Strong online sales growth at J.C. Penney, Seabear.com and United Retail

IRCE 2008 Conference Multi-Media CD-ROM

Internet sales at J. C. Penney Co. Inc.’s jcp.com increased 15.2% in December over December a year ago, the company reported today. Department store sales increased 4.2%, the company reported. Total sales at J.C. Penney, No. 13 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, were up 3.5% to $3.36 billion from $3.25 billion a year ago, the company reports.

Conversion rates at SeaBear Wild Salmon hit 28% on Dec. 10, the company reports, with an average conversion rate of 21.2% for December. Holiday sales at seabear.com grew 25% over the same period a year ago. The company re-launched the site in August using services from e-commerce firm Tellus. Seabear has sold through catalogs since 1957; it launched a web site in 1999.

Online sales for the United Retail Group Inc. were up 53% in December over the December 2005. Online sales were up 50% year-to-date (two months into the FY fourth quarter). Total company sales decreased 2% in December and increased 4% year-to-date. United, No. 315 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, sells at a number of web sites, with its primary site being Avenue.com.