E-Commerce Times Talkback

Re: Faith in E-Commerce Hard To Kill
Posted by: Keith Regan 2001-08-15 12:20:37

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There are apparently some in e-commerce with an eternally sunny outlook. Some might call
it an inability to accept reality. For others, it might seem more like a complete failure
to learn from the past, which therefore dooms us to repeat it. But this very optimism
could be what keeps e-commerce not only alive and well, but growing for a long time to
come.

Somewhere on the continuum between optimism and delusion lies the $15 million investment
that Allen & Co. led for an online grocer. No, that's not a misprint. A multimillion
dollar investment was actually made in an online grocer.

Re: Faith in E-Commerce Hard To Kill
Posted by: Phillip Supino 2001-08-20 09:16:34 In reply to: Keith Regan

It is worth noting that Simon is a route delivery system (like a milkman), making the cost of fulfillment much more manageable.

Re: Faith in E-Commerce Hard To Kill
Posted by: Fred Lynn 2001-08-15 12:36:08 In reply to: Keith Regan

Frankly Keith, I am shocked that anyone still believes that the Sox will win anything of any import.

The best thing that I ever did was get out of Boston, what a lousy city of corroded hopes and dreams. Ask Bill Buckner what he thinks about it. Ask Ted Williams why he left.

About the only person that I know that likes the city besides the Yawkey's is Bucky Dent.

And that brings me to my real point. Sometimes the idea (person) that has never made it in the past requires nothing more than perserverance.

People want convenience. Grocery delivery services can help achieve that for them. Than again, the people of Minnesota elected a professional wrestler as their governor, so what do I know.

Seriously though, perseverance, determination and the ability to learn from your mistakes can go a long way. Maybe this time it will work.

Chris Mannella from Webvan had a lightbulb moment in this space....
Posted by: Paul B. 2001-08-23 22:20:37 In reply to: Fred Lynn

Keith,
A friend told me, in so many words, that "perseverance, determination and learning from mistakes" is exactly what Chris Mannella,who served on the origninal executive team at Webvan is doing in the same day delivey space. Chris and his team have taken the idea of same day delivery, coupled it with the infrastructure of the poorly marketed, but highly efficient same day courier industry. This effectively eliminates the high infrastructure/overhead that killed (at least stifled) online grocers and retaining (improving) the execution of delivery same day. You should check them out http://www.ensenda.com