Following the example and write the competition

Competition:

There are numerous web sites that offer religious and spiritual gifts, but none of them are the “Amazon.com” or “E-trade.com” in this business space. None of the competitors has a combination of physical locations and catalogue business, which provides visibility, built-in customer base and access to customer intelligence in terms of what products consumers are interested in purchasing that St. Jude Shops does.

The company’s current competitors are:

Company: Leaflet Missal Company Religious Articles Company

URL: www.leafletmissal.org

Target: Individuals and Institutions (churches)

Tagline: None

Overview:

· The home page displays a large graphic and scrollable text below. Navigational text links are listed to the left.

· A text link to a browser email form allows for email from the web site.

· The site was last updated in May 1998.

· Both a counter and a web tracker are present.

· Online shopping was available via a secure server, however, their license to use the shopping technology has apparently expired (a message appears online to that effect).

· Off-line ordering is available through mail, fax, or phone. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover accepted.

· A Saint of the Day is featured.

· Sells numerous decorative and institutional items of the following types and in the following categories: Books, Children's Corner, Crucifixes, 14kt Gold, Holy Water Fonts, Incense & Candles, Irish Items, Recordings, Inspirational, Recordings, Rosaries, Seraphim Classics, Statues, Videos, Video Listing, WWJD

Comments:

· The shopping cart does not work at this time.

· The design is of standard frame construction. Very average looking.

· The graphics are nice but take time to download. Maybe too much time.

Company: Parable Christian Stores

URL: www.parable.com

Target: Individual consumers, young consumers

Tagline: America's Leading Christian Retailers

Overview:

· The homepage is professional and conveys information of many different topics in several columns and with photos.

· Contests for religious band concert tickets.

· Real Audio occasionally available to sample music for sale.

· They sell a variety of products such as books, music, gifts, videos, software, etc.

· A search engine exists for products.

· Online shopping is coming soon.

· A store locator helps you find a member store in your area.

· Fun kids' section has amusements like printable coloring book pages.

· Email through the browser is available.

· A newsletter will be mailed to you if you register.

· Testimonials exist.

· The site has been rated okay by Safe Surf, an apparently independent rater of sites.

· Surfers can select a long distance carrier, which donates 10% of the charges to a church.

Comments:

· This site is the most sophisticated of all critiqued.

· Animated logo on splash page and professional design throughout.

· Once a customer enters the order form area, all other navigation tools are invalidated so that one cannot leave unless using the "back" button on the browser.

Company: J.M.J. Products

URL : http://www.totallycatholic.com/

Target: Individual consumers

Tagline: Totally Catholic Stuff

Overview:

· Homepage has a green jungle-like pattern and is scrollable with text links.

· Utilizes shopping cart technology but does not accept credit cards! Asks for 'drafts' from users’ bank in place of a check.

· Sells Catholic Stampers, Kid's Crafts, Crucifixes, Rosaries, Medals, Books & Tapes, Fonts/Icons, Cards, Statues, Software, Children's Items, Holy Cards, and Sacramental.

· Offers Internet Specials

· Includes pages devoted to their banner ad service and their recommended vendors for web design.

· Gift certificates purchasable.

Comments:

· Online commerce without the ability to use credit cards takes away a crucial convenience aspect.

· This site is a simple HTML page with a background texture, a chart, and some graphics placed in. It scrolls for many pages, which detracts from the design and from navigation.

Company: Catholic Family Catalog

URL : members.aol.com/trainup/cmc3.htm

Target: Individual consumers

Tagline: The resource for your entire Catholic family product needs.

Overview:

· The web site opens with a painting and a Psalm. It scrolls down to numerous links, some graphics, and a counter.

· Sells Apologetics Books, Audio, & Videos; Art; Bibles; Catholic Books, Audio, & Videos; Children & Young Adults books, videos, catechisms, games, toys; Crucifixes & Holy Water; Family Stuff; Home Schooling & Educational Products; Jewelry; Marian Books, Videos, & Audio; Music; Pope John Paul II Books, Videos, & Software etc. Pro-life & Cultural Issues Books, Videos, etc. ; Saints Books; T-shirts

· Printable, mailable/faxable order form and toll free number.

· Email can be sent through the browser from a text link.

· A links section exists to Catholic sites.

· The site includes critiques of the light rays in a scanned photograph. The light rays are seen to resemble religious figures.

Comments:

· The printable form method is obviously not as convenient as on online option.

· This site contains simple HTML pages with links placed in and with a background texture.

· The navigation and design are impaired by the necessity for scrolling.

· The photo with the light rays is an interesting digression.

Company: The Catholic Shopper

URL: www.catholicshopper.com

Target: Individual consumers and institutions (churches)

Tagline: The discount mail order company of Catholic goods & supplies

Overview:

· The home page opens with an illustration and a simply illustrated cross. The graphic buttons on the left use a blue color that conspicuously does not match the blue background.

· Online shopping using shopping cart technology is available for use with MasterCard, Visa, or Discover. Phone and fax numbers are also available.

· Large graphics are used to really see products well.

· Sells Audio tapes, Baptism Gifts, Bibles, Books, Candles, Catechetical, Catholic Resource Directory, Computer programs, Crucifixes, Door Knockers, First Holy Communion products, Framed Devotional Pictures, Games, Gifts, Holiday Gifts, Holy Water Fonts, Home schooling items, Jewelry, Kid's stuff, Magazine Subscriptions, Miraculous Medals, Music cassettes & CD's, Nun Doll Collection, Patron Saint Medals, Religious Art, Rosaries, Scapulars, Stain Glass Prayer Items, Stationary, Statues, T-shirts, Videos, Wall Plates

· Monthly specials on products.

· Contains a fairly extensive list of links to other Catholic sites and links to several search engines.

· Lists all of its suppliers and upcoming conferences.

· Contains a Mission Statement.

· Lists contact info but no link to browser email.

Comments:

· The graphics are huge and take a while to download.

· The design does not look like a professional executed it.