RV America Launches E-Commerce Internet Stores for RV Industry Companies

Now RV companies have the option of adding their own affordable, e-commerce store to their web sites, according to Dan Holt, CEO, Web Site Management, Inc.

Holt said, "What this does is allow RV dealers, accessory stores and even suppliers to have their own aftermarket parts and accessories stores included as part of their web site that is hosted by RV America. There are four levels of e-commerce programs so any company that wants to do e-commerce on the Internet has that option, no matter how large or small the company."

The underlying store program is Mercantec SoftCart™. Mercantec is the leading provider of e-commerce programs to businesses around the world. The four levels of service include SoftCart Start-Up™, SoftCart Lite™, SoftCart™ and SoftCart Suite™.

Each one of the programs have high security through encryption and allows for on line credit card orders, immediate verification and can be tailored to specific needs of the on line store owner.

"We really have a program for any size business," Holt said. "For example, an RV dealer that just wants to run monthly specials such as what might be on distributor-provided flyers could add the SoftCart Start-Up store to his site. That gives the dealer up to 10 items in the catalog for only $30 a month, plus a $150 set up charge. SoftCart" Lite allows up to 50 items and Soft-Cart and SoftCart Suite gives the retailer an unlimited number of items in their catalog."

Internet e-commerce has become a multi-billion dollar business and certainly is the way of the future. The ability for each RV dealer, accessory store and supplier to have their own storefront, set and manage their own pricing, and be able to easily add or delete products puts these companies on the cutting edge of the way business will be conducted in the 21st Century.

Holt continued, "Setting up this program with Mercantec was a substantial investment for a small company like Web Site Management, but we have never hesitated when it comes to investing in products, programs and services that benefit our clients. Our goal is to give our customers all the tools they need to use the Internet effectively to increase their overall sales and profits.

"And I believe that the reason why RV America continues to be the premier RV web hosting company is because we are continually investing in programs and ideas that are designed for one thing -- giving our customers a good value.

"Our competitors may copy what we are doing, but by the time they figure out what we are doing we are already two or three steps ahead of that so they can never really catch up if we stay focused on our mission which is to provide the highest level of customer service avail

able to companies in the RV industry. Our e-commerce program is only the latest in an ever-expanding list of services we provide."

SoftCart is a "shopping cart" type program where visitors to a web site view the products in the store's inventory complete with descriptions, pricing and photos. If the visitor decides to purchase any item they simply click on the "add to shopping cart" button. When they are finished shopping they can check out and either pay on line by major credit cards or by check. The program automatically calculates shipping charges either by the total amount of the order or by the weight, whichever the retailer decides and sends the visitor a copy of their order once the transaction is processed. The order with the credit card information is encrypted for security and the retailer is notified by e-mail that they have an order on their secure order form page.

"It's really very sophisticated," Holt said, "yet easy to use. It can either supplement or replace the several distributor catalogs that are available on RV-related web sites.

"One of the biggest complaints we hear from consumers trying to buy on line is that no matter what dealer web site they go to, the catalog and prices are all the same. They get real angry and frustrated by this. By the retailer having their own e-commerce store they can be as competitive as they want to be because they have the ability to set their own prices and change their inventory as often as they like. Plus, they get the full margin on the sales rather than sharing it with the distributor who takes a cut for handling the orders and processing and shipping the order."

According to Holt, when on line ordering first appeared several years ago, a lot of people were reluctant to buy on line for several reasons such as being uncomfortable with putting the credit card information on line or not knowing the business that was offering the products for sale. But those roadblocks have all but disappeared as the volume of sales exceeding a billion dollars suggests. Holt said, "We have also recorded steady growth in the number of orders being placed through the distributor catalogs as well as an increase in the average order sale. We have seen RV parts and accessories on line average orders go from around $20 to $50 in only one year. And we have seen individual RV parts and accessory orders in excess of $700.

"Adding an e-commerce store to an RV company's web site is the right idea at the right time, and RV America has the right product to make it possible for RV industry companies that take their web sites seriously."

RV America On Line^®, an RV industry web hosting service, is one of the services of Web Site Management, Inc.

For complete details on the various programs call Web Site Management, Inc. at 480-784-4771.

RVN