SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Shopatron, a provider of e-commerce solutions for consumer goods manufacturers, directs orders from manufacturers' Web sites to retailers located near the consumer. Consumers have the option of picking up orders in-store or having their items shipped. In both instances, the retail partners handle fulfillment, allowing retailers to generate in-store revenues and enabling manufacturers to sell directly from their Web sites.
"Shopatron's in-store pickup solution helps improve our overall customer service by allowing a customer to pick up his product shortly after ordering it, often within a few hours," said Steve Doviak, Internet manager for Thule Car Racks. "As spring approaches, our customers want to get outside and get active. On our Web site, a shopper can find the product he needs and choose how he wants to receive it. Shopatron will then manage the order with a local retailer to make sure the customer gets the item as fast as possible."
Over the holiday season, Shopatron found that more than half of all shoppers chose to try Shopatron in-store pickup if presented with the option while placing their order online. Based on the convenience of in-store pickup and costs saved on shipping, more than 95 percent of consumers rated the shopping experience as "good" or "excellent."
