WO2001023989A2

WO2001023989A2 - Methods of providing and obtaining information, items, orders, and digital representations and using electronic communication systems

Info

Publication number: WO2001023989A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/026424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Conley W. Giles; Andrew L. Passino; Dane P. Hebert; Thomas A. Gindrup, Jr.
Original assignee: Promoorder.Com, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-09-30
Filing date: 2000-09-27
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: WO2001023989A8; AU7616500A

Abstract

The present invention includes numerous different embodiments, many of which are particularly useful for providing and obtaining information and ordering promotional items using an electronic site. An electronic communication system allows a user many possibilities for obtaining information and ordering items. A user can navigate and "drill down" for information using an icon-rich display. Each of the icons may have a marking of an entity to better visualize the item with the marking. If desired, the user can get a digital representation of the item with the marking. The user can search using one or more attributes. Also, the user can get "real-time" pricing of items as attributes of the items are changed. The order can be split between suppliers, supplier locations, or shipping locations. Financial arrangements for paying for orders are highly flexible and include "mixed payments", customer access, or automatic authorization notification. After ordering, a hyperlink to a high-resolution file including the marking may be provided to the supplier. If the supplier has the file, transmission time is not wasted sending the high-resolution file. If the file is needed, the link can be activated to have the high-resolution file sent to the supplier. The system can be set up where the entities using the system are the user, distributor (who may control the electronic system), and supplier; or where the entities using the system can include the user, the distributor, an intermediary (who may control the electronic system), and the supplier. The distributor or supplier may have access to update information within the database for the electronic system. Various segments of the process have been automated to reduce human interfacing in the ordering process. Software or data processing system products can be made for performing many of the functions. The embodiments include details, many of which are not required for any or all of the claims.

Description

DESCRIPTION

METHODS OF PROVIDING AND OBTAINING INFORMATION, ITEMS, ORDERS, AND DIGITAL REPRESENTATIONS AND USING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to United States Patent Application Nos. 60/157,173 entitled "Online Promotional System and Method" by Passino et al. filed September 30, 1999, and 60/177,868 entitled "Online Promotional System and Business Method" by Giles et al. filed January 24, 2000, both of which are incoφorated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to methods of providing and obtaining information, items, orders, and digital representations, and more particularly, to methods of providing and obtaining information, items, orders, and digital representations and using electronic communication systems.

RELATED ART Ordering promotional items has typically been somewhat cumbersome, before the advent of the Internet. Typically, there are many thousands of distributors of promotional items. Each has its own catalog, which is provided by a number of suppliers. Due to the number of suppliers and promotional items, and it can be challenging for purchasers of the promotional items to find exactly what they want in a timely fashion. Needless to say, the process is driven by a lot of human interaction and is labor intensive.

The use of the Internet has only marginally improved the ability to get promotional items. In many instances, limited information regarding promotional items can be discovered on the Internet.

The information is similar to that found with the traditional distributor catalogs. However, about the only information within the catalog is details regarding the products and their prices. There is no mechanism in some of these Internet sites for placing an order. Therefore, the Internet site is only an informational site. After items are selected for purchase, the user still must call the order into the distributor to get the goods that he or she wants.

Some Internet sites have made a slight improvement on the prior methods described. In this case, there is a shopping cart provided. However, items are put in the shopping cart but they are not ordered via the Internet site. Again, a call is made to a distributor to let the distributor know that the items are to be purchased. Needless to say, there is unnecessary human interaction in these methods that make them inefficient, slow or cumbersome to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: FIG. 1 includes a process flow diagram in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGs. 2-4 include illustrations of views seen by a user while accessing information for promotional items;

FIGs. 5 and 6 include illustrations of views that include more detailed information regarding one specific promotional item;

FIG. 7 includes an illustration of a view of a sample request form;

FIGs. 8-16 includes illustrations of views of order details; and

FIG. 17 includes an illustration of a view of a customized page made for a specific customer of the distributor. Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention includes numerous different embodiments, many of which are particularly useful for ordering promotional items using an electronic site and some of which are addressed herein. An electronic communication system allows a user many possibilities for obtaining information and ordering items. A user can navigate and "drill down" for information using an icon- rich display. Each of the icons may have a marking of an entity to better visualize the item with the marking. If desired, the user can get a digital representation of the item with the marking. The user can search using one or more attributes. Also, the user can get "real-time" pricing of items as attributes of the items are changed. The order can be split between suppliers, supplier locations, or shipping locations. Financial arrangements for paying for orders are highly flexible and include "mixed payments," customer access, or automatic authorization notification. After ordering, a hyperlink to a high-resolution file including the marking may be provided to the supplier. If the supplier has the file, transmission time is not wasted sending the high-resolution file. If the file is needed, the link can be activated to have the high-resolution file sent to the supplier. The system can be set up where the entities using the system are the user, distributor (who may control the electronic system), and supplier; or where the entities using the system can include the user, the distributor, an intermediary (who may control the electronic system), and the supplier. The distributor or supplier may have access to update information within the database for the electronic system. Various segments of the process have been automated to reduce human interfacing in the ordering process. Software or data processing system products can be made for performing many of the functions. The various embodiments include details, many of which are not required for any or all of the claims. The present invention is defined by the appending claims and is better understood after reading the detailed description of the embodiments that follow.

Before proceeding, a few terms are defined or clarified to reduce the likelihood of confusion. Items include products and services. Electronic sites are sites that are connected to by an electronic communication medium. Web sites on the Internet are the most common forms of electronic sites.

An entity is a company, coφoration, partnership, individual, or group of individuals. An organization is an entity other than an individual. A user may be a person (acting on his or her own behalf) or an entity. When a user is an entity other than an individual, typically an agent of the entity is performing acts. An agent of an entity is an employee, other individual, or organization acting on behalf of the entity.

FIG. 1 includes a process flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. Throughout the detailed description, references will be made to FIG. 1 so that various features seen in the other figures are related back to the acts as illustrated in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the user starts at a web site (box 102). The distributor uses icons to display the promotional items as seen in view 20 in FIG. 2. The distributor sends and the user receives view 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. View

20 includes 24 icons arranged in four rows and six columns. The arrangement of the icons in FIG. 2 include icons 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, and 292.

The design of view 20 allows faster navigation by the user by having more visual impact because each icon has only a limited amount of textual information associated with it (box 106 in

FIG. 1). Normally, there will be no more than approximately five words of text associated with each icon. In many instances, this will be no more than three words of text. The icons should be, for the most part, self-explanatory of the items. However, some items look somewhat similar. The text aids in better defining what the items are. For example, a pen and a flashlight, which is configured to look like a pen, may appear very similar on the icons. However, the words associated with each may say

"pen" for the writing instrument and "pen light" for the flashlight to reduce confusion. Typically, at least eight icons are displayed at this first level.

One other benefit of this type of view is to allow a better "drilling down" of the information. For example, icon 226 in FIG. 2 includes a mug. When the user activates the icon, an electronic signal is sent by the used and received by the distributor. The distributor sends and the user receives view 30, as seen in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 includes five different icons, all associated with mugs. Icon 302 represents coasters; icon 304 represents beverages (coffee, tea, etc.); icon 306 represents spoons or other stirring instruments; and icon 308 represents lids that could be used with the mugs. Therefore, in this view, the complementary items that go along with the mug may be displayed. Near the top of the view is a notation for the "mugs" category, and "1 to 5 of 9" different products are displayed. In the center of the view includes icon 226, which corresponds to the mug. At this second level, at least three icons are usually displayed.

When the user decides to further investigate the mug, he or she would activate icon 226 by clicking on it. By activating icon 226, the user sends and the distributor receives a signal to display the different styles of mugs, which are then seen in view 40 shown in FIG. 4. These include icon 402, which represents a classic porcelain mug, icon 404, which represents a cafe mug, icon 406, which represents a grande ironstone mug, and icon 408, which represents a classic ironstone mug. Also included within FIG. 4 is mobile mug 226. A supplier may have paid an additional fee to the distributor to have the mobile mug more prominently displayed so that a user would be more inclined to order it. Further, the distributor can determine which supplier or suppliers will provide the mobile mug at icon 226. For example, if the distributor chooses the least expensive supplier, that supplier may be the only supplier available to the user. However, if the distributor would like the user or customer to access other suppliers, the distributor could enable other views to show the different suppliers of the same style of mug. Now, the user may decide to get more details on the products (box 108). By activating the icon, the user sends and the distributor receives a signal to display an enlarged view 526 as illustrated in FIG. 5. At this point, many of the details of the item may be obtained as seen in view 626 of FIG. 6. The details may include a general description of the mug, lead time, minimum quantity amounts, shipping weights, production times, or other information, as appropriate. Needless to say, the amount of information provided to the user could be highly variable. The various items of information described previously are only to be illustrative and not limiting to what can be displayed. The user can then go to a view 726 to obtain a sample, as shown in FIG. 7. The sample may be a digital sample, which would be an electronic, two-dimensional image of the item, a blank sample (without any promotional markings on it), or a production sample, which would have the marking on the item that the user would like. In this particular example, the user is obtaining a digital sample of the item.

For the digital sample or representation, the user sends and the distributor receives an order for the digital representation. The order would include information regarding that promotional item, and an electronic file that includes a marking. Typically, this marking will be related to the employer of the employee (if the user is an employee) or it could be a picture or an illustration of a relative of the user or created by the relative of the user. The distributor would then take an electronic information related to the promotional item and combine that with the electronic file with the marking to create a digital representation of how the marking should appear on the promotional item. The item may have contours or corners. The digital representation illustrates how the marking would wrap around a contour or corner of the item for the user to make a decision on whether to obtain the promotional item with that marking. Some adjusting may be needed to fit or place the marking onto the digital representation of the item. The digital representation is a two-dimensional view as seen by the user that is to depict three dimensions in space.

Once the image has been formed, it is sent by the distributor and received by the user (or another person designated by the user) using an electronic communications means. Normally, this would be sent by an electronic mail system. However, it could be sent via the Internet or another electronic communications means. In the instance when the marking is for a company, the marking is typically a logo, a trademark, or a service mark. Other company initiatives or other programs that the company may be sponsoring either internally or externally may be displayed as part of the markings. Again, the types of markings that can be used are nearly limitless. The listing given has been just an example of some of some of the types of markings that can be used.

Returning to the ordering process, the user will then provide details for the order (box 122 in FIG. 1). At this time, an item with a corresponding item identifier (icon) has been selected. Turning to FIG. 8, the user can select a logo that may have previously been created for the user. FIG. 8 includes logos 802, 804, 806, and 808. Note that these logos can be different in both their appearance and also with respect to the color. For example, logo 806 may be monochromatic, whereas logo 808 may include any number of different colors. The user inputs more ordering details into the system, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The details will be input into section 902 and could include a printing location on the item, level of difficulty of the printing, and how many colors (one or more) may be used. There could also be additional charges for set-up costs, depending on how complex the markings will be. Further, prices may change based on the composition of the item (glass, plastic, stainless steel, etc.) The area of the promotional item on which the marking will be printed may be flat or round. There may be additional costs, depending on how complicated the markings will appear and also how difficult it is to print onto the promotional item.

As the details are sent by the user and received by the distributor, the user can see how the prices are changing as information is changed. Based on the details input, the distributor gives "realtime" pricing information based on the order details (box 124 in FIG. 1) without any human interaction on the part of the distributor. Some of these details are seen in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 has a view including a quantity section 101 with various quantity levels 1031 listed in boxes 1033, 1035, 1037, and 1039. There are corresponding prices, as shown in the price row 1051, which includes boxes 1053, 1055, 1057, and 1059. When the user has determined the quantity of a particular promotional item he or she desires, he or she enters the proper quantity into the box 107 as illustrated in FIG. 10. The pricing information is given while the user is at the electronic site. The user can go back and change order details and quickly see how the prices are affected. The user can usually send order information and receive a revised price in no more than approximately one minute and may get the information within approximately nine seconds. The turnaround on the distributor's end (from time order information revised is received until revised price is sent) is even faster. The user then continues shopping or adding items to the cart or go back and modify what currently was added to the cart. These are illustrated as tablets 113, 115, and 117 within view 111 in FIG. 11. The user can give special instructions as illustrated in box 121 in FIG. 12. These special instructions can include how markings are to appear (print at angle to give sloping appearance), colors, or materials, or any other details that may not otherwise be provided. For example, if a large order needs to be fulfilled by Christmas, the user can input into the screen that the shipment must be completed before December 25.

The user then sends and the distributor receives shipping instructions. This is illustrated in view 131 seen in FIG. 13. In addition to name, address, city, state, zip code, country and shipping method, the shipping information can include a number of different options, including different shippers and priorities for each of those shippers. Unlike other methods, this particular method allows the use of different ways of paying for shipping. In one mode, the user's account with the distributor may be billed for the shipping as illustrated in area 133, or the user can use his or her own existing shipping account as illustrated as item 135. At the close of all the shipping information, the shipping costs are shown to the user as illustrated in section 141 of the view illustrated in FIG. 14.

Now, the user orders the promotional items using the web site (box 126 in FIG. 1). The payment method is chosen in section 151, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The payment method can include charging the order to a purchase order, using a financial card (e.g., credit card, debit card, charge card, pre-paid Internet shopping card, bank card, or the like), billing the order to an existing account, or the like. In the case of a purchase order, the purchase order may be for an initial amount. The remaining balance may be displayed. At the start, the initial amount and remaining balance are the same. As items are charged to the purchase order, the remaining balance is displayed to user is decreased. The remaining balance on the purchase order is displayed to the user.

Eventually, the amount of a subsequent order may exceed the remaining balance. At this time, a number of options are available. In one option, the order may be entirely paid by using a financial card. In another option, the remaining balance is used and the difference between the order amount and the remaining balance is charged to a financial card or a different, existing purchase order. In yet another embodiment, the user may have authority to generate new purchase order. The order amount may be covered completely by the new purchase order or be covered by a combination of the old and new purchase orders.

The distributor can set up the system to limit authority for charging orders or for the creation of new purchase orders. The user's company may have previously given the distributor authorization limits. For example, the user may be authorized for $300 per order, the user's supervisor may be authorized for $1,000 per order, the user's department manager (i.e., the supervisor's supervisor) may be authorized for $10,000 per order, and the user's vice president (i.e., the department manager's supervisor) may be unlimited. If the user places an order for $5,000, the order will be put on hold until the department manager approves.

Although the user's supervisor does not have sufficient authority, the system may be configured to route the authorization through the user's supervisor, so that the department manager can direct questions to the user's supervisor first. From a different perspective, the distributor sends and the user's supervisor receives a request for authorization. The user's supervisor may send and the distributor receives the user's supervisor's authorization. However, the distributor determines the user's supervisor's authorization is insufficient. If the department manager is aware of the authorization scheme just described, the department manager knows the user's supervisor has seen the request for authorization. All the acts on the part of the distributor can be performed by a data processing system without any human intervention on the part of the distributor. After all the proper authorization(s) are received, the order is placed, and order information is sent by the distributor to the supplier.

In still another authorization limitation, any company employee may be limited to a remaining balance of an existing purchase order. An authorization chain, similar to the one above, could be activated if the amount of the order exceeds the remaining balance and no other consideration (e.g., financial card) is provided. In yet another embodiment, the company may have a line of credit that can be utilized for overcharges.

In order to reduce the likelihood of abuse, the system may be configured for an amount per time instead of or in conjunction with the amount per order. For example, the user may be limited to

$300 per order and $1,000 per month. In this manner, the user will not be able to submit multiple orders under $300 during a month in an attempt to evade the principle of the rule. The authorization amounts for the user's supervisor, department manager, and vice president may have limits on a per order basis, a per time basis, or both. After the payment selection has been made, the order is confirmed by the distributor, who sends a message that is received by the user and is illustrated in view 162 in FIG. 16. Typically, an electronic file having a high-resolution image of the marking (typically a logo, trademark, or service mark) with the promotional item has already been or, at the time the order is placed, is sent by the user and received by the distributor. The high-resolution electronic file is typically entered into a database at a memory location of the distributor. The checkout section 162 includes an order number and the various costs associated with the order, including the amount for the items, the applicable sales tax, the shipping costs, and the total to be paid. At this point, the user can then select to continue doing more shopping at the web site or end the session.

After the user sends and the distributor receives the order, the distributor then sends the order information to a supplier, who will receive that same information as shown in box 128 in FIG. 1. The supplier obtains, or has in inventory, the promotional items in blank form from the appropriate sources. After the blank versions of the promotional items are obtained, the supplier examines the information that was sent by the distributor and received by the supplier including information regarding the markings. Initially, this information could include a hyperlink having an illustration of the marking that allows the supplier to link to an electronic file that is within a database of the distributor. If the supplier determines that it already has the marking, it will not need to do any further file accessing from the distributor. However, if the supplier determines it does not have the proper electronic file for the markings, the supplier activates the link that it received from the distributor to obtain an electronic copy of the markings in a very high-resolution format from a database with the distributor. The electronic file is typically sent by the distributor and received by the supplier via an electronic communicating medium (Internet or electronic mail system).

Although the message sent to the supplier and the electronic file include the illustrations of the same marking, the resolution difference between the two are different. The illustration in the marking that is sent by the distributor to the supplier originally with the order will generally be of a relatively lower resolution. Its puφose is for the supplier to identify whether it has the marking. The reason why the lower resolution image is sent first is so that the Internet or other electronic communicating system transmission time between the distributor and supplier is kept relatively lower than if the higher resolution image was originally sent. If an assessment determines that the file with high resolution is needed, then the supplier obtains it from the distributor as previously described. Note that the higher the resolution of the marking, the more accurate the illustration on the promotional item will be. Therefore, it is advantageous to try to achieve the highest possible resolution of the markings for the supplier to accurately represent the markings on the promotional product. In one particular example, the illustration shown with the original order placement could be a Portable Document Format (PDF) or a Tagged Information File Format (TIFF) file. The illustration could be in a low-resolution or monochromatic version of these or other file formats. The marking for high resolution may be encapsulated postscript (EPS), Adobe Illustrator (Al), or the like. If PDF or TIFF files are used a high-resolution version or a version with at least two different colors in the image may be used. Typically, the file with the marking that is to be put onto the item has at least one more color than the illustration shown with the link. The file format may be different between the marking to be used for making the product and the marking needed for identification puφoses only. The supplier has all the information it needs. The supplier fulfills the order as illustrated in box 134 in FIG. 1.

The system allows other uses that customers or suppliers may find advantageous. In one particular embodiment, a user can search for promotional items based on nearly any attribute including price range, category (e.g., office products, wearable items, etc.), quantity, supplier, color, imprint type (e.g., decal, screen printing, etching, etc.), composition (e.g., wood, glass, ceramic, stainless steel, plastic, etc.), weight, size, and time-sensitivity of items (perishable items like chocolate, coffee beans, etc. versus non-perishable items) of items to be obtained. Nearly any combination of those parameters can be searched. Still, most users will specify one, two, three, or four different attributes. Searching for multiple attributes may be performed with a single instruction or be performed sequentially by the user sending a plurality of instructions with additional attributes. For example, a user may decide that he wants to get 500 items, but the price per item cannot exceed $10 per unit. In this instance, the user would put in a quantity of 500 with a maximum price of $10 (price range will be $0 to $10). The user sends and the distributor receives this price and quantity information. At this point, the distributor sends and the user receives a view showing only icons for those items that are available in that particular quantity, not to exceed that price per item. In still another embodiment, a user could input a minimum price per item instead of a maximum price.

For the minimum price per item, the price range is unspecified at the upper end. If needed, the user can also redefine the price range. For example, after doing a first search at $10 per item, a user may decide there are too many icons are displayed and the cost may not have included shipping. Therefore, the user sets the maximum price per item at $8.00. The number of items now available to the user may be more manageable. All items in the new view were also present in the prior view.

However, the items with a price higher than $8.00 will not be shown in the second view.

In a different embodiment, the price range can have the minimum and maximum prices per item, wherein both the minimum and maximum prices are positive (non-zero) values. An initial search may have a first price range at $0.50 to $1.50 per item. The user determines that the items below $1.00 per item are inappropriate but the upper end of the range is fine, but too limited. A new price range can be set to $1.00 to $3.00. Some items will be common to both price ranges, and other items will only be in one of the first price range or the second price range. In this example, the two price ranges overlapped each other. In other embodiments, the two price ranges may not overlap and may be spaced apart from one another. The distributor may allow more flexibility as to how many other inputs may be presented in this type of searching. For example, the distributor may allow a category to be selected, so the user could select office products, wearable items, various trinkets, or other miscellaneous items. The price information, the quantity information, and potentially the category information could be used by a data processing system to help the user more quickly do the searching. In still another embodiment, premium pages can be created by the distributor for specific users. The user sends and the distributor receives an instruction from the user at an electronic site. The instruction is to have the distributor display the premium page. The distributor then sends and the user receives view 170 as seen in FIG. 17. Referring to FIG. 17, the premium page includes icons 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, and 201. Unlike the other pages, these particular pages already have logos or other markings (not shown in FIG. 17) that are associated with the user displayed on the items. The markings could be any of the markings shown in FIG. 8. This allows the user to quickly see how his or her company's logo or other details should appear on different promotional items. The icons can represent items previously ordered by the user, items that the distributor thinks the user may like, or other items that are new to the distributor from some of its suppliers. Trademarks or service marks may be used instead of the logo. While in many instances, the employee(s) of a company are the users, others, such as the company's customers, may have access to the company's premium page. The premium pages that are available to the customers can be quite flexible. They can allow certain pricing to be made only to a particular customer of the distributor. This allows the distributor to individually recognize its customers that it values, without necessarily having to communicate that information to its suppliers or other customers. Typically, the premium pages are password protected to allow only the user or individuals that the user designates to have access to this page. The user may be able to add other identifiers and passwords if other individuals are to have access to the premium page. Alternatively, the distributor may determine the control to the page.

The premium page may allow certain customers of the user to access the page as part of an incentive program. For example, the user may be a first company that sells one type of product. In order to recognize its own customer, which could be a second company, for a successful campaign in selling particular products that the first company sells, the first company may allow the second company to have access to a limited number of items or dollar amount of items in recognition of meeting the sales goal for the products bought by the second company from the first company. The actual details are highly flexible.

In a first, non-limiting example, the user may send and the distributor receive an instruction to establish a limit consistent with the number or dollar amount of items. The distributor then establishes the limit for how much can be charged by the customer of the user. This limit may be established by an account entirely separate from the user or can be a specialized subaccount within the user's main account. In another non-limiting example, the user may send and the distributor receives an instruction from the user to generate a charge card for how much can be charged by the customer of the user. The distributor then sends the charge card to one of the customer, directly, or to the first company, who can then send it to the customer. In one particular example, the user (first company) may request 100 cards each having a value of $100. The user then distributes the cards as it sees fit. These types of interfacing can be very advantageous to the first company because, other than instructing the distributor to allow access or generate charge cards, there is very little labor or other effort on the part of the first company in order for the second company to pick and choose whatever items it likes to get with the first company's logo. The second company is less likely to receive items it may not like that the first company may have otherwise chosen. While the premium pages are typically for companies (user is usually an employee of one of the companies), premium pages may be set up for individuals. For an individual, the premium page may display a family crest, a name (first, middle or last), a picture or illustration that includes or is created by family member(s) or friend(s) of the user.

Maintenance of the database used for the promotional items web site can be preformed in part by the distributor, the supplier, or both. Typically, the distributor will control the database but may allow limited access to the supplier. Either may modify the database by using an electronic signal to add items to the database, remove items from the database, or change some attribute within the database. More specifically, some of these changes can include the removal either by deleting a memory address from the database or completely deleting all the information related to an item if item is to be removed. With respect to the change in attributes, these attributes can be one of many including size of the promotional items, colors, materials, prices, etc. Because the database may be accessible by the supplier via the Internet, the supplier can send and the distributor receive information regarding the modification without any human intervention on the part of the distributor.

With a price change, the price would be changed from a first price to a second price, which could be lower or higher than the first price. In this instance, the supplier can provide the information to the database directly, without any human intervention by the distributor. These modifications may occur potentially at nearly any time. A user would access the database and see the promotional item for a first price. After the supplier adjusts the price, whenever the user tries to access that same product at a later time, the user will now see the second price and will no longer be able to see the first price. The actual configuration or other details for maintaining the database via the web site can be determined by the distributor or supplier, as appropriate.

In other embodiments, orders can be split in a number of different ways. An order may be for a number of different items. In one example, the order may include shirts that will be obtained from one supplier, and mugs that will be obtained from a different supplier. When the order is placed, the distributor, via a data processing system, sends the appropriate information to the suppliers without any human intervention on the part of the distributor. The user may not even know that different suppliers are being used. Along similar lines, a single supplier may have different manufacturing locations. The system may default to the location closest to the user or the shipping location, however, the user may have the ability to choose a manufacturing location of the supplier that is farther from the user, the shipping location, or both. The user may specify multiple shipping locations for the same type of items with the same markings. For example, promotional pens may be ordered for conferences that will be given at multiple locations. All the pens are substantially identical to one another. Within a single order from the user, some of the pens will be shipped to the first location of the first conference, and the rest of the pens will be shipped to the second location of the second conference. The supplier receives the information and ships portions of the order accordingly. In another embodiment, the data processing system of the distributor examines the order. The first conference is closer to one of the supplier's manufacturing location, and the second conference is closer to a different one of the supplier's manufacturing locations. The order is parsed and appropriate information is sent, directly or indirectly, to the different manufacturing locations of the supplier to help reduce shipping costs. The determining, parsing, and sending can all be performed without any human intervention by the distributor or supplier. Any combination of user location, shipping location(s), and manufacturing location(s) with respect to each other is possible.

While many embodiments have been described, many other embodiments are possible. For example, nearly all the actions done by the distributor can be performed by another entity. In this instance, that other entity may be an intermediary between the distributor and the supplier. The intermediary sends and receives signals that the distributor would otherwise send or receive to and from the user, supplier, and customer of the user. The distributor would send and receive information similar to the supplier. Further, the database previously discussed may be under the control of the intermediary. Many of the contents of the database remain the same (item identifiers, prices, markings, etc.). The maintenance of the database can be performed at least in part by the distributor similar to the supplier. The distributor can add items, remove items, change prices, etc. The maintenance can be set to allow these actions to be performed by both the supplier and distributor.

With the intermediary system, the supplier, the distributor, or both can pay a commission or other fees to the intermediary based on the use (monitored by hits or central processing unit time) or by orders made using the system. In one embodiment, order information is sent to the distributor and supplier. The information going to each may be the same or different. Typically, financial information for the order (typically regarding consideration for the order from the user) is sent by the intermediary and is received by the supplier. Consideration is received by the supplier. After keeping its share, a portion of the consideration is paid to the distributor, and another portion is paid to the intermediary. With the intermediary system, a single intermediary may support nearly any number of distributors or suppliers. Usually, each of the entities (supplier, distributor, intermediary, and user) does not substantially own or significantly control any of the other entities. For example, the ownership or control, as based on voting shares, typically will not exceed approximately 50% and many times will not exceed approximately 20%. Still, in other embodiments, one of the entities may substantially own or significantly control one or more of the other entity(ies).

The Internet use for providing promotional items can be very beneficial. In the embodiments described previously, a more visual impact is seen when actually determining which promotional items to order. Also, the items can be more logically placed within a specific category, such as office supplies, wearables, or other categories. Additionally, the site is configured to allow the user to drill down into more specific items as needed. The example previously given was related to mugs.

Clearly, other items could have been used for the example, such as golf items. The digital samples of the representations can be obtained before large dollar commitments are made to make a more informed decision.

In addition, the ordering allows real-time pricing, so that a customer can see how adding certain features or omitting other features may have an effect on the price of the order. For example, typically the time between the user sending a request to a distributor for a price and the time the distributor sends the pricing information back to the user is less than one minute. More often, it will be even less than nine seconds, depending on Internet connection and other electronic details in the connection between the user and distributor. Because all the ordering can be done over the Internet, it requires less human intervention by the distributor and supplier and allows the order to more quickly be processed by the supplier. The supplier can start to work on the order within seconds after the order is placed by the user.

Some care may be needed in setting up the web site. Typically, a number of icons will be displayed at one time. At the higher levels, at least eight icons may appear and at the lower levels it may be at least five. However, if too many icons are displayed, they may be either too small or provide too much information to a user so quickly that the user can be either frustrated or intimidated by the amount of information that he or she is receiving. By having fewer words associated with the icons, there is more of a visual impact and it allows the user to navigate more quickly through all the different types of products that are available by the distributor.

Software or data processing system products can be made for performing many of the functions previously described. Such software or products may be in the form of a diskette, a compact disk, or could be transmitted over the Internet or other electronic communication media. In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of providing information via an electronic site comprising: sending a first information to a user, wherein the first information is displayed to the user as a first set of icons; receiving a first signal from the user, wherein the first signal is initiated by the user activating a first icon within the first set of icons; and sending a second information to the user, wherein the second information is displayed to the user as a second set of icons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein no more than five words of text are displayed with each icon within the first set of icons.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein no more than five words of text are displayed with each icon within the second set of icons.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein no more than five words of text are displayed with each icon within the second set of icons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of icons includes at least eight icons.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of icons includes at least three icons.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the icons correspond to promotional items.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second signal from the user, wherein the second signal is initiated by the user activating a second icon within the second set of icons; and sending a third information to the user, wherein: the third information corresponds to the second icon; the third information will be displayed to the user; and the third information includes an enlarged view of an item and additional details related to the item.

9. A method of providing information via an electronic site comprising: receiving a first information from a user, wherein the first information includes a first attribute selected from a group consisting of a first price range, a category, a quantity, a supplier, a color, an imprint type, a composition, a weight, a size, and a time sensitivity information; and sending to the user a second information regarding first items that correspond to the first attribute.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein: the first attribute includes the first price range; and the first price range information includes a maximum price per item.

1 1. The method of claim 9, wherein: the first attribute includes the first price range; and the first price range information includes a minimum price per item.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the first price range information includes a maximum price per item; and the minimum price per item and the maximum price per item are positive values.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first attribute includes the first price range and the method further comprises: receiving a second information from the user, wherein the second information includes a second price range that is different from the first price range; and sending to the user a second information regarding a second item that corresponds to the second price range.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second item is one of the first items.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second item is not one of the first items.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein: the first information includes a second attribute selected from a group consisting of the first price range, the category, the quantity, the supplier, the color, the imprint type, the composition, the weight, the size, and the time sensitivity; the second attribute is different from the first attribute; and the second information regards the first items that correspond to the first attribute and the second attribute.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein: the first information includes a third attribute selected from a group consisting of the first price range, the category, the quantity, the supplier, the color, the imprint type, the composition, the weight, the size, and the time sensitivity information; the third attribute is different from the first attribute and the second attribute; and the second information regards the first items that correspond to the first attribute, the second attribute, and the third attribute.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein: the first information includes a fourth attribute selected from a group consisting of the first price range, the category, the quantity, the supplier, the color, the imprint type, the composition, the weight, the size, and the time sensitivity information; the fourth attribute is different from the first attribute, the second attribute, and the third attribute; and the second information regards the first items that correspond to the first attribute, the second attribute, the third attribute, and fourth attribute.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the first items are displayed as icons.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein no more than five words of text are associated with each icon.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein the first items are promotional products.

22. A method of providing a pricing information for an item to a user at an electronic site comprising: receiving an item information from a user, wherein the item information includes an item identifier and a first attribute selected from a group consisting of a color information, a printing information, a composition information, and a set-up information; and sending the price information to the user via the electronic site, wherein the price information corresponds to the item information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: the item information further comprises a second attribute selected from a group consisting of the color information, the printing information, the composition information, and the set-up information; and the second attribute is different from the first attribute.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein: the item information further comprises a third attribute selected from a group consisting of the color information, the printing information, the composition information, and the set-up information; and the third attribute is different from the first attribute and the second attribute.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the item information includes a quantity information.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein: the first attribute includes color information; and the color information includes the number of colors to be printed on the item.

27. The method of claim 22, the printing information is selected from a group consisting of a printing size, a printing location, and a level of difficulty in printing.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein sending is performed no more than approximately one minute after receiving.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein sending is performed no more than approximately nine seconds after receiving.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving and sending are performed while the user remains at the electronic site.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is a promotional product.

32. A method of providing information via an electronic site comprising: receiving a first instruction from a user at an electronic site, wherein the first instruction is to display a view to the user; and sending to the user a first information corresponding to the view, wherein the view displays icons including a marking on a first promotional item, wherein the marking is related to a first entity that is associated with the user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the view includes a second promotional item that also has the marking, wherein the second promotional item is different from the first promotional item.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first promotional item has been previously purchased by the first entity, but the second promotional item has not been previously purchased by the first entity.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the marking is selected from a logo, a trademark, and a service mark of the first entity, and the acts of receiving and sending are performed by a second entity that is different from the first entity.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein: the first entity is a customer of a second entity; the second entity performs the acts of receiving the first instruction, sending to the user the first information, and receiving the order; and the first information includes a pricing information that the second entity makes available only to the first entity for the first promotional item.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising: receiving an instruction from the user to establish a limit for how much can be charged by a second entity to an account of the first entity; and establishing the limit for how much can be charged by the second entity to the account of the first entity.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising: receiving an instruction from the user to generate a charge card for how much can be charged to the card; and sending the charge card to one of the first entity and a second entity.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the user is an agent of the first entity.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the user is a customer of the first entity or an agent of a customer of the first entity.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving from the user an identifier and password before sending to the user the first information.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the user is the first entity.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein the marking is selected from a group consisting of a person's name, a crest, a monogram.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein the marking includes a picture or an illustration that includes or is created by a second entity.

45. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving an order for the first promotional item while the user is at the electronic site.

46. A method of providing a digital representation of a promotional item, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: receiving an order for the digital representation from a user, wherein the order includes: an information regarding the promotional item; and an electronic file that includes a marking for a second entity associated with the user; combining an electronic representation of the promotional item with information regarding the marking within the electronic file to create the digital representation of the promotional item with the marking; and sending the digital representation to the user.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein combining comprises: electronically placing the information regarding the marking over the electronic representation, wherein the promotional item includes a feature selected from a group consisting of a contour and a corner; and adjusting the information such that the marking appears to conform to the feature.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the digital representation is a two-dimensional view showing how the marking should appear on the promotional item.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the digital representation is a two-dimensional view showing how the marking should appear on the promotional item.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the marking is selected from a group consisting of a logo, a trademark, and a service mark of the second entity.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the user is an employee of the second entity.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein: the second entity is a person that is a relative of the user; and the marking includes a picture or an illustration that includes or is created by the second entity.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the digital representation is sent by an electronic communicating medium.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the electronic communication medium is selected from a group consisting of an internet and an electronic mail system.

55. A method of using an electronic ordering system, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: providing a first file, wherein: the first file includes a marking related to a second entity associated with a user; and the first file is stored at a memory location of the first entity; receiving an order from the user at an electronic site, wherein the first order is for the item with the marking; and sending to the third entity the order and an information regarding the marking, wherein the information includes a link to the first file.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising: receiving a signal from the third entity to send the first file, wherein the signal is sent after the link is activated; and sending the first file to the third entity using an electronic communicating medium.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the electronic communication medium is selected from a group consisting of an internet and an electronic mail system.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein further comprising choosing a format for the first file, wherein the format is selected from a group consisting of EPS, TIFF, PDF, and AL

59. The method of claim 55, wherein: the information includes a view of the marking; and the information is part of a second file that is in a different file format compared to the first file.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein: the information includes an illustration of the marking; the information is part of a second file; and the illustration within the second file has a lower resolution or at least one less color compared to the illustration within the first file.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein the marking is selected from a group consisting of a logo, a trademark, and a service mark of the second entity.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein the item is a promotional product.

63. A method of using an electronic ordering system via an electronic site, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: providing a database; receiving an electronic signal from a second entity, wherein: the second entity has been or is becoming a supplier of a promotional item or a distributor for the supplier; the electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to the database such that the database reflects that the promotional item is no longer provided by the second entity; an addition of the promotional item to the database; a change to an attribute for the promotional item within the database; an addition of the second entity as a supplier of the item; and an addition of the second entity as a distributor for the supplier; and the modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the first entity.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein: the database has a first price for the promotion item; the modification includes the change of the attribute from the first price to a second price; and the method further comprises: receiving a request for a promotional item information from the user; and sending the promotional item information to the user, wherein the promotional product information includes the second price but does not include the first price.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the modification includes the change to the database to reflect that the promotional item is no longer provided by the second entity.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the modification includes a deletion of information associated with the promotional item from the database.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein the modification includes the addition of the promotional item to the database.

68. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: receiving an order for an item from a user; sending a first information regarding the order to a supplier of the item; and sending a second information regarding the order to a distributor of the supplier.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the first information and the second information are a same information.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein: receiving the order further comprises receiving financial information regarding a consideration for the item; and receiving a portion of the consideration of the item.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein receiving the portion of the consideration occurs after at least one of sending the first information and sending the second information.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein receiving the portion of the consideration is received from the distributor.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein receiving the portion of the consideration is received from the supplier.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein receiving the portion of the consideration is received from the supplier.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein the item is a promotional product.

76. The method of claim 68, wherein: the acts of receiving the order, sending the first information, and sending the second information are performed by a first entity; and the user, the distributor, the supplier, and the first entity are different from one another.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the user is not an agent of the distributor, supplier, or the first entity.

78. The method of claim 68, further comprising sending an order confirmation to the user.

79. A method of using an electronic order system, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: providing a database that is controlled by the first entity; receiving a first electronic signal from a second entity, wherein the first electronic signal modifies a first information within the database; and receiving a second electronic signal from a third entity, wherein the second electronic signal modifies a second information within the database, wherein the first entity, the second entity, and the third entity do not substantially own or control one another.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the second entity is a supplier of an item and the third entity is a distributor of the item for the supplier.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the first information and the second information are related to the item.

82. The method of claim 79, wherein: the second entity has been or is becoming a supplier of the item; the first electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a first modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to reflect that the item is no longer provided by the second entity; an addition of the item to the database; a change to an attribute for the item within the database; a change to reflect that the second entity is no longer a supplier to the third entity; an addition of the second entity as the supplier of the item; and an addition of a fourth entity as a distributor for the supplier; and the first modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the first entity.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein: the third entity has been or is becoming a distributor of the item for the second entity; the second electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a second modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to reflect that the item is no longer provided by the third entity; an addition to the item to the database; a change to an attribute for the item within the database; a change to reflect that the third entity is no longer a distributor of the item for the second entity; an addition of the third entity as the distributor of the item for the second entity; and an addition of a fourth entity as a supplier to the distributor; and the second modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the first entity.

84. The method of claim 82, further comprising: receiving a request for an information related to the item from a user; and sending the information to the user, wherein the information includes the second price but does not include the first price.

85. The method of claim 79, wherein: the third entity has been or is becoming a distributor of the item for the second entity; an electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to reflect that the item is no longer provided by the third entity; an addition to the item to the database; a change to an attribute for the item within the database; a change to reflect that the third entity is no longer a distributor of the item for the second entity; an addition of the third entity as the distributor of the item for the second entity; and an addition of a fourth entity as a supplier to the distributor; and the modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the first entity.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the modification is selected from a group consisting of: a change to reflect that the third entity is no longer a distributor of the item for the second entity; and an addition of the third entity as a distributor of the item for the second entity.

87. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: receiving an order for a first item and a second item from a user, wherein the order has corresponding order information that includes a first information related to the first item and a second information related to the second item; and sending at least a portion of the order information to at least one supplier, wherein sending is performed without any human intervention and is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) sending the first information regarding the first item to a first supplier; and sending the second information regarding the second item to a second supplier that is different from the first supplier;

(b) sending the first information regarding the first item to a first supplier location; and sending the second information regarding the second item to a second supplier location that is spaced apart from the first supplier location; and

(c) the first information regards shipping the first item to a first shipping location specified by the user; and the second information regards shipping the second item to a second shipping location specified by the user, wherein the second shipping location is different from the first shipping location.

88. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: receiving an order information from a user regarding an item, wherein: the item could be obtained from a first supplier location or a second supplier location; and the order indicates that the item is to be obtained from the first supplier location; and sending at least a portion of the order information to the first supplier location.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein: the first supplier location and the second supplier location belong to a same supplier; the second supplier location lies closer to the user; and the item is to be obtained from the first supplier location.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein: the order information includes a shipping instruction for the order; the shipping instruction indicates that the item is to be shipped to a third location that lies closer to the second location.

91. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: receiving an order for an item from a first user within a first entity, wherein the order is for a first financial amount that exceeds an authority of the first user; sending a request for first authorization of the order to a second user within the first entity, wherein the second user has a capability to authorize the first financial amount; receiving the first authorization from the second user; and sending a first information regarding the order to a supplier.

92. The method of claim 91 , further comprising: sending a request for second authorization of the order to a third user within the first entity, wherein the third user has a greater financial authority than the first user but a lesser financial authority compared to the second user; receiving the second authorization from the third user; and determining that the second authorization is insufficient to authorize the first financial amount, wherein sending a request for second authorization, receiving the second authorization, and determining that the second authorization are performed after receiving the order and before sending the request for the first authorization.

93. The method of claim 91 , wherein the authority of the first user is limited to a remaining balance on an existing purchase order.

94. A method of ordering promotional items via an electronic site, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: providing a first file, wherein: the first file includes a marking related to a second entity that is associated with a user; and the first file is stored within a database of the first entity; receiving a first instruction from the user at the electronic site, wherein the first instruction is to display a first view to the user; and sending to the user a first information corresponding to the first view, wherein view displays icons including the marking related to the second entity; receiving a second instruction from the user at the electronic site, wherein: the second instruction regards a first promotional item, a second promotional item, and a pricing information regarding the first promotional item and the second promotional item; and the second instruction includes at least one item identifier and a first attribute selected from a group consisting of a color information, a printing information, a composition information, and a set-up information; sending to the user via the electronic site a second information regarding the first promotional item, the second promotional item, and the pricing information corresponding to the second instruction, wherein: the pricing information includes a first price for at least one of the first promotional item and the second promotional item; and the first price is different from a second price for a same item as the first price when the same item is provided to a different user; receiving an order from the user via the electronic site, wherein the order has corresponding order information that includes a third information related to the first item and a fourth information related to the second item; and sending at least a portion of the order information to at least one supplier, wherein: the order information includes a second file; sending is performed without any human intervention and is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) sending the third information regarding the first item to a first supplier; and sending the fourth information regarding the second item to a second supplier that is different from the first supplier;

(b) sending the third information regarding the first item to a first supplier location; and sending the fourth information regarding the second item to a second supplier location that is different from and spaced apart from the first supplier location; and

(c) the third information regards shipping the first item to a first shipping location specified by the user; and the fourth information regards shipping the second item to a second shipping location specified by the user, wherein the second shipping location is different from the first shipping location.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein: the method further comprises receiving a signal from the user, wherein the signal is initiated by the user activating a first icon within the icons in the first view; sending a third information to the user, wherein the third information is displayed to the user as different icons, wherein no more than five words of texts are displayed with each icon.

96. The method of claim 94, wherein: the first instruction includes a second attribute and a third attribute; each of the second attribute and the third attribute is selected from a group consisting of a first price range, a category, a quantity, a supplier, a color, a imprint type, a composition, a weight, a size, and a time sensitivity; and the third attribute is different from the second attribute.

97. The method of claim 94, wherein: sending to the user via the electronic site the second information is performed no more than approximately one minute after receiving the second instruction; or sending to the user via the electronic site the second information and receiving the second instruction are performed while the user remains at the electronic site.

98. The method of claim 94, wherein: the second entity is an organization; the user is an employee of the organization; and the marking is selected from a trademark, a service mark, and a logo of the organization.

99. The method of claim 94, further comprising: receiving a signal from the at least one supplier to send the first file, wherein the signal is sent after a link in the second file is activated; and sending the first file to the at least one supplier using an electronic communicating medium.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein: sending at least a portion of the order information sends an illustration of the marking; and the illustration of the marking is part of the second file that is in a different file format compared to the first file; and the illustration within the second file has a lower resolution or at least one less color compared to the illustration within the first file.

101. The method of claim 94, further comprising receiving an electronic signal from a third entity, wherein: the third entity has been or is becoming a supplier of a promotional item or a distributor for the supplier; the electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to the database such that the database reflects that the promotional item is no longer provided by the second entity; an addition of the promotional item to the database; and a change to an attribute for the promotional item within the database; an addition of the third entity as a supplier of the item; an addition of the third entity as a distributor for the supplier; and the modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the first entity.

102. The method of claim 94, wherein: the order information includes a third information; and the method further comprises sending the third information to a distributor of the first promotional item.

103. The method of claim 94, further comprising: the database is controlled by the first entity; receiving a first electronic signal from the at least one supplier, wherein the first electronic signal modifies a first information within the database; and receiving a second electronic signal from a distributor of the at least one supplier, wherein the second electronic signal modifies a second information within the database, wherein the first entity, the at least one supplier, and the distributor do not substantially own or control one another.

104. The method of claim 94, further comprising: determining that the order is for a financial amount that exceeds an authority of the user; sending a request for authorization of the order from a different user within the second entity, wherein the different user has a capability to authorize the financial amount; and receiving the authorization from the different user, wherein sending the request for authorization and receiving the authorization are performed after receiving the order and before sending at least a portion of the order information.

105. A method of obtaining information by a user at an electronic site comprising: receiving a first information from a first entity, wherein the first information is displayed as a first set of icons; sending a first signal to the first entity, wherein the first signal is initiated by the user activating a first icon within the first set of icons; and receiving a second information from the first entity, wherein the second information is displayed as a second set of icons.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein no more than five words of text are displayed with each icon within the first set of icons.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein no more than five words of text are displayed with each icon within the second set of icons.

108. The method of claim 105, wherein no more than five words of text are displayed with each icon within the second set of icons.

109. The method of claim 105, wherein the first set of icons includes at least eight icons.

1 10. The method of claim 105, wherein the second set of icons includes at least three icons.

1 1 1. The method of claim 105, wherein the icons correspond to promotional items.

12. The method of claim 105, further comprising: sending a second signal to the first entity, wherein the second signal is initiated by the user activating a second icon within the second set of icons; and receiving a third information from the first entity, wherein: the third information corresponds to the second icon; the third information is displayed to the user; and the third information includes an enlarged view of an item and additional details related to the item.

13. A method of receiving information via an electronic site comprising: sending a first information to a first entity, wherein the first information includes a first attribute selected from a group consisting of a first price range, a category, a quantity, a supplier, a color, an imprint type, a composition, a weight, a size, and a time sensitivity information; and receiving from the first entity a second information regarding first items that correspond to the first attribute.

14. The method of claim 113, wherein: the first attribute includes the first price range; and the first price range information includes a maximum price per item.

15. The method of claim 1 13, wherein: the first attribute includes the first price range; and the first price range information includes a minimum price per item.

16. The method of claim 1 15, wherein: the first price range information includes a maximum price per item; and the minimum price per item and the maximum price per item are positive values.

17. The method of claim 113, wherein the first attribute includes the first price range and the method further comprises: sending a second information to the first entity, wherein the second information includes a second price range that is different from the first price range; and receiving from the first entity a second information regarding a second item that corresponds to the second price range.

18. The method of claim 117, wherein the second item is one of the first items.

19. The method of claim 1 17, wherein the second item is not one of the first items.

120. The method of claim 1 13, wherein: the first information includes a second attribute selected from a group consisting of the first price range, the category, the quantity, the supplier, the color, the imprint type, the composition, the weight, the size, and the time sensitivity; the second attribute is different from the first attribute; and the second information regards the first items that correspond to the first attribute and the second attribute.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein: the first information includes a third attribute selected from a group consisting of the first price range, the category, the quantity, the supplier, the color, the imprint type, the composition, the weight, the size, and the time sensitivity information; the third attribute is different from the first attribute and the second attribute; and the second information regards the first items that correspond to the first attribute, the second attribute, and the third attribute.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein: the first information includes a fourth attribute selected from a group consisting of the first price range, the category, the quantity, the supplier, the color, the imprint type, the composition, the weight, the size, and the time sensitivity information; the fourth attribute is different from the first attribute, the second attribute, and the third attribute; and the second information regards the first items that correspond to the first attribute, the second attribute, the third attribute, and fourth attribute.

123. The method of claim 1 13, wherein the first items are displayed as icons.

124. The method of claim 123, wherein no more than five words of text are associated with each icon.

125. The method of claim 1 13, wherein the first items are promotional products.

126. A method of obtaining a pricing information for an item by a user at an electronic site comprising: sending an item information to a first entity, wherein the item information includes item identifier and a first attribute selected from a group consisting of a color information, a printing information, a composition information, and a set-up information; and receiving the price information from the first entity via the electronic site, wherein the price information corresponds to the item information.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein: the item information further comprises a second attribute selected from a group consisting of the color information, the printing information, the composition information, and the set-up information; and the second attribute is different from the first attribute.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein: the item information further comprises a third attribute selected from a group consisting of the color information, the printing information, the composition information, and the set-up information; and the third attribute is different from the first attribute and the second attribute.

129. The method of claim 126, wherein the item information includes a quantity information.

130. The method of claim 126, wherein: the first attribute includes the color information; and the color information includes the number of colors to be printed on the item.

131. The method of claim 126, the printing information is selected from a group consisting of a printing size, a printing location, and a level of difficulty in printing.

132. The method of claim 126, wherein receiving occurs no more than approximately one minute after sending.

133. The method of claim 126, wherein receiving occurs no more than approximately nine seconds after sending.

134. The method of claim 126, wherein sending and receiving are performed while the user remains at the electronic site.

135. The method of claim 126, wherein the item is a promotional product.

136. A method of obtaining information via an electronic site comprising: sending a first instruction to a first entity at an electronic site, wherein the first instruction is to display a view; and receiving from the first entity a first information corresponding to the view, wherein the view displays icons including a marking on a first promotional item, wherein the marking is related to a second entity that is associated with the user.

137. The method of claim 136, wherein the view includes a second promotional item that also has the marking, wherein the second promotional item is different from the first promotional item.

138. The method of claim 137, wherein the first promotional item has been previously purchased by the second entity, but the second promotional item has not been previously purchased by the second entity.

139. The method of claim 136, wherein the marking is selected from a logo, a trademark, and a service mark of the second entity.

140. The method of claim 146, further comprising receiving an instruction from the second entity regarding how to access an account of the first entity.

141. The method of claim 136, further comprising receiving a charge card from one of the first entity and a second entity, wherein a fee for the charge card is paid by the second entity.

142. The method of claim 136, wherein the acts are performed by an agent of the second entity.

143. The method of claim 136, wherein the acts are performed a customer of the second entity or an agent of a customer of the second entity.

144. The method of claim 136, further comprising sending to the first entity an identifier and password before receiving from the first entity the first information to the user the first information.

145. The method of claim 136, wherein the user is the first entity.

146. The method of claim 136, wherein the marking is selected from a group consisting of a person's name, a crest, a monogram.

147. The method of claim 136, wherein the marking includes a picture or an illustration that includes or is created by a second entity.

148. The method of claim 136, further comprising receiving an order for the first promotional item while the user is at the electronic site.

149. A method of providing a digital representation of a promotional item comprising: sending an order for the digital representation to a first entity, wherein the order includes: an information regarding the promotional item; and an electronic file that includes a marking for a second entity associated with the user; and receiving the digital representation of the item with the marking from the first entity.

150. The method of claim 149, wherein the promotional item includes a feature selected from a group consisting of a contour and a corner.

151. The method of claim 150, wherein the digital representation is a two-dimensional view showing how the marking should appear on the promotional item.

152. The method of claim 149, wherein the digital representation is a two-dimensional view showing how the marking should appear on the promotional item.

153. The method of claim 149, wherein the marking is selected from a group consisting of a logo, a trademark, and a service mark of the second entity.

154. The method of claim 149, wherein the acts of the method are performed by a user, who is an employee of the second entity.

155. The method of claim 149, wherein the digital representation is received by an electronic communicating medium.

156. The method of claim 155, wherein the electronic communication medium is selected from a group consisting of an internet and an electronic mail system.

157. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: receiving a request for information from a first entity regarding a first item and a second item; sending to the first entity an order having corresponding order information that includes a first information related to the first item and a second information related to the second item, wherein the order information include a combination selected from a group consisting of:

(a) the first information regards obtaining the first item from a first supplier; and the second information regards obtaining the second item from a second supplier that is different from the first supplier; (b) the first information regards obtaining the first item from a first supplier location; and the second information regards obtaining the second item from a second supplier location that is spaced apart from the first supplier location; and (c) the first information regards shipping the first item to a first shipping location; and the second information regards shipping the second item to a second shipping location that is different from the first shipping location.

158. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: receiving information from a first entity regarding an item, wherein: the item could be obtained from a first supplier location or a second supplier location; and the order indicates that the item is to be obtained from the first supplier location; and sending an order to the first entity regarding an item, wherein the item is to be obtained from a first supplier location.

159. The method of claim 158, wherein: the first supplier location and the second supplier location belong to a same supplier; the second supplier location lies closer to an second entity, who is sending the order; and the item is to be obtained from the first supplier location.

160. The method of claim 159, wherein: the order includes a shipping instruction for the order; the shipping instruction indicates that the item is to be shipped to a third location that lies closer to the second location.

161. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: sending an order to a first entity for an item from a first user within a second entity, wherein the order is for a first financial amount that exceeds an authority of the first user; receiving a request for first authorization of the order by a second user within the second entity, wherein the second user has a capability to authorize the first financial amount; sending to the first entity the first authorization from the second user; and receiving an order confirmation from the first entity.

162. The method of claim 161, further comprising: receiving a request for second authorization of the order to a third user within the second entity, wherein the third user has a greater financial authority than the first user but a lesser financial authority compared to the second user; and sending the second authorization from the third user.

163. The method of claim 161, wherein the authority of the first user is limited to a remaining balance on an existing purchase order.

164. A method of providing an item, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: receiving from a second entity a first order for the item and a first file, wherein: the first file includes a link to a second file; the second file regards a marking related to a third entity; and the second file is stored at a memory location of the second entity; and determining whether the first entity has a copy of the second file.

165. The method of claim 164, further comprising: sending a signal to the second entity to send the first file, wherein the signal is sent after the link is activated; and receiving the first file from the second entity using an electronic communicating medium.

166. The method of claim 165, wherein the electronic communication medium is selected from a group consisting of an internet and an electronic mail system.

167. The method of claim 165, wherein a format for the first file is selected from a group consisting of EPS, TIFF, PDF, and AL

168. The method of claim 164, wherein: the first file includes a view of the marking; and the first file is in a different file format compared to the second file.

169. The method of claim 164, wherein: the first file includes an illustration of the marking; and the illustration within the first file has a lower resolution or at least one less color compared to the illustration within the second file.

170. The method of claim 164, wherein the marking is selected from a group consisting of a logo, a trademark, and a service mark of the third entity.

171. The method of claim 164, wherein the item is a promotional product.

172. A method of providing of updating a database, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: determining that the database needs to be changed, wherein the database is controlled by a second entity; sending an electronic signal to a second entity, wherein: the first entity has been or is becoming a supplier of a promotional item; the electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to the database such that the database reflects that the promotional item is no longer provided by the second entity; an addition of the promotional item to the database; and a change to an attribute for the promotional item within the database; and the modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the first entity.

173. The method of claim 172, wherein the modification includes the change to the attribute from a first price to a second price.

174. The method of claim 173, wherein sending is performed between two different times a customer of the second entity accesses the database.

175. The method of claim 172, wherein the modification includes the change to the database to reflect that the promotional item is no longer provided by the second entity.

176. The method of claim 175, wherein the modification includes a deletion of information associated with the promotional item from the database.

177. The method of claim 172, wherein the modification includes the addition of the promotional item to the database.

178. A method of using an electronic ordering system via an electronic site, wherein the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: providing access to a database of a second entity, wherein a third entity is capable of accessing information within the database; sending an electronic signal to the second entity, wherein: the first entity has been or is becoming a supplier of a promotional item or a distributor for the supplier; the electronic signal modifies information within the database such that a modification occurs and is selected from a group consisting of: a change to the database such that the database reflects that the promotional item is no longer provided by the first entity; an addition of the promotional item to the database; a change to an attribute for the promotional item within the database; an addition of the first entity as a supplier of the item; and an addition of the first entity as a distributor for the supplier; and the modification is made without any human intervention on the part of the second entity.

179. The method of claim 178, wherein: the database has a first price for the promotion item; the modification includes the change of the attribute from the first price to a second price, wherein the second price and not the first price will be sent by the second entity when the third entity makes a request for a promotional item information regarding the promotional item.

180. The method of claim 178, wherein the modification includes the change to the database to reflect that the promotional item is no longer provided by the first entity.

181. The method of claim 180, wherein the modification includes a deletion of information associated with the promotional item from the database.

182. The method of claim 178, wherein the modification includes the addition of the promotional item to the database.

183. A method of using an electronic ordering system, the method is performed by a first entity and comprises: receiving an order for a first item and a second item from a user via a data processing system of a second entity, wherein: between a time the user places the order and receiving the order by the first entity, no human intervention by the second entity is needed; the order has corresponding order information that includes a first information related to the first item and a second information related to the second item; and the order information includes a combination selected from a group consisting of: (a) the first information regards the first item to be obtained from a first supplier location; and the second information regards the second item to be obtained from a second supplier location that is spaced apart from the first supplier location; and

(b) the first information regards shipping the first item to a first shipping location specified by the user; and the second information regards shipping the second item to a second shipping location specified by the user, wherein the second shipping location is different from the first shipping location; acting on the order in a manner not inconsistent with the combination.

184. A method of using an electronic ordering system comprising: providing a first supplier location and a second supplier location different and spaced apart from the first supplier location; receiving an order information from a user regarding an item, wherein: the item could be obtained from the first supplier location or the second supplier location; and the order indicates that the item is to be obtained from the first supplier location; and shipping the item from the first supplier location.

185. The method of claim 184, wherein the second supplier location lies closer to the user.

186. The method of claim 185, wherein: the order information includes a shipping instruction for the order; the shipping instruction indicates that the item is to be shipped to a third location that lies closer to the second location.

187. A process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or any improvement thereof as described or illustrated within any portion(s) of this application.