"The percentage of entrepreneurs planning to use the Internet for
such commerce will more than triple in 12 to 18 months."
"...acceptance can take time."
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More Entrepreneurs Turning to Internet
USA Today, November 1997
By Del Jones
Selling products and services over the Internet
may be poised to take off. The percentage of entrepreneurs planning to
use the Internet for such commerce will more than triple in 12 to 18
months according to a USA TODAY / Ernst & Young survey of 398
entrepreneurs Saturday at the Entrepreneur of the Year International
Conference in Palm Springs, Calif.
More than 80% of those at the conference said
they use the Internet now. But most use it primarily for e-mail (36%),
or to give information to customers via a Web site (37%). Just 8% of the
entrepreneurs said they use the Internet mainly for commerce, which
usually means taking orders
electronically and accepting credit cards for payment. But 27% of the
Internet will be for commerce in 12 to 18 months.
Optiva, makers of Sonicare toothbrushes and the
USA's fastest-growing company according to Inc. magazine, wants
to take Internet orders but is willing to let others be guinea pigs. "We
don't plan to be leaders (in Internet commerce)." Says Optima CEO David
Giuliani. The right time "will become apparent."
The biggest drawback is reluctant customers
worried that credit card numbers will be too easily stolen, or that
companies will be able to gather personal information. Experts say that
those fears will wane. But the history of automated teller machines
shows that acceptance can take time. "My guess is it will take longer
than people hope," Giuliani says.
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