Patent ID: 8407107

Claim:
An electronic commerce storefront system, the system comprising: (a) a host, configured for operation by a host owner, suitably adapted for two-way electronic communication between the host owner and a plurality of distributors, the host providing access to a plurality of products for sale electronically from a plurality of different distributors, the host adapted to transmit electronic orders to the plurality of distributors in response to purchase requests received; (b) a store builder web site, adapted to configure an electronic store in response to input from a store owner during access to the store builder web site, to create an electronic store managed by the host for the store owner, said electronic store to provide each of a plurality of consumers the ability to purchase at least one merchandise item selected from the plurality of products, the host presenting a web page to the plurality of consumers when the electronic store is accessed, the electronic store configured to receive and transmit to the host electronic orders directly between the respective ones of the plurality of consumers and the electronic store; wherein the creation of the electronic store, during access to the store builder website by the store owner, comprises: receiving one or more selections from the store owner for customization of the appearance of the store; receiving a store name from the store owner; receiving from the store owner an identification of a plurality of products to be offered in the store; and assigning a new URL for access to the store by each of the plurality of consumers.