David Gordon and Allen Ray recently posted on their blog that Grainger will be launching its revamped Web site soon. (See blog at www.electricaltrends.com.) They say that the site relaunch is focused on improved searching capabilities, new features to "enhance productivity," enhanced account information and easier catalog access.
The investment is a good one for Grainger given that the distributor’s e-commerce channel is growing at twice the company’s growth rate, according to its 2009 Fact Book posted at its Web site. The distributor presents these numbers:
E-commerce sales rose by 13% to $1.5 billion (in 2008). Sales in the e-commerce channel represented 24% of overall sales for Grainger’s U.S. business, 7% for the Canadian business and 9% for Grainger’s other businesses.
