AU2010101104A4 - Method for enhancing online trading - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 Innovation Patent Specification Title: Method for enhancing online retailing Applicant(s): Violet Reusch Inventor(s): Violet Reusch Agent: © COTTERS Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys The following is a full description of the invention which sets forth the best method known to the applicant of performing it.

2 Method for enhancing online retailing Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for enhancing online retailing. 5 Background of the Invention Online retailing allows vendors to sell products over the internet to consumers in many different locations. Consumers pay for the products using credit or debit cards over a secure internet connection and the products are shipped from the vendor to the consumer. 10 Online retailing provides a very broad customer base for vendors without the need for the costs associated with maintaining and stocking storefronts. Instead, products can be shipped directly from warehouse locations to the customer. This greatly reduces costs involved and allows the vendor to pass cost savings on to the consumer. 15 Online retailing also saves the consumer time and effort by not having to travel to various stores in order to find and compare products for purchase. However, from a consumer perspective, there are significant disadvantages to online 20 retailing. It can be difficult for a consumer to adequately assess the product from the online display on a vendor web page. Online displays can also be misleading or inconsistent with the shipped product. Other difficulties are encountered when a consumer is seeking fitted apparel products such as clothing and shoes. Even with standard clothing sizes, consumers often find that clothing doesn't fit. 25 This can result in higher rates of return of products purchased through online retailing than conventional retailing. The expense and handling involved in returning unwanted products can turn consumers away from online retailing. 30 Products purchased online are often delivered by post meaning that consumers must collect the products from a local post office, which have limited opening hours.

3 Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative. 5 Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for enhancing online retailing comprising: providing a physical display store; offering use of the display store to one or more online vendors for display of physical 10 samples of products offered for sale online; displaying in the display store physical samples of products that are available for purchase online from the online vendors; offering the physical samples to consumers via the display store only for inspection or trial by the consumers in the display store; and is in response to a consumer request for a desired product, processing a purchase of the desired product in the display store and ordering the desired product from the respective online vendor. In a preferred embodiment, the purchase of the desired product is processed in an account 20 operated independently of the vendor and payment for the desired product is made to the vendor from the account once the desired product is delivered by the vendor. Preferably, the method further comprises charging rental fees and/or commission fees to the online vendors to display their products in the display store. 25 Further preferably, the method further comprises providing a display store website to offer for sale all of the products displayed in the display store. Brief Description of the Drawings 30 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of specific example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a method for enhancing online retailing.

4 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments As depicted in the schematic diagram of Fig.1, a method for enhancing online retailing involves providing a physical display store 10 for use by online vendors 20 in conjunction with products provide for sale online on vendor websites 30. 5 Online vendors 20 are offered use of the display store 10 for the display of physical samples of products offered for sale by the online vendors 20 on vendor websites 30. Physical samples of the products that are available for purchase on the vendor websites 30 of the online vendors 20 are then displayed in the display store 10. The physical samples of the 10 products are offered to consumers 40 in the display store 10 for inspection or trial by the consumers 40 in the display store 10. In the event that a consumer 40 wishes to purchase a desired product, the purchase is processed in the display store 10. The purchase of the desired product is processed in an 15 account 50 operated independently of the vendors 20. The desired product is then ordered for delivery from the vendor 20 by the display store 10. Payment for the desired product is made to the vendor 20 from the account 50 once the desired product is delivered by the vendor 20. 20 Rental fees for maintaining a display in the display store 10 are charged to the vendors 20 and commission fees on each payment processed by the display store 10 are deducted from the payments made to the online vendors 20. Computer terminals with access to the websites 30 of the vendors 20 are provided in the 25 display store 10 for use by consumers 40. Deliveries of the desired products from the vendors 20 can be delivered directly to the consumer 40 or to the display store 10 for collection by the consumer 40. Collection sites of the display store 10 may be operated over extended hours to facilitate collection by 30 consumers. The display store 10 may offer extended and/or 24 hour service operation for consumers to view and or order.

5 Goods are not stocked in the display store for sale or delivery but are ordered for delivery directly from the vendors. Each vendor would be provided with, or would provide of their own accord, a display stand for displaying their products in the display store. 5 By allowing consumers in the display store to see, touch, try and compare products, vendors will reduce the number of unsatisfied consumers and therefore reduce the incidence of product return. Consumers who are not comfortable making online purchases are also more likely to purchase online through the display store. 10 As the high costs for physical retail stores are largely avoided, the products can be offered at prices that are comparable to online purchasing, which is much more competitive than conventional retail outlets. Consumers can compare product prices and quality with similar products offered online or in nearby retail outlets. Consumers can also be guided through the online ordering process by skilled sales staff if required. 15 The display store 10 may be owner operated and/or franchised domestically and internationally. Vendors can be charged for various services including the provision of a display stand, 20 commission fees on purchases made through the display store and rent according to the size of the vendor display. Staff may be provided either by the vendor or by the display store operator. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be 25 appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (5)

1. A method for enhancing online retailing comprising: providing a physical display store; offering use of the display store to one or more online vendors for display of physical samples of products offered for sale online; displaying in the display store physical samples of products that are available for purchase online from the online vendors; offering the physical samples to consumers via the display store only for inspection or trial by the consumers in the display store; and in response to a consumer request for a desired product, processing a purchase of the desired product in the display store and ordering the desired product from the respective online vendor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase of the desired product is processed in an account operated independently of the vendor and payment for the desired product is made to the vendor from the account once the desired product is delivered by the vendor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging rental fees and/or commission fees to the online vendors to display their products in the display store.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a display store website to offer for sale all of the products displayed in the display store.

5. A method for enhancing online retailing, said method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Violet Reusch By Patent Attorneys for the Applicant ©COTTERS Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys