Holiday Cheer for Retailers - E-Commerce provider, iCongo, says online holiday sales were substantially up. Increases were great

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(12/03/2009)

Demonstrates substantial year over year increases in online, cross-channel and multi-channel sales - setting the stage for a great Christmas shopping season

Montreal, Canada, iCongo Inc., The global provider of end-to-end e-commerce, multi-channel and marketing systems announced today that its retail clients indicated average gains on sales this year versus the same period in 2008 for Black Friday and Cyber Monday to be 83% and 74% respectively. The average sales increase, year to year, for the Saturday and Sunday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday was 47%. iCongo’s clients include well known national brands, local retailers and web-based retailers selling a vast array of soft  and hard goods.

“Although sales increases were impressive across the board, iCongo clients with multi-channel and cross-channel capabilities outperformed their peers”, says Irwin Kramer, CEO of iCongo.  Increased sales came from multiple channels, including strong in-store and online performance. Increased access to and availability of inventories to satisfy both web and in-store sales came from cross-channel systems. Some retailers who had not invested in cross-channel systems experienced stock-outs in their distribution center(s), and had no way to fulfill demand using in-store inventories both for web based and in-store sales.

“The numbers should be a red flag for retailers who have not maximized their online sales channels or integrated order fulfillment channels”, stated Kramer.  “They risk alienating customers who expect both a physical and online retailer presence.  When a customer does decide to buy, retailers win when they can successfully fulfill orders from connected inventory systems.”

Gartner retail analyst Jeff Roster commented “Savvy retailers understand the multi-channel nature of customer demand and embrace it.  Mobile commerce is just about ready to explode, which will only enhance the need for retailers to be multi-channel.”

About iCongo, Inc.
Companies who want to easily and smoothly transact business online rely on iCongo, Inc..  iCongo provides e-business systems software, as well as managed services including B2C and B2B e-commerce systems, retail cross-channel systems and a comprehensive suite of Internet marketing applications. RIS News recently named iCongo as one of their “Companies to Watch” in 2009. Forrester Research just named iCongo a “Strong Performer” in the January 2009 report “The Forrester Wave™: B2C E-Commerce Platforms, Q1 2009.” iCongo’s clients include many world-renowned retailers and brands. Please visit us atwww.icongo.com.

For more information, please contact:

iCongo Inc.
Marsha Chicoine
Tel: (514) 866-2664
Toll Free: (888) 944-2664

mchicoine@icongo.com

News Source : Holiday Cheer for Retailers - E-Commerce provider, iCongo, says online holiday sales were substantially up. Increases were greater for retailers who used integrated sales and delivery channels