August 23, 1999 09:19
NextCard Announces the NextCard eCommerce Index; Internet Shoppers Rank the Top Merchants Online Using the NextCard Internet Visa Business Editors
Compiled from the monthly activity of approximately 100,000 NextCard Internet Visa cardholders, the NextCard eCommerce Index is based on the number of actual online purchases, rather than page views or site visits. The monthly ranking will be published regularly by The Industry Standard and Yahoo! Internet Life as a premier source of online purchase activity. The NextCard eCommerce Index will also be available at www.nextcard.com.
"NextCard cardholders represent the most Internet-savvy, active online shoppers. Therefore, we developed the NextCard eCommerce Index to provide accurate and reliable information about where consumers actually purchase on the Internet," said Dan Springer, chief marketing officer of NextCard. "We are especially pleased to launch the index with such leading publications as The Industry Standard and Yahoo! Internet Life. With the holiday e-commerce season quickly approaching, the index will also serve as an important barometer of online merchant success."
Credit cards, accounting for more than 90% of all transactions on the Internet, are the preferred payment choice for the $30 billion e-commerce marketplace. NextCard is in a unique position to identify the Top 25 Online Merchants and the Top 10 eCommerce Movers because NextCard Visa customers are Internet savvy consumers who actively shop online.
Commenting on today's announcement, Allen Weiner, vice president of analytical services at Nielsen/NetRatings said, "NextCard's unique ability to identify online transactions, coupled with their significant cardholder base, makes the NextCard eCommerce Index a valuable yardstick in understanding the dynamic electronic commerce marketplace."
The NextCard eCommerce Index
The NextCard eCommerce Index is a monthly listing of the top 25 online merchants and the top 10 movers based on the number of online purchase transactions by approximately 100,000 NextCard Visa customers. The NextCard eCommerce Index combines two critical components to accurately reflect online transaction activity: 1) a large cardholder base that reflects the demographic profile of online purchasers and 2) data-mining technology that tracks card transactions online.
As some of the most sophisticated online consumers, NextCard customers make online purchases approximately five times more often than the average online credit card user. As a result, the NextCard eCommerce Index not only provides valuable information about where online
consumers are actually buying, but it also reflects the ability of merchants to convert web visitors to buyers, and buyers to repeat customers.
Top 25 Online Merchants - July 1999
1. AOL ONLINE SERVICE
2. AMAZON.COM
3. ONSALE
4. BUY.COM
5. CD NOW / MUSIC BOULEVARD
6. BARNESANDNOBLE.COM
7. EARTHLINK NETWORK
8. MINDSPRING
9. E BAY INC
10. EGGHEAD.COM
11. UBID
12. MSN ONLINE
13. DRUGSTORE.COM
14. AT&T WORLDNET
15. NETWORK SOLUTIONS
16. PRODIGY
17. 800.COM
18. BONZI.COM
19. BIGSTAR.COM
20. BEYOND.COM
21. PLANETRX.COM
22. WEBTV NETWORK
23. DVD EXPRESS
24. NETFLIX
25. COMPUSERVE
The NextCard eCommerce Movers(SM) is a monthly listing of the top
10 online merchants that experience the largest percentage change in
transaction volume from the previous month. Movement may be attributed
to a variety of variables including monthly promotions, site outages,
seasonal events, etc.
The NextCard eCommerce Movers - July 1999
5 Biggest Gainers 5 Biggest Losers
------------------ ----------------
IBM INTERNET SERVICE 1,450% CUC NETMARKET -48%
WEBVAN 1,200% WEB PLAYERS -42%
KBKIDS.COM 850% 1 800 FLOWERS -37%
WAREHOUSE.COM 550% COMPUSERVE -35%
ECOST.COM 525% WEB AUCTIONS -30%
Journalists and publishers wishing to reproduce the NextCard
eCommerce Index should contact Michelle DesMarais at 415-836-9792.
About NextCard, Inc.
NextCard, Inc. (http://www.nextcard.com) is considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet. Since its launch in December 1997, over 2 million people have applied for the NextCard Internet Visa, making it one of the premier online credit cards. The Company continues to innovate with its complete GoShopping! web site, a one-click digital wallet, a Double Rewards program, personalized PictureCard design and exceptional online customer service.
NextCard was recently named a "HOT 100 Company" by Upside Magazine.
THE SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. Information contained herein as to NextCard's expectations and goals are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ from those projected in these statements due to portfolio characteristics, economic conditions, competition in the industry and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Note to Editors: Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: NextCard
Michelle DesMarais, 415/836-9792
michelle.desmarais@nextcard.com
or
NetRatings
Sally Blodgett, 408/941-2932
sblodgett@netratings.com |
