By George Anderson
A report by Forrester Research says online retailers have a significant opportunity to drive greater sales through consumers with broadband connections if sites are upgraded to take advantage of the added bandwidth.
Internet Retailer says 19 million households in the US had a broadband connection installed by the end of 2002.
Forrester recommends "sellers of consumer electronics, computers, media products and some apparel should be live with the right tools and services, as consumers say they buy more of these products online once they have broadband connections. Retail sites that attract a broader segment of customers already equipped with high-speed connections also need to move faster on making sure tools and services are broadband-friendly, according to Forrester, which means this should be a priority for those such as Lands' End and Banana Republic. For the same reason, sites such as Lowe's, J.C. Penney and Wal-Mart will have more time to catch up, as broadband penetration in their existing core audiences is not as deep."
Moderator's Comment: What is the broadband business opportunity? What does it mean for retailers selling to consumers online?
We understand the power of broadband friendly sites. After all, weren't we the ones who just a couple of days ago purchased Lisa Marie Presley's debut album, "To Whom It May Concern", after listening to cuts on her web site - http://www.lisapresley.com/store_home.html. The King would be proud. [George Anderson - Moderator]