BUSINESSES MAKE MOVE TO WORLD WIDE WEB

In the 21st century it will be hard to find a business that doesn't have a web page for those who want to surf before they shop.

Dr. Bill Webber teaches computer science at Southeast Missouri State University and says the Internet is a big part of business in this century let alone what it may do in the next.

"The rate of people on the Internet is growing rapidly," Webber said. "So the potential is there to reach a large number of people. It probably won't be in much use by some businesses but for most it's going to be a tremendous advantage."

Webber knows of a wine company in California that doesn't even have salespeople. They sell their product by taking information over the Internet.

"It's really going to be interesting to see what happens," Webber said.

A lot of area businesses are on their way to preparing themselves for the 21st century.

"That's just the way things are going," said Rob Osborn, co-owner of the Meat Shop in Cape Girardeau. "To me, having your business on the Internet is just a sign of being progressive."

The Meat Shop has had a web page for six months, and Osborn said that soon most successful businesses will have to have a presence in cyberspace if they want to compete.

"You're going to need to have something so people can surf and check on your business," Osborn said. "It's kind of like an advertisement. I think it's going to be bigger than TV."

He said the web isn't all about perception though. He hopes to fill orders across the country by taking them over the web.

"It's the wave of the future for businesses and if they don't get on board they're going to get left behind," Osborn said.

The Southeast Missourian newspaper has plans to be online by April, said Joni Adams, managing editor. The site will offer many features and services not available in the regular paper.

"I don't think the online version will replace the printed word," said Adams. "But there's no question that online products will be commonplace in the 21st century."

She said that many people who aren't that familiar to the Internet realize that it will be a growing force in the next decade.

"My dad knows very little about the Internet, and yet he felt it necessary to put a web page up for his cleaning equipment business in St. Louis," Adams said. "He has received inquiries across the United States from his page. Businesses not on the Internet may find themselves at a real disadvantage."

Rapco, a worldwide distributor of music cabling and accessories, has been on the web for just over a year, said Brad Graham, marketing director of the business just north of Jackson.

"It's just about the quickest way to transfer information to people," Graham said. "And it puts you in touch with a worldwide audience. We get hits from all over the world.

"If you try to mail a catalog to Copenhagen, it will take three weeks to get there. People can download stuff immediately on a web page."

While Rapco doesn't sell on their web page, it provides product education and technical information about its products, including pictures and descriptions, Graham said.

"I really see more and more businesses getting on the Internet," Graham said. "They're going to have to."