Abstract: Pre-commerce decision making support that generates a product listing of an item for sale. An electronic catalog is received from a supplier containing an item to be offered for sale at a predetermined supplier price. A price markup is determined for the item based on markup-criteria, which is then utilized to compute a resale price for the item. The product listing is then generated offering the item for sale at the resale price. Additional product information concerning the item can be received from a third-party source and integrated into the product listing. The generated product listing can be published to a retailer as an interactive product listing for inclusion by a retailer in an inventory-less product offering, and can be customized, automatically, for each retailer using its markup criteria.

Abstract: A method in support of fulfilling an e-commerce transaction between an outlet and a customer with respect to products not held in inventory by the outlet. When a customer selects one of the items not held in inventory by the outlet, the outlet forwards a purchase order to the provider and further provides customer information and branding requirements to the provider. The provider then transmits a second purchase order for the selected product to a supplier and awaits an acceptance of the purchase order from the supplier. The supplier packages and ships the selected product directly to the customer according to the branding requirements so as to insinuate delivery to the customer directly from the outlet. The supplier further confirms fulfillment of the purchase order with the provider, and the provider confirms fulfillment with the outlet.

Abstract: A method in support of an e-commerce transaction between an outlet and a customer with respect to products not held in inventory by the outlet. A provider facilitates the transaction by making available for selection a set of products available for inclusion as a product offering on an outlet's web site. When a customer selects one of the items not held in inventory by the outlet, the outlet transmits a purchase order to the provider; the provider then transmits a second purchase order for the selected product to a supplier and awaits an acceptance of the purchase order from the supplier. The provider transmits the branding requirements of the outlet to the supplier, who packages and ships the selected product to the customer according to the branding requirements as though it were packaged and shipped by the outlet.