Survey Reveals That Internet Research Has Become An Important Step In Holiday Shopping

Men and Women Shop Differently Offline and Online According to Survey by SuperPages.com by Verizon

DALLAS, TX (Nov. 15, 2000)-- Although analysts are predicting a record year of Internet shopping, a recent survey commissioned by SuperPages.com by Verizon found that many consumers use the Internet to window shop - to research and browse for gifts before they buy from local merchants. In fact, 21 percent of respondents characterize their shopping behavior as researching online and buying locally.

Just five percent of respondents chose researching and buying products online as the best description of their shopping behavior. Not surprisingly, 65 percent are sticking with the old fashioned method as their primary form of shopping - researching and buying at a local retailer.

"This data illustrates that a Web site is more than just e-commerce," said Patrick Marshall, group vice president - marketing of Verizon Information Services. "Obtaining information about local merchants via the Internet is clearly something consumers want. Although it is difficult to measure the sales that result from Internet research, there is clearly a need for this marketing tool, especially for small or local businesses."

When researching a product on the Internet, 81 percent use a search engine, such as Lycos. Other popular search tactics include:

• Go directly to known site (i.e. Gap.com)                    71 percent
• Unbiased consumer site (i.e. ConsumerGuide.com)   47 percent
• Online directory (i.e. SuperPages.com)                     35 percent

"The Internet has become an essential tool in the shopping process, even if the consumer is making the final purchase offline," said Marshall. "Online window-shopping can help holiday shoppers efficiently decide what to buy for people on their gift list and their find the best place to buy it."

Internet users report they would use the Internet this holiday season to:

• Compare prices                    56 percent
• Compare models or brands    46 percent
• Obtain gift ideas                   46 percent
• Find a particular gift              44 percent

"More shoppers flock to the Internet during the holidays as the malls get crowded and as gifts become harder to find," said Marshall. "With tools such as Consumer Guide and Gift Finder on SuperPages.com, shoppers can quickly find the perfect gift on the Web or close to home."

Online Shopping Patterns Among Men and Women

The survey also revealed several differences in the shopping styles of men and women. According to the survey, men are 60 percent more likely than women to window shop online, while women are 25 percent more likely to research and buy at a local retailer. Men are 13 percent more likely than women to use the Internet to compare prices and 19 percent more likely to compare different models or brands of products using the Internet. Women are 13 percent more likely than men to use the Internet to find a particular gift.

About the Survey

The shopping preferences survey of 1,085 consumers who use the Internet was conducted October 19-23, 2000 by CARAVAN, Opinion Research Corporation International on behalf of SuperPages.com by Verizon. It has a margin of error of ± 3 percent.

About Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com

Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher and a content provider for communications products and services. The largest directory publisher in the world, Verizon has annual revenues of more than $4.1 billion and employs more than 11,000 people. Verizon Information Services provides sales, publishing and other related services for nearly 2,500 directory titles in 48 states and the District of Columbia and 18 countries outside the U.S. This includes more than 1,600 Verizon directory titles with a total circulation of approximately 112 million copies in the U.S. and 41 million copies internationally. Verizon Information Services also produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's leading online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com has received up to 4.2 million visits and 2.3 million unique visitors per month, and is the exclusive provider of a comprehensive Yellow Pages service to AOL, Lycos, HotBot, Digital City and BigFoot. Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), which was formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. Verizon is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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