Hot 100 List - Internet Retailer

Putting service behind office products

For e-retailers of office supplies appealing to and satisfying immediate needs are top priorities. The sites featured in the category this year understand the doldrums of cubicle life and do their best to alleviate it.

Company

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W.W. Grainger Inc.Lighting up b2b

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Office DepotQuick and easy

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PoppinA pop of color

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Quill Lincolnshire Inc.Personal space

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Shoplet.comA wide selection

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Why They're Hot:

Online-only office supplies retailer Shoplet.com competes against its big chain competitors by offering a broader selection of products and a better shopping experience, says Tony Ellison, CEO of office supplies retailer Shoplet.com. While Staples Inc. says it offers 7,000 SKUs on Staples.com, for instance, Shoplet sells more than 500,000, including more than 20,000 made from recycled products, thanks to its drop-ship business model. During the back-to-school season, the retailer helped shoppers sort through its scores of products by organizing products according to the grade the child is entering. "At the end of the day our job is to make our customers' shopping experience easy and memorable enough that they recommend us to their friends," Ellison says.

Key Statistics:

Date Launched:1994
Unique Visitors:700000
Web-based Sales:Order the Hot 100 issue

Who They're Using:

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