From The Valley Item:
Local businessmen offer consumers a new stop to eShop - September 4, 2008
Local online shoppers have a new weapon in the battle for the best bargain.
Business partners John Focht of Collegeville and John Olson of Jeffersonville have created a Web site geared toward shoppers in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas, www.eShopPhilly.com.
“We started the business in the fall of 2007, but really began focusing on it in January 2007,” Focht said. “We were kicking around the idea of a Web site because they are the wave of the future. A lot of people are doing their shopping online. We wanted to give people the opportunity to use a Web site that was specifically tailored to the Philadelphia and surrounding areas.”
eShopPhilly offers consumers an easily accessible search mechanism to find the best deals in town. The Web site also offers deals of the month, weekly coupons and savings incentives.
“The site is an online store with a variety of different products. Everything you find on our site will provide you with a deal,” Focht said. “We attract merchants to our site and these merchants provide us with coupons that make it worth the consumer’s trip.”
Although in its infancy, www. eShopPhilly.com plans to strategically grow as an online business. Beginning in January, local merchants will be able to add their advertisements and sales on the Web site.
“Right now, we’re looking to get the eShopPhilly name out in the Philadelphia and surrounding area as the best place to shop online,” Focht said. “We’re building credibility for our site. We want to get local merchants involved to give it more local flavor. Instead of being another Web site out there just selling stuff, we want to be a Web site geared toward the Philadelphia and surrounding area.”
Focht and Olson plan to build a community network, offering site visitors a wide range of services.
“The community network we are working to build will include the best deals for shopping, restaurants, household services - everything the local consumer would need,” Focht said. “Our goal is to make www.eShopPhilly.com the one stop that local consumers use to purchase the items or services they need.”
Source: The Valley Item
