Spiffing Up for the Holidays

Microsoft Corp.’s MSN eShop has spiffed itself
up for an expected onslaught of holiday shoppers, adding a bargain basement
type area and return center, among other improvements.

The new Bargain Center offers a central location where shoppers can find the
latest sale items from all the MSN merchants, including Eddie Bauer,
RadioShack and CVS. The center also highlights special offers and promotions
from merchants such as free shipping and bonus discounts when additional
items are purchased.

The new Return Center provides consumers with the return policies of each MSN
merchant along with tips and tricks to help simplify the return process.

Also, MSN said it now offers four distinct searching tools to help shoppers
find exactly what they are looking for: Full Text Search (show me all the
men’s watches); Quick Search; Power Search (based on specific product
features) and Popular Search.

eShop now offers side-by-side comparisons that let consumers review and
critique the features of their selected items without having to switch from
site to site.

There’s also a Top Ten List, showing the season’s hot selling items; Gift
Guides in a variety of categories from Sexy Santa to Gadget-eria; and
improved integration
with the MSN Yellow Pages to help consumers find local merchants.

MSN said that eShop “has experienced phenomenal growth over the past year as
the number of shoppers has doubled. Last quarter alone, MSN experienced
nearly 50 percent growth in the number of consumers using MSN to shop online.”