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FedEx Archives: 2001 Press Releases

( BW)(TN-FEDEX)(FDX) Study Finds Convenience, Reliability Keys to Increased Online and Catalog Shopping This Holiday Season; Online and Catalog Retailers Look to FedEx to Meet Consumer Demand

    Business Editors

    MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2001--More than one-third of holiday shoppers across the country--approximately 37 percent--say they plan to do more shopping online and via catalog this holiday season than last year, according to a recent Market Facts survey of 1,000 consumers conducted Nov. 26-28.
    The results of this study, commissioned by FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) in an effort to learn more about consumer shopping behavior this season, support earlier projections that online and catalog retailers will experience an increase in sales this holiday season. In fact, BizRate.com--which tracks transactions at 2,000 online merchants--found that Internet sales from November 19 through December 3 increased 29 percent to a total of $2.13 billion this year from $1.65 billion reported the same year period last year.
    The key reason? Sixty-three percent of those polled by Market Facts cited convenience and reliability as the benefits they value most when making shopping decisions--such as having the purchases delivered on time, directly to the doorstep. Specifically, consumers named time-definite delivery, easy returns and the ability to track packages as important considerations when shopping online or via catalog.
    As a result, leading online and catalog retailers, such as Williams-Sonoma and Oregon Scientific, rely on the extensive FedEx air, ground and information networks to meet the demands of their customers--particularly during the busy holiday retail season.
    "We are committed to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction," said Jim Boyle, president of Oregon Scientific, a leading manufacturer of a wide range of award-winning, innovative personal electronic products for home, work and play, including wireless weather stations, atomic clocks, sports and fitness products, and electronic learning products for children. "With FedEx Express as our shipping partner, we can be confident in the timeliness, reliability and service level of our shipments, allowing us to provide our customers with a distinctive experience from the moment they enter our site to the point of delivery."

    Other Findings Confirm FedEx Focus

    The Market Facts survey also found that 73 percent of Americans plan to ship more gifts this year than in the past, and one-third of those responding said they will use shipping services such as FedEx Express and FedEx Ground to deliver more of their holiday gifts this year.
    "The study confirms that our focus on reliable delivery, easy-to-use tracking tools and convenient online shipping--all hallmarks of FedEx services--match the current needs of the marketplace," noted Laurie A. Tucker, senior vice president of global marketing at FedEx. "As online and catalog retail sales rise, our continued focus on serving the needs of these growing segments benefit our customers and help us to meet our business goals this holiday season."
    This year, FedEx introduced a number of new offerings and enhancements that will provide shippers more options than ever before this holiday season. Consumers can now ship via FedEx Express at nearly 5,000 drop-boxes conveniently located at U.S. Post Offices nationwide, in addition to the tens of thousands of other drop-off locations, such as FedEx World Service Centers(R), Kinko's(R) and Mail Boxes Etc(R). FedEx Express will also maintain its money-back guarantees on all FedEx Express shipments throughout the holidays. In addition, FedEx Ground expanded the geographic reach of its FedEx Home Delivery service to 80 percent of the U.S. population--extending the convenience and value of the dedicated residential ground service to even more homes.
    As always, shippers can continue to look to fedex.com to ship and track their packages, as well as to provide holiday shipping information and shipping tips this season.

    About FedEx

    With annual revenues of $20 billion, FedEx Corp. is the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services. The company offers integrated business solutions through a network of subsidiaries operating independently, including FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground, North America's second largest provider of small-package ground delivery service; FedEx Freight, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload freight services; FedEx Custom Critical, the world's largest provider of expedited, time-critical shipments; and FedEx Trade Networks, a provider of customs brokerage, consulting, information technology and trade facilitation solutions.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: FedEx press releases are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.fedex.com.

    --30--md/na*

    CONTACT:  FedEx Corp., Memphis
              Steve Barber, 901/434-7767
              smbarber1@fedex.com

    KEYWORD:  TENNESSEE
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD:  AIRLINES TRANSPORTATION RETAIL INTERNET
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    SOURCE:  FedEx Corp.