Home Depot Sets Web Sights

Home improvement giant (www.homedepot.com) Home Depot, which so far has sat out the e-retailing rush, is sitting no longer. Web site developer iXL Inc. announced today that it has won an initial contract to expand the retailer's e-commerce presence. Terms, timing and specifics of the agreement were not disclosed. Home Depot's entry comes within weeks of Amazon.com's entry into the Internet home improvement market. (www.jup.com) Jupiter Communications Inc. projects that online home improvement sales will grow from less than $100 million this year to more than $700 million in 2000.
     "iXL's experience in the retail sector, combined with the right mix of strategy, creativity and interactive expertise, will enable us to redefine how the Internet services customers;" said Ellen Dracos, director of homedepot.com. "We look forward to working with iXL to provide an unparalleled experience for our customers online." Home Depot has nearly 900 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Chile. By the end of 2003, the company expects to have more than 1,900.