E-commerce turns 10

Ten years ago the first e-commerce sites came online. The Washington Post takes a look at the current state of Internet retailing. Excluding travel, online sales in the United States grew 24 percent last year, to about $90 billion, accounting for nearly 5 percent of all retail sales, according to the National Retail Federation. Highly specialized companies like Batteries.com and BBQGuys.com offer huge selections in narrow niches. Nine companies had e-commerce sales of more than $1 billion in 2004.

Online retailing is growing up. Find your own niche and expand your market.