We are pleased to report that Perfume.com has once again been selected for listing in the newly published 2008 Edition of the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide ("IR 500"), the definitive ranking and analysis of America's 500 largest e-retailers based on their sales on the internet.

This is the third consecutive year that Perfume.com -- with just five years of operating history -- has made the Internet Retailer Top 500, and it offers further validation of the power of the destination and its efficient business model which is easily discovered by those seeking to buy top fragrance brands.

Inclusion in the IR 500 is a noteworthy accolade in the online retail industry, akin to the Fortune 500 in the blue chip world. We expect that Perfume.com will be a part of this prestigious list for years to come as we get set to launch the site as a true health & beauty DestinationHub™, improve the site's supply chain and enhance its consumer marketing programs.

For more information on the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, please click on the IR 500 image:

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P.S. If you're planning on attending the Internet Retailer conference in Chicago this June, drop by the session Perfume.com is participating in to say hello!  For more information on IRCE 2008, click HERE.

May 15th marks the 5th birthday for the Perfume.com business.  To celebrate this special day with our customers, we're  holding a One Day Sale event (sorry no cake, a logistical nightmare).  Many of our best selling products have been discounted to over 50% off retail prices.  Doesn't everyone love a birthday party with loot bags? 

Five years in the business is an exciting milestone. In this time, our Perfume.com site has changed significantly with the evolution of online consumer behaviour, advancements in the e-commerce shopping experiences, and in the ways we connect with our customers.  I look forward to seeing what the next 5 years will bring.  In the near term, I'm thrilled about what the next 5 months will bring -- exciting changes to the site and new growth opportunities for the business that will kick off in the next 6 weeks. 

Stay tuned...now go fill up those loot bags!  We've got a birthday to celebrate.

It’s been a rainy week in Vancouver; and today’s news from Forrester Research definitely brightened our day.

The State of Retailing Online 2008: Marketing Report, was released this morning at Shop.org's Online Marketing Workshop in Scottsdale, Ariz. Despite reports of sluggish retail industry growth, online retail will remain a bright spot with retail sales. The report estimates online retail sales will rise 17 percent this year to $204 billion.

"What's spearheading online retail sales growth is a tale of two shoppers who visit the Web for very different reasons," said Sucharita Mulpuru, Forrester Research principal analyst and lead author of the report. "The casual shopper goes online to look for the best price, leveraging the transparency of the Internet to save money. However, more affluent customers appreciate the convenience of shopping online and are not necessarily looking for the best deal. Retailers would be wise to recognize that there are significant opportunities within both audiences and should market to them accordingly."

More info on the report findings are included in the press release.