The bringing together, for the benefit of others, of a variety of goods (excluding the transport thereof), enabling customers to conveniently view and purchase those goods from a general merchandise web site in the global communications network; demonstration of goods; on-line advertising on a computer network; presentation of goods on communication media, for retail purposes; sales promotion for others; provision of an on-line marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services; import-export agency services; marketing; economic forecasting; providing business information via a website; updating and maintenance of data in computer databases; provision of an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services.