Grainger to add content to OrderZone.com
By Industrial Distribution Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 8/1/1999
CHICAGO--Exactly one month to the day that W.W. Grainger's flagship Internet product, OrderZone.com, was officially launched, the company announced plans for the site to be expanded to include content, community and a broader product offering.The message from Daniel Hamburger, president, Grainger Internet Commerce, is that customers are already asking for more from the OrderZone.com site, so Grainger is developing content to create more of an online community, and will add product categories ranging from books to bearings.
"Our plan is to expand supplier-partners, and we will prioritize that based on customer demand," said Hamburger, participating in an online chat June 15 to talk about the success of the site. "While we plan to add product categories, such as books and computers, our customers are asking for products like power transmission and bearings, and pipe, valves and fittings."
While Hamburger remained mum on actual OrderZone sales volume and site traffic, Grainger did release first quarter Internet sales (grainger.com) of $10 million.
While skeptics point out that online commerce will take away from the existing channel of distribution, Hamburger is quick to disagree. "We have found that customers who have gone online have grown their business with us about five times faster than the customers who have not gone online. And, their growth with us has been both in our traditional channels and online. They are becoming better customers of Grainger, overall," he said.
Hamburger said Grainger will be adding proprietary content to the site. His vision for OrderZone.com is that customers will get all the products and services they need to run their business, plus relevant content and community. "I can tell you that commerce is the hard part, so we are nailing that first. And then we will add content and community in the near future," he said.
OrderZone.com, made up of multiple suppliers, including Lab Safety Supply, Grainger Industrial Supply, Corporate Express, and others, was launched May 15.
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