ADVISORY/Valentines Feel the Love — Online Sales for Valentine's Day 2001 Predicted to Jump 31.7% From Last Year

Business Wire, Feb 5, 2001

Business Editors/Retail & Advertising/Marketing Writers

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Second only to Christmas, Valentine's Day continues to generate more online sales than any other national holiday, proving that the Internet is one of Cupid's most powerful tools for reaching romantics.

According to a survey(1) by BizRate.com, the leading comparison-shopping site on the Web, over one-third of buyers intend to make a Valentine's Day purchase online in 2001, and BizRate.com forecasts that sales will increase to more than $2 billion in sales -- a significant 31.7% increase from the same period(2) last year.

Women (59%) are opening their hearts and wallets to online shopping this year, saying they intend to purchase gifts over the Web for two or more people, compared to only 40% of men.

"Cupid has no choice but to add online shopping to his bow and arrow because consumers will continue to turn to the Web for the convenience, the deals and the choice it can provide," said Seth Geiger, vice president of professional services at BizRate.com. "With the softer economy, e-tailers are utilizing promotional tactics such as waiving shipping fees, adding bonus gifts and including 30-day guarantees, to keep their customers coming back," concluded Geiger.

For example, the following merchants featured within BizRate's Valentine's Gift Guide, are currently offering either free shipping, bonus gifts or 30-day guarantees for Valentine's Day 2001:

  -- ProFlowers.com
  -- Blue Nile
  -- Fossil
  -- Ashford.com
  -- Perfumes America
  -- Scentiments
  -- Bare Necessities
  -- HenryandJune.com
  -- eDelights.com
  -- Things Remembered
  -- Gifts.com
  -- eVineyard

The most popular items to be purchased this Valentine's Day remain
the same as in 2000:

  -- Flowers (44%)
  -- eGreeting Cards (42%)
  -- Candy/Chocolate (30%)

While Valentines may be 'feeling the love' this year they certainly will not feel the commitment -- only 1% of online buyers say they expect to propose to their significant others this Valentine's Day!

About BizRate.com

Founded in 1996 and based in Los Angeles, BizRate.com (www.bizrate.com) is the No. 1 retail mall on the Web (according to Media Metrix, December 2000), connecting millions of buyers to thousands of sellers in a single, organized location. Designed as the ultimate comparison-shopping hub, the site provides the best efficiencies for both buyers and sellers.

In BizRate.com's marketplace, shoppers have access to a powerful product search engine, standardized check-out, exclusive deals, "hot" product listings and gift guides to empower consumers to "shop smartly" across 20 popular store categories and more than 1,500 merchants.

Through BizRate.com's unbiased consumer rating system, compiled exclusively from point-of-sale and fulfillment surveys of participating merchants, shoppers can compare merchants across 10 service dimensions. BizRate.com ratings appear on Consumer Reports Online and in Consumer Reports magazine.

 BizRate.com Experts are Available to Add Commentary to Your Articles

To schedule an interview with a BizRate.com research expert,
please contact:

  Leslie Barry, 310/305-3506, ext. 186, lbarry@bizrate.com
  Julie Mathis, 323/866-6039, jmathis@mslpr.com

(1) Survey of more than 7,707 online buyers conducted from
1/25/01-1/28/01

(2) "Valentines Day shopping period" refers to the period of 2/1
to 2/14 for 2000 and 2001.