By the numbers: the Internet

1979: Online shopping is invented in the UK by Michael Aldrich

1994: JCPenney goes online

1995: Amazon.com debuts

2000: The dot com investment bust

$25.8 billion: Total e-commerce retail sales in 2000

2001: Amazon.com reports its first-ever profit in the 4th quarter

2002: eBay acquires PayPal

2002: CSN Stores is founded

$45.5 billion: Total e-commerce retail sales in 2002, an increase of 76.3% from 2000

2003: Apple launches its iTunes store

2003: Myspace debuts

$70.9 billion: Total e-commerce retail sales in 2004, an increase of 75.6% from 2002

2005: JCPenney reaches online sales of $1 billion

2006: Nebraska Furniture Mart, part of Top 100-company Berkshire Hathaway, begins selling online

2006: Twitter launches

$106.6 billion: Total e-commerce retail sales in 2006, an increase of 50.4% from 2004

2007: Apple releases the iPhone

2008: CSN Stores’ 2008 total sales reach more than $200 million

2008: Bassett begins selling online

$132.4 billion: Total e-commerce retail sales in 2008, an increase of 24.2% from 2006

$4.6 billion: 2008 estimated furniture and bedding online sales

2009: Backcock Home Furniture & more begins selling online

60%: The percentage of consumers who conducted online research before buying home furnishings in a retail store during the six months of February to July 2009, according to comScore

$163.9 billion: Total e-commerce retail sales projected for 2011, a projected increase of 23.8% from 2008
For a detailed look into the consumer’s view of furniture shopping and buying online, click here. Furniture/Today’s exclusive Consumer Views: The Internet report is available as a FREE download through November 16, 2009.

Note: E-commerce retail sales figures are from the U.S. Department of Commerce and exclude travel, digital downloads and event tickets.