Estimates for the growth of the American e-commerce market show that a growth rate of 17 percent can be achieved for 2008. Overall retail will register 3.5 percent growth in 2008 in the US.

The majority of retailers (online and offline) that report USD 5 billion or more in annual revenue are more experienced in terms of multi-channel retailing. As compared with small and mid-sized retailers, they are more inclined to consider the online channel an expansion to their business and not an outlet for excess inventory.

42 percent of larger retailers are more inclined to offer the option to order in-store for fulfilment by means of other channels and 59 percent of respondents are more likely to offer the option of buying online and via catalogues for in-store pickup. Furthermore, there is a higher tendency among large retailers to team up with suppliers to enable direct shipments from the supplier to the customer, 82 percent of respondents declaring that they are willing to adopt such an option.