This paper is a review of three companies currently utilizing the use of the B2C models. Business to consumer commerce (B2C) is any business organization that sells products and services to individual customers over the Internet (www.cio.com). B2C commerce is rapidly growing and expected to grow from a 38 billion dollar industry to a 184.5 billion dollar industry by 2004 (www.cio.com). Why is B2C becoming so popular? Business to consumer commerce provides an organization with the opportunity to sell it’s products and services without the expense of maintaining a physical store and storing a mass quantity of inventory, while allowing the company potential access to unlimited capital. Business to consumer companies do not have to integrate with their customers, they can easily place a catalog online allowing customers to choose products that fit their needs while allowing them to shop at their own convenience.
Although business to consumer commerce transactions take place at a virtual venue, B2C organizations utilize the same tools used by the brick and mortar companies to structure customer relationships. For example, marketing research has to be conducted to determine the ta
There are three different B2C business models. One is used to give the customer the ability to name their own price on a variety of products (auction). One is used to enable the customer to view a specific product and to entice the customer to by the product based on what is made of and prizes that can be obtained if a purchase of the product is made. The other model is used to promote and provide information on one product and it’s accessories. The common thread is site personalization. Each site is designed to meet the needs and interest of a particular consumer and each site promotes the goal of B2C commerce to create a rewarding online experience for the individual consumer by recognizing their individual preferences and making them easily accessible.
rget market. It is essential for B2C businesses to focus on customer service, order fulfillment and on the competition.
Amazon.com appeals to several different facets of the consumer’s character. The Web site offers the customer the opportunity to shop virtually anywhere in the world. The customer can shop for books, music and videos nationally and internationally. A customer can become a business partner with Amazon by signing up as an associate. Becoming an associate gives them the opportunity to promote their business on Amazon’s web site giving them more ways to earn revenue and access to resources and tools to help make their business successful and profitable. Amazon’s web site gives the consumer more bang for their buck. The site offe