Joe's Sports & Outdoor has announced the appointment of Kelly C. Jett to the position of e-commerce manager. Jett, formerly web business development manager for Salomon North America, will work with the JoesSports.com site host and GSI Commerce to develop and oversee the company's web-based marketing. The company's marketing plan will emphasize relationship marketing through online sales materials and site-enhancement and technology projects. Joe's Sports & Outdoor is a retail chain with 29 stores in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
U.S. online retail sales may reach $200 billion
Year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2007 for U.S. online consumer expenditures was 17%. New second-quarter figures reveal 23% growth in online sales. Consoles and video games registered the highest profit, with a 159% surge in sales during the second quarter. Other categories with significant sales increases include sports and fitness, which saw a 58% increase, and consumer electronics, which saw a 51% increase. Based on the sector's excellent performance in the first half of 2007, overall U.S. online consumer spending is expected to reach $200 billion by the end of 2007.
U.S. auto giants enjoy gains as a result of strong overseas sales
After experiencing heavy losses and setbacks, major U.S. automakers General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are breathing more easily as a result of increased overseas earnings and cost cutting. The companies have registered strong second-quarter profits after restructuring. General Motors has reported improvement in its quarterly results by more than $4.2 billion; it registered an $891 million profit, making the second quarter of 2007 the third quarter in a row in which GM has posted a profit. Ford posted a profit of $750 million after losing $12.4 billion last year.
