on line or die E-commerce is where it’s at, , workshop told IF YOU DON’T take your business on the Internet, you may gel washed oul, That was the message In- dusiry Canada’s Brian Anderson brought to a Chamber of Commerce workshop here last week on ~~ electronic commerce. Anderson told local resi- dents e-commerce is the ‘wave of the future, He explained electronic commerce covers every- thing from online retail out- Icts (shopping) to com- panies designing electronic catalogues to Web site de- sign and hosling. “Not only is communica- tion instantaneous, is ac- curate and reliable and less expensive than faxing or calling,’’ Anderson said, E-cammerce increases business productivity’ and efficiency by coordinating a finn’s digital operations be- tween customers, distrib- ulors, marketers, manufac- turers, and supplicrs, which enables lower costs, pro- vides better service, expands markets, and extends better links to present and future. business partners. “The challenge for Cana- dian retailers is to position themselves to take ad- vantage of that,” he said, He explained that current- ly American suppliers domi- nate online shopping — Canada is about 18 months behind the U.S. in adopting e-commerce lools, Industry Canada’s wants Canada to capture 5 per cent of the total Internet world share by 2003, worth an estimated US $160 billion. Marityn Kerr said she was worried that .if every busi- ness went online, local stores and communities would suffer. ‘‘l think {shopping online] is anti- social in a way,”’ Kerr said. Anderson assured her that electronic commerce isn't going to destray com- munities since only 5 per cent of North American shopping is currently online. “It’s not going to go that way,”’ he said. ‘It shouldn’t be a threat to businesses in town.” What will be greatly af- fected, he said, are business to business transactions, Out & About Business summit here TERRACE will be the site of the first Pacific North- west Regional Business Summiit, to be hosted by the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Sept. 18, It’s intended to bring to- gether big and = small businesses from across the region to work wilh local, provincial and federal poveruments to develop , cooperative —non- partisan, solutions to regional issucs. Reps from the Charlottes , to Houston are expected. Call the chamber office at ° 635-2063 io pre-register. For women IF YOU'RE a woman and have a business idea, the 16- 37 Community Futures De- velopment Corporation oe ae waits you. ’ 4 -4.0L: OHV engine . Air conditioning » AM/FM stereo/cassette ee It’s the agent for the Second generation dual airbags * SecuriLock passive anti-theft system ¢ 4 Wheel ABS ce Wemen’s Enterprise ge R rt , j a penne . Soclety of B.C., a group which gets money from the federal government to lend to women so they can go into business. “Since we're their part- ners we'll work with women BRIAN ANDERSON, an Industry Canada technology guru, urged business owners to get net savvy. which will become much more efficient He said local businesses are going to have-to ‘adapt and go online to survive. ‘Having online shopping” creates a 24-hour-bond with customers and allows agents to find new customers,”’ he said. ‘“There is nothing you can’t buy on the Enternet.’’ In addition, e-commerce allows the smallest home- based businesses lo tap into: international markets for specialized services. “Many residents. who. at- tended the seminar adimitted they've shopped online to get better deals.” One man said he was able to. get car: parts: for much less. than. he would have to’ ‘pay for ones in the city.” Anderson. said ~ ‘often people worry net financial — transactions are unsafe. “Is the - biggest “urban myth,” be said. ‘There is- less risk that using a phone. 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