BJ’s to re-launch e-commerce site this summer

-- Home Textiles Today, 4/28/2010 12:29:00 PM

New York – BJ’s Wholesales Club Inc.’s e-commerce site is still admittedly not a major contributor to its total business.

But this summer, members and non-members can expect to see a revamped website – www.bjs.com – “with some additional functionality, some additional ways of marketing with our members,” as well as some other “surprises” to be unveiled at its re-launch, said Frank Forward, evp and cfo.

During the BJ’s presentation at the Barclays Capital Retail and Restaurants Conference today, Forward said the warehouse club’s e-commerce is expected to grow by about 40% this year.

“E-commerce is certainly not our biggest business in the world. We haven’t really quantified what it is worth. It is nowhere near the type of penetration or maturation of that of our competitors, ultimately Costco,” he said. “But we’re pretty pleased. It’s been a little bit better margin business, not quite wholesale margins, but we’re pretty pleased with how it's working.”

Forward added the new website for the regional warehouse club, which operates 187 units in 15 states, will be up and running in August.