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Online Retail Businesses Continued Growth

Businesses on the internet have started to florish more than ever in recent months. Currently everyone turns to the web when it comes time to research prices, find a business or compare products. Because the internet is so accessible and overflowing with retail business, more and more people are buying their products online. Online sales are projected to top $200 billion in 2006 -- just three years after passing the $100 billion mark. That is significant evidence that web purchasing will not cease anytime soon.

The ninth annual Shop.org study, conducted by Forrester Computer hardware and software, cars, and apparel, accessories and footwear are expected to be the largest non-travel categories driving the increase, with anticipated sales of $16.8 billion, $15.9 billion and $13.8 billion, respectively. But sales of pet supplies, cosmetics and fragrances will increase faster than other categories at growth rates of over 30 percent, the report found. This most probably has to do with the fact that businesses are offering online clients cheaper prices than land-based retail stores.

According to the survey, online sales rose 25 percent last year -- to $176.4 billion dollars. Excluding travel, they were up 28 percent to 113.6 billion ? representing four-point-seven percent of all retail sales in 2005. Travel is still the biggest seller on the web, but as more online customers emerge it is safe to say that other retail businesses will grow aswell.