company's counsel dated as of the Closing Date, in form, scope and substance
reasonably satisfactory to such Buyer and in substantially the form of Exhibit C
attached hereto.

         e. The Company shall have executed and delivered to the Escrow Agent
the Convertible Notes (in such denominations as such Buyer shall request) being
purchased by such Buyer at the Closing.

         f. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have adopted resolutions
consistent with Section 3(b)(ii) above and in a form reasonably acceptable to
such Buyer.

         g. As of the Closing Date, the Company shall have reserved out of its
authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the
conversion of the Convertible Notes, no less than 200% of the number of shares
of Common Stock needed to provide for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock
upon conversion of all outstanding Convertible Notes.

         h. The Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, substantially in the
form of Exhibit D attached hereto, shall have been delivered to and acknowledged
in writing by the Company's transfer agent and a copy of the executed
Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions shall have been delivered to the Escrow
Agent.

         i. The Company shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent a certified
copy of the Articles of Incorporation as certified by the Secretary of State of
the State of Florida within ten (10) days of the Closing Date.

         j. The Company shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent a secretary's
certificate, dated as the Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions described in
Section 7(f), (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation and (iii) the Bylaws, each
as in effect at the Closing.

         k. The Company shall have made all filings under all applicable federal
and state securities laws necessary to consummate the issuance of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement in compliance with such laws.

         l. The Company shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent such other
documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the
Escrow Agent or its counsel may reasonably request.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

         m. Subject to Section 9(k) below, at the Closing, the Company shall
reimburse the Buyers for one-half (1/2) of the Buyers' expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses) in due diligence and negotiating and preparing the
Transaction Documents and consummating the transactions contemplated thereby up
to an aggregate of $8,000.

8. INDEMNIFICATION.

         a. Indemnification by Company. In consideration of each Buyer's
execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities
thereunder and in addition to all of the Company's other obligations under the
Transaction Documents and the Convertible Notes, the Company shall defend,
protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each other holder of the
Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, officers, directors,
employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing person's
agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement)
(collectively, the "Indemnitees") from and against any and all actions, causes
of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and
damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such
Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is
sought), and including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (the
"Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or
arising out of, or relating to (a) any material misrepresentation or breach of
any representation or warranty made by the Company in the Transaction Documents
or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby,
or (b) any material breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the
Company contained in the Transaction Documents or the Convertible Notes or any
other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby. To the
extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for
any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and
satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under
applicable law.

         b. Indemnification by Buyer. In consideration of the Company's
execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the Company's
performance of the transactions contemplated thereunder, each Buyer shall
severally but not jointly defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its officers and directors (collectively, the "Company Indemnitees")
from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses,
costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection
therewith and including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (the
"Company Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by any Company Indemnitee as a
result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any material representation or
breach of any representation or warranty made by such Buyer in the Transaction
Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby
or thereby, or (b) any material breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation
of such Buyer contained in the Transaction Documents or any other certificate,
instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby; provided, however, that
any Buyer shall not be jointly liable for the indemnification obligations of any
other Buyer or investor and the Buyer subject to an indemnification obligation
shall be liable under this Section 8(b) for only that amount of Company
Indemnified Liabilities as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Buyer as a
result of the sale of Securities and Conversion Shares held by such Buyer. To
the extent that the foregoing undertaking by a Buyer may be unenforceable for
any reason, such Buyer shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and
satisfaction of each of the Company Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible
under applicable law; provided, however, that any Buyer shall not be jointly
liable for the indemnification obligations of any other Buyer or investor and
the Buyer subject to an indemnification obligation shall be liable under this
Section 8(b) for only that amount of Company Indemnified Liabilities as does not
exceed the net proceeds to such Buyer as a result of the sale of Securities and
Conversion Shares held by such Buyer.

9. GOVERNING LAW; MISCELLANEOUS.

         a. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. The corporate laws of the
State of Florida shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the
Company and its stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
the internal laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to any choice
of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Florida or
any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdictions other than the State of Florida. Each party hereby irrevocably
submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
sitting in the City of Miami, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or
in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed
herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit,
action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of any such

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum
or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party
hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process
being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to
such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees
that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and
notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any
right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY
TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR
ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

         b. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each
party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile signature
shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory
thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original, not
a facsimile signature.

         c. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this
Agreement.

         d. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

         e. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement supersedes all other
prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the Company, their
affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters
discussed herein, and this Agreement and the instruments referenced herein
contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters
covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or
therein, neither the Company nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty,
covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this
Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the
Company and the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Convertible Notes
(determined by reference to principal amount) then outstanding, and no provision
hereof may be waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against whom enforcement is sought. No such amendment shall be effective to the
extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the Convertible Notes
then outstanding. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any person to
amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the
Transaction Documents or the Convertible Notes unless the same consideration
also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents or holders of
Convertible Notes, as the case may be.

         f. Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in
writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when
delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided
confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and
kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly
addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers
for such communications shall be:

        If to the Company:                  E Com Ventures, Inc.
                                            11701 N.W. 101st Road
                                            Miami, Florida 33178
                                            Telephone:  (305) 889-1600
                                            Facsimile:  (305) 888-7825
                                            Attention:  Ilia Lekach

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

        With a copy to:                     Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
                                            1221 Brickell Avenue
                                            Miami, Florida 33131
                                            Telephone:   (305) 579-0809
                                            Facsimile:   (305) 579-0717
                                            Attention:   Ken Hoffman, Esq.

        If to the Transfer Agent:           Continental Stock Transfer and Trust
                                            2 Broadway, 19th Floor
                                            New York, New York 10004
                                            Telephone:  (212) 509-4000
                                            Facsimile:  (212) 509-5150
                                            Attention:  Steve Nelson

         If to a Buyer, to it at the address and facsimile number set forth on
Schedule 1 with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on Schedule
1, or at such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of
such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given
to each other party five days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written
confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent,
waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by
the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile
number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a
nationally recognized overnight delivery service shall be rebuttable evidence of
personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above,
respectively.

         g. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns,
including any purchasers of the Convertible Notes. The Company shall not assign
this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Convertible Notes
(determined by reference to principal amount) then outstanding. A Buyer may
assign some or all of its rights hereunder without the consent of the Company,
provided, however, that any such assignment shall not release such Buyer from
its obligations hereunder unless such obligations are assumed by such assignee
and the Company has consented to such assignment and assumption. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in the Transaction Documents, the Buyers
shall be entitled to pledge the Securities in connection with a bona fide margin
account.

         h. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and
assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced
by, any other person.

         i. Survival. Unless this Agreement is terminated under Section 9(k),
the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 4, 5 and 9, and the
indemnification provisions set forth in Section 8, shall survive the Closing.
Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own agreements and covenants
hereunder.

         j. Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be
done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as
the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         k. Termination. In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred
with respect to a Buyer on or before three (3) business days from the date
hereof due to the Company's or such Buyer's failure to satisfy the conditions
set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above (and the nonbreaching party's failure to
waive such unsatisfied condition(s)), the nonbreaching party shall have the
option to terminate this Agreement with respect to such breaching party at the
close of business on such date without liability of any party to any other
party; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section 9(k), the Company shall remain obligated to reimburse the nonbreaching
Buyers for the expenses described in Section 7(m) above.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

         l. Placement Agent. The Company acknowledges that it has not engaged a
placement agent in connection with the sale of the Convertible Notes.

         m. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be
deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent,
and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

         n. Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of the Securities shall have
all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and the
Convertible Notes and all rights and remedies which such holders have been
granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights
which such holders have under any law. Any person having any rights under any
provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights
specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by
reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all
other rights granted by law.

         o. Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or
payments to the Buyers hereunder or pursuant to the Convertible Notes or the
Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such
payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part
thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid
or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other person
under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or
federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any
such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be
satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such
payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       14
<PAGE>   15
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyers and the Company have caused this
Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.

COMPANY:                                 BUYERS:

E COM VENTURES, INC.                     CRANSHIRE CAPITAL, L.P.

By: /s/ Ilia Lekach                      By:  /s/ Mitchell P. Kopin
   -------------------------------           -------------------------------
Name:   Ilia Lekach                      Name:    Mitchell P. Kopin
     -----------------------------            ------------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer           Title: President - Downview Capital
       ---------------------------              The General Partner
                                               -----------------------------

                                         THE DOTCOM FUND, LLC

                                         By:  /s/ Mark Rice
                                            -----------------------------------
                                         Name:    Mark Rice
                                              ---------------------------------
                                         Title:  Manager - Minamax LLC
                                                 The Managing Member
                                               --------------------------------

                                         EP .COM FUND, L.L.C.

                                         By: /s/ Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                            -----------------------------------
                                         Name:   Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                              ---------------------------------
                                         Title:  Manager of Eisenberg
                                                 Partners, L.L.C.
                                                 Manager of EP.com
                                                 Fund, L.L.C.
                                               --------------------------------

                                         EP .COM FUND INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

                                         By: /s/ Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                            -----------------------------------
                                         Name:   Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                              ---------------------------------
                                         Title: Manager of Eisenberg
                                                Partners, L.L.C.
                                                Investment Manager of EP.com
                                                Funds International, Ltd.
                                               --------------------------------

                                         EP OPPORTUNITY FUND, L.L.C.

                                         By: /s/ Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                            -----------------------------------
                                         Name:   Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                              ---------------------------------
                                         Title:  Manager of Eisenberg
                                                 Partners, L.L.C.
                                                 Manager of EP Opportunity
                                                 Fund, L.L.C.
                                               --------------------------------

                                         EP OPPORTUNITY FUND INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

                                         By: /s/ Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                            -----------------------------------
                                         Name:   Jeffrey Eisenberg
                                              ---------------------------------
                                         Title: Manager of Eisenberg
                                                Partners, L.L.C.
                                                Investment Manager of EP
                                                Opportunity Fund International,
                                                Ltd.
                                               --------------------------------

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

                          SCHEDULE 1: LIST OF INVESTORS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                  Amount of
                                   Investor Address and       Convertible Notes   Investor's Legal Representatives'
      Investor's Name                Facsimile Number                                Address and Facsimile Number
      ---------------              ---------------------      -----------------   ---------------------------------
<S>                           <C>                               <C>              <C>
Cranshire Capital, L.P.       666 Dundee Rd., Ste. 1901         $2,000,000.00    Katten Muchin & Zavis
                              Northbrook, IL 60062                               525 W. Monroe Street
                              Attention: Mitchell Kopin                          Chicago, Illinois 60661-3693
                              Telephone: (847) 562-9030                          Attention: Anthony J. Ribaudo, Esq.
                              Facsimile: (847) 562-9031                          Facsimile: (312) 577-8763
                                                                                 Telephone: (312) 902-5521
The dotCom Fund, LLC          666 Dundee Road., Ste. 1901       $2,000,000.00
                              Northbrook, Illinois 60062
                              Attention: Mark Rice
                              Telephone: (847) 509-2290
                              Facsimile: (847) 509-2295

EP .com Fund, L.L.C.          77 W.  Wacker Drive                 $400,000.00
                              Chicago, Illinois 60601
                              Attention: Jeffrey Eisenberg
                              Telephone: (312) 456-9500
                              Facsimile: (312) 456-9501

EP .com Fund                  77 W.  Wacker Drive                 $100,000.00
International,  Ltd.          Chicago, Illinois 60601
                              Attention: Jeffrey Eisenberg
                              Telephone: (312) 456-9500
                              Facsimile: (312) 456-9501

EP Opportunity Fund, L.L.C.   77 W.  Wacker Drive                 $469,000.00
                              Chicago, Illinois 60601
                              Attention: Jeffrey Eisenberg
                              Telephone: (312) 456-9500
                              Facsimile: (312) 456-9501

EP Opportunity Fund           77 W.  Wacker Drive                  $31,000.00
International, Ltd.           Chicago, Illinois 60601
                              Attention: Jeffrey Eisenberg
                              Telephone: (312) 456-9500
                              Facsimile: (312) 456-9501

</TABLE>

                                       16<PAGE>   1

                                                                   Exhibit 10.45

                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                     ---------------------------------------

         THIS FIRST AMENDMENT MADE AND ENTERED INTO at Cleveland, Ohio effective
as of this 28th day of February, 2000, by and between FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES,
INC. the "Company" and ALBERT B. RATNER the "Employee" to an Agreement between
said parties dated May 31, 1999.

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company have authorized the
Company to purchase a "Split Dollar" Insurance Policy on the life of the
Employee.

         NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed that:

         1. The Employment Agreement dated May 31, 1999 is amended to provide
that the Company purchase a FIVE MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLAR ($5,000,000.00)
"Split Dollar" Insurance Policy on the life of the Employee in accordance with
the terms of a Split Dollar Insurance Agreement And Assignment Of Life Insurance
Policy As Collateral dated 26th day of June, 1996 between the Company and the
Employee.

         2. In all other respects the Employment Agreement dated May 31, 1999 is
in full force and in effect except as amended hereby.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands the day and
year first above written.

                                               FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                               By:  Thomas G. Smith, Secretary
                                               -------------------------------

                                                ALBERT B. RATNER, Employee
                                                ------------------------------

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00008-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00008-of-00352.parquet"}]]