Crate & Barrel using Net to tap Canadian market
By Brian Carroll -- Furniture Today, December 2, 2001
TORONTO — Crate & Barrel says it has begun using the Internet to penetrate the Canadian market and to treat orders from Canada the same as U.S. ones.
The Northbrook, Ill.-based chain — which doesn't have any brick-and-mortar stores in Canada — is using custom software and technology from Borderfree, a Toronto-based e-commerce services company. The suite of e-commerce tools is called CommerceConnect.
Key to the Internet presentation, according to the Top 100 retailer, is the up-front disclosure to the consumer of all costs associated with the purchase, including delivery and deluxing.
Crate & Barrel wants to eliminate surprises for the customer, said Bette Kahn, who handles public relations for the 80-store chain.
"The Canadian market represents an enormous opportunity for us," Kahn said. She said the e-commerce technology and Web site enable "a seamless shopping experience for our Canadian customers."
Tom Reeves, president and chief executive officer of Borderfree, said that via the Internet, Canadian consumers interested in American goods have access to a wider range of products.
They also enjoy "the convenience of being able to purchase directly from the Crate & Barrel Web site, eliminating the past difficulties associated with online, cross-border shopping," he said.
Crate & Barrel's Web site (www.crateandbarrel.com) has added a "Canadian Check Out," which lists guaranteed, real-time total purchase prices in Canadian dollars. The price quotes include foreign currency conversion, duties and tariffs, taxes, and shipping and handling costs.
Crate & Barrel went live online in 1999.
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