Abstract: An interactive electronic display of a plurality of inventory items across a distributed network has a database having information for each of a plurality of display items. A processor is configured to organize at least one electronic catalog of display items, said catalog being distributable across the distributed network such that at least one user computer with access to the network may access the catalog. Instructions may be received from the user and the catalog changed according to those instructions. Further changes in the catalog may be entered from the publisher in response to an editorial change entered by a user, according to preconfigured directions. The display of the catalog may be controlled by a user with a graphical user interface such that the user may toggle between different catalogs or different displays of a catalog, which may be a different layout or a different color.

Abstract: The display apparatus of the invention is a display case combined with an electronic display for displaying merchandise items such as jewelry both physically and electronically. The electronic display of the merchandise items in the display case includes interactive features, as for example access to a website for purchasing the merchandise items. Where the merchandise items are valuable, such as jewelry, the merchandise items in the display case may be facsimiles of the actual merchandise for sale, so that customers may open the display case without a sales person.