TANGLED IN THE WEB: MORE BUSINESSES LOOK TO THE INTERNET FOR CUSTOMERS

Virtually anything for sale can be found on the Internet, and local merchants and service providers are making sure they have access to the potential customer pool.

More and more, local owners of small and large businesses are developing Web sites to promote their wares. From swimming pools to luxury cars, desserts to musical instruments, a bevy of items sold by Cape Girardeans can be purchased on the Internet.

"Everybody else does it, and we wanted to be included," said Jane Stanley, secretary and treasurer of Crown Cadillac Oldsmobile Nissan. She said the dealership has been listed in Nissan's and General Motors' service directories for about two years and expects to be online with its own Web page next month.

Many area businesses made their initial entry onto the Web using national memberships or product suppliers. Some became interested in the Internet after gaining new customers following an advertisement on semissourian.com or other Web sites.

Shopping from home

Through the Internet, local businesses can reach a wider market and consumers can shop from the convenience of home. And although e-commerce is not expected to replace brick-and-mortar businesses, some owners have seen a definite increase in sales.

"We haven't set the world on fire yet, but we have had a response from it. Much more than what our Web site has cost us," said Jack Byrd, co-owner of Tri-State Swimming Pools. "We just were smart enough to know that the trend is going this way and that we needed to take advantage of all the advertising we can."

Byrd said he has gone from relying on someone to update his Web page to working on the site himself. Because of the specialization of their products, it's important Web surfers have current information about what products are available throughout the year, he said.

"You don't want to just jump into it, but I would encourage anyone who wants to reach out into other areas," Byrd said. "We thought we'd be real foolish if we didn't take advantage of it."

Self promotion for all

But retailers aren't the only people taking advantage of the broader presence the Internet provides. A growing number of public and private schools and several local churches are promoting themselves using Web pages.

Trinity Lutheran Church recently began a weekly a Webcast service to reach both its members who are unable to attend worship and people who have never set foot in the sanctuary.

The church staff maintains the Web page, which includes sermons in print and audio form and a video clip from the church's weekly television program. A video company handles all the equipment and work necessary for transmitting on the Web.

Source of information

Even funeral home directors are taking advantage of Web promotion.

The Selected Independent Funeral Homes organization has maintained a Web page for Ford and Sons Funeral Home for the past three years. The site includes a list of services the mortuary provides.

Cliff Ford, president of the funeral home, said the site will be redesigned later this year after they take over operation of the site. Although he doesn't know how many customers have been gained through the Web site, Ford said it's main function is to be "just another resource for information."

"Maybe there is that activity, but they're not actually referencing it," he said. "That was our first step in the water, but we're about ready to try it on our own."