Grainger's Revamped Web Site

Lindsay Young Konzak

David Gordon and Allen Ray recently posted on their blog that Grainger will be launching its revamped Web site soon. (See blog at http://www.electricaltrends.com/.) They say that the site relaunch is focused on improved searching capabilities, new features to "enhance productivity," enhanced account information and easier catalog access.

The investment is a good one for Grainger given that the distributor's e-commerce channel is growing at twice the company's growth rate, according to its 2009 Fact Book posted at its Web site. The distributor presents these numbers:

E-commerce sales rose by 13% to $1.5 billion (in 2008). Sales in the e-commerce channel represented 24% of overall sales for Grainger's U.S. business, 7% for the Canadian business and 9% for Grainger's other businesses.