Online marketing help needed

Sam · 02-22-2005, 12:22 PM

Hi everyone!!
My name is Sam and I am a marketing student looking for some help.
I'm doing a case study about online grocery stores and need some information or sites where i can find information. I need to know what challenges online grocery stores face, what they offer that traditional grocery stores don't, and why e-commerce has failed to live up to expectations. I'll be honest and say that i really don't have much experience with online marketing, which is why i am asking for help. (any and all help will be greatly appreiciated).

thong168 · 02-24-2005, 02:12 AM

Just simply key in the keywords "online grocery stores" or "grocery stores" in the browser, you will get tons of information.

lhoudini · 06-01-2006, 09:06 AM

Online groceries don't have a 1-1 personal relationship with customers.

Dustin07 · 06-01-2006, 09:12 AM

can't look over your produce.

But how has ecommerce failed to live up to expectations?

poster · 06-01-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Hi everyone!!
My name is Sam and I am a marketing student looking for some help.
I'm doing a case study about online grocery stores and need some information or sites where i can find information. I need to know what challenges online grocery stores face, what they offer that traditional grocery stores don't, and why e-commerce has failed to live up to expectations. I'll be honest and say that i really don't have much experience with online marketing, which is why i am asking for help. (any and all help will be greatly appreiciated).

I know that webvan failed due to high gas prices, low order minimum, its inability to compete with large grocery chains because they couldn't order enough to ensure low costs, and also couldn't capitalize on economies of scale. I am pretty sure these would be the reasons for failure for other online grocery stores as well but I am hearing some are doing ok.

Dustin07 · 06-01-2006, 10:59 AM

I think the low cost idea was dumb on webvan's part. Why compete on price when they have a completely different niche? My wife has ordered Safeway groceries to be delivered a few times and when it goes correctly it's great. I think there is a delivery fee too.

Webvan shouldn't have tried to be low cost, IMO.

poster · 06-01-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin07

I think the low cost idea was dumb on webvan's part. Why compete on price when they have a completely different niche? My wife has ordered Safeway groceries to be delivered a few times and when it goes correctly it's great. I think there is a delivery fee too.

Webvan shouldn't have tried to be low cost, IMO.

Not low prices, low costs.

vangogh · 06-01-2006, 11:06 AM

As a customer I'd have no problem ordering my dry goods online, but I always want to be able to see the meats and produce I buy. I'm just not going to let someone else pick that out for me.