PROVO — A Utah County-based company has created what it calls the Sam's Club of the Internet.
The month—old iBonZai, an Internet provider, established warehouses in Provo and Salt Lake City and stocked them with products to sell to folks who have paid membership fees to buy from its Web site.
The company now has 8,000 products on hand — but plans to have up to 250,000 within four months.
Company officials boast that consumers can buy nearly about anything at a discount. Just click onto www.ibonzai.com.
Scott Hosking, who founded an Internet company before merging with his current partners, is confident "there's not a product . . . we can't get."
The Web site includes a window for users to type in their wish list to help owners ensure they are providing the products their customers are seeking.
Although online shopping is growing rapidly, Utah's Consumer Protection office says it has not been a source of consumer complaints.
Director Francine Giani says all inquiries to the state agency about online fraud have come from the news media.
While some Internet service providers offer free access, Hosking decided to go with a membership concept for iBonZai.
Memberships cost $21.95 a month, which includes Internet access. In return, the company offers a $25 credit each month toward shopping on its Web site. The credits can be accumulated over six years, and unused credits earn interest, making them more valuable.
New members switching from another Internet service receive a one-time additional $25 credit.
Bryce Walker, a former video business owner, is in charge of promoting iBonZai. The company is constructing its own recording and editing studio at its Orem headquarters to create radio and television commercials.
Already, ads are on 450 radio stations. Some of the company's principals also are hitting the talk-show circuit.
Hosking says many Internet addicts already surf the Net looking for good buys.
"We're after the next big wave of Internet users," he said. "We're after the emotional shoppers."
To help new users along, company staffers will teach customers how to use the Internet by phone and online. Hosking projects that 90 percent of new signups will be done over the phone.
You can reach Rodger L. Hardy by e-mail at rodger@desnews.com