Abstract: A method and system for classifying consumers in clusters of similar behavioral and demographic characteristics. Demographic and behavioral data of consumers is used to generate a plurality of classification trees. The plurality of classification trees are searched for a classification tree resulting in an optimal set of clusters. The optimal set of clusters has clusters that are substantially homogeneous in demographic and behavioral characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and the customer comprising a merchant computer server utilizing a memory containing a database of transaction relevant customer information including customer postal information to provide such information in the form of a customized communication at the point-of-contact between a merchant and the customer is provided. Customer identification information is used to store an anonymous identification tag on the customer computer, the tag providing an address to a segment of the database of transaction relevant customer information. The anonymous tag on the customer computer is accessed by the merchant computer when the customer computer contacts the merchant computer. An embodiment for a syndicate of merchants and a shared system server having a memory of transaction relevant customer information also is provided.