NRF'S INTERNET COMMERCE COUNCIL CREATES ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER FOR INTERNET RETAILERS

Web site provides overview of Internet retailing tools, approaches and technology 

New York, NY, January 16, 2000 -- To provide a starting point for Internet retailing executives evaluating the various solutions available to them for acquiring and serving online customers, the National Retail Federation’s (NRF’s) Internet Commerce Council (iCC) today announced the launch of the “Retail Resources” section of the iCC Website – http://www.icommercecouncil.com/.  Based on the collective input of the iCC membership, which includes leading suppliers of Internet retailing technologies and solutions, the iCC’s “Retail Resources” section provides a broad overview of tools, approaches and technologies for enhancing online marketing, merchandising and customer care.

Launched in the Fall of 1999, the iCC is an NRF council of leading e-commerce technology companies dedicated to helping NRF’s retail members evaluate e-commerce solutions that enable online customer service, marketing, and merchandising.  The iCC serves as a resource to NRF’s Internet Retailing Advisory Council, a committee of Internet retailing executives from NRF’s membership.

“From email marketing and online advertising to online shopper archetypes and collaborative filtering, the content presented in the ‘Retail Resources’ section of the iCC Web is intended to help Internet retailers better understand the numerous enhancements and capabilities they may be considering for their online retail initiatives,” said iCC co-chairs Pat George of Be Free and Michael Hungerford of eGain Communications. 

“NRF is committed to providing the retail industry information about the variety of solutions available to optimize the Internet as a sales channel,” said NRF President, Tracy Mullin.  “This initiative demonstrates how NRF is able to leverage the combined expertise of leading e-commerce technology companies for the benefit of our retail members.”

In addition to the content contributed by iCC members, the “Retail Resources” section of the iCC was edited by Santa Clara University’s (SCU’s) Dr. Kirthi Kalyanam, who is the Director of E*Commerce Initiatives and the Research Director of SCU’s Retail Management Institute.

The iCC plans to expand the content it is developing for www.icommercecouncil.com on an ongoing basis.  E-commerce technology companies are welcome to participate in this process as members of the iCC.  For more information about the iCC, please contact Scott Silverman, Vice President, Internet Retailing at 202.626.8132 or silvermans@nrf.com.  Or visit the iCC Website at www.icommercecouncil.com.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is the world's largest retail trade association with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalogue, Internet and independent stores. NRF members represent an industry that encompasses more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, employs more than 20 million people -- about 1 in 5 American workers -- and registered 1999 sales of $3 trillion.   NRF’s international members operate stores in more than 50 nations.  In its role as the retail industry's umbrella group, NRF also represents 32 national and 50 state associations in the U.S. as well as 36 international associations representing retailers abroad.