The need for research into this business venture is great. Here are just a few key figures about the use of the Internet:

Ø *Eighty-five percent of small businesses are expected to conduct business via the World Wide Web by the year 2002.

Ø *The more than 7,100 Internet service providers (ISPs) in 2000 represent a 41 percent increase from a year ago. Most ISPs have fewer than 12 employees.

Ø * The U.S. ISP market generated an estimated $15 billion in receipts in 1998, compared with $4 billion in the European ISP market.

Ø *In 1999, small businesses with 5-99 employees spent about $9 billion for network hardware; businesses with 100-999 employees spent an estimated $14 billion.

Ø * Some 85 percent of businesses with fewer than 100 employees had personal computers in 1999; more than 61 percent of these had access to the Internet.

The Importance of Small Business Issues

Identify our customers by their age, sex, income/educational level and residence. At first, target only those customers who are more likely to purchase our product over the net. As our customer base expands, we may need to consider modifying the marketing plan to include other customers.

Also, to handle the necessary traffic, hardware and software would need to be upgraded dramatically. Our current personal computers would not be adequate enough for this type of job. A more up to date system would need to be purchased and installed. Typically, SR&J likes to wait until a system is so obsolete that we are forced to purchase better equipment. By doing this, we are reducing our capital expenditures and increasing our profit. However, to ensure that we do not experience any downtime, therefore resulting in lost orders, we must ensure that our equipment does not become out of date.

Customer Service PolicyEvery major business using E-commerce today must have a sound and acceptable Customer Service Policy. The reason for this need is to protect the business and owners, as well as the customers. Without this policy, lawsuits by customers could and would "clog" the judicial system domestically. Also, this policy informs customers worldwide of our ideas and practices foreign and domestic, without creating international problems. Below is our Customer Service Policy:SB&J Baskets sell gift baskets via internet, mail, and locally. Mail and Internet orders are for NEW product only.Once your order has shipped we will Email you a receipt and the tracking number(s) for your shipment. Please feel free to call if you have any questions regarding your shipment or your bill. Please report any discrepancies in your bill or your order as soon as possible. SR&J respects your right to privacy. Your name and address, phone and fax numbers, Email address, credit card numbers !

Although competition is a way of life, we compete for jobs, promotions, and scholarships to institutes of higher learning, in sports-and in almost every aspect of our lives. Nations compete for the consumer in the global marketplace, as do individual business owners. Advances in technology can send the profit margins of a successful business into a tailspin causing them to plummet overnight or within a few hours. When considering these and other factors, we can conclude that business is a highly competitive, volatile arena. Because of this volatility and competitiveness, it is important to know your competitors.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1767
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)