Online shopping has become universal - anything you can buy at a store can now be bought online. Cars, computers, clothes, sporting goods, gifts appliances, books, music, antiques, pharmaceuticals, travel, jewelry... the list is endless.

By 2004, more than 50 million U.S. households will buy on-line, growing Web revenues to $188 billion -- representing a 69% CAGR.

Homes will have computer access in several places, allowing the whole family to be connected. It is estimated that 13. 40% of all purchasing will be done on the Internet, during the next 3 years.

On-line retailing is no longer a question mark. Our interviews with 100 on-line merchants reveal that sales are at least double what merchants projected a year ago -- 31% of retailers that disclosed profitability are in the black.