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Online Retailing

A new study, The State of Retailing Online 8.0, an annual Shop.org study conducted by Forrester Research, found that 2004 online sales rose 23.8 percent to $141.4 billion. Excluding travel, online retail sales also rose 23.8 percent to $89.0 billion. The report predicts that online sales (excluding travel) will reach $109.6 billion this year. Want your small business to get in on the spending splurge? Here are some opportunities. The report cites several online retail categories poised for steep growth (all driven by female consumers):

• Cosmetics and fragrances

• Jewelry and luxury goods

• Flowers, cards and gifts

Show Me The Money

If your small business needs money for a vehicle or equipment purchase, don’t overlook loans available from finance companies. A recent study sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy found that finance companies are big sources of money for small businesses. Indeed, the study stated that finance companies rank as the second most important institutional supplier of credit to small firms. You can find the full report at http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs255tot.pdf.

 

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