STRATO Launches New Web Shops for Business Start-Ups and SMEs


o One of the World's Largest e-Commerce Platforms Drives UK Online Business

LONDON, March 26 -- STRATO, one of Europe's leading web hosts, has today launched STRATO Web Shop in the UK following its success in the German market. Over the past four
years, STRATO has set up over 20,000 Web Shops in Germany and is looking to expand here in the UK.

Now SMEs looking to expand with an online presence or specialise online and budding internet entrepreneurs with an idea they believe will sell online, can set up a secure and innovative STRATO Web Shop quickly and simply.

The STRATO Web Shop set-up is made easy and can be achieved quickly with professional design templates, customisation tools and a Wizard assistant to guide users through the installation steps. It is done on the web browser so no CD is required and the Web Shop is secure and backed up by STRATO servers at the datacentres.

Once up and running, efficient online inventory management with automatic current stock and minimum quantity reminders, UPS shipping and payment systems including Paypal, HSBC and Worldpay make shipping, tracking and payment easy for both shop owners and customers. With STRATO, even the smallest shop has a credit card payment facility included and all customer data is stored securely.

Additional marketing features to increase the shop's competitiveness and visibility are advertising via kelkoo, manual or automatic cross-selling capability with recommendations, tips and shopping lists, newsletters, gift certificates, a 'tell-a-friend' tool and an award winning eBay interface, whereby shop owners can quickly transfer sales items from shop to eBay. Up to eight languages and pound and euro options allow success in both the domestic market and abroad.

Damian Schmidt, CEO of STRATO said: "Online shopping is a lucrative business. The British spend more money online per-capita sales than any other European country and European e-commerce turnover is expected to double within the next five years(1). Such positive trends in online spending signalled an ideal time for a UK launch of the STRATO Web Shop and our user-friendly product offers instantly recognisable features and tools, making the experience straightforward for both shop owners and customers."

Recognised for exceptional innovation and high performance, STRATO Web Shops received the German eco Award from Web Host Directory and are TUV certified. Shop owners can further increase security and install trust in customers with a professional thawte SSL certificate from VeriSign.

STRATO Web Shops come in three variations, each with different feature packages. Until 30th April 2007, the STRATO BasicShop, normally priced at GBP9.90 + VAT per month, costs GBP1 + VAT for the first six months. The AdvancedShop costs GBP19.90 + VAT per month and the PremiumShop costs GBP39.90 + VAT per month.

(1) Sources: Forrester Research Autumn 2006, eMarketer

Source: STRATO

For further information, please contact:

Kelly McMorran / Lindsay Spencer,

Spreckley Partners,

Tel: +44-(0)20-7388-9988,

mcmorran@spreckley.co.uk / spencer@spreckley.co.uk

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