New Domain Alert: .SHOP drops Sep. 1, 2016

Here’s a fun fact: According to internetretailer.com via Forrester, online sales will reach $523 billion in the U.S. within the next 5 years, up 56% since 2015 with mobile devices being a key driver in that growth. Consumers–and I can attest–research purchases large and small online before buying. The e-commerce sector is experiencing growth but the importance of an online store for physical retailers is also becoming increasingly important.

You already knew all of this, but did you know that the .SHOP TLD drops next week and is undoubtedly the best way to brand your shop in a short and succinct way? #themoreyouknow

Who is the .SHOP domain extension for?

• Ecommerce sites
• Online services
• Offline retailers
• Comparison and affiliate sites

How do I get .SHOP?

The .SHOP TLD will enter the Early Access Program, EAP, on Sep. 1, 2016. For 21 days you’ll have a chance to purchase .SHOP names ahead of the general public at a premium price. The price drops each day. On Sep. 26, .SHOP will be open and available for anyone to register. If you choose not to participate in the Early Access Program you can always choose to place a Pre-Registration. We’ll try to get the name for you after the Early Access Program closes but before General Availability.

Here is an example of pricing during EAP:

As a (slightly addicted) online shopper—go ahead and try to tell me it doesn’t make checking the mail far more exciting—I like that I’ll be able to visually filter search engine results quicker by scanning for “.SHOP” in the domain. These are still the early days for New Domains, but it is certainly the way the internet is moving. Will you be an early adopter? The .SHOP zone is wide open for innovation—get on in there.