Search Engine, Googles Checkout Solution Increases Sales

Brentwood, California - October 5, 2006 - Strong sales for 2006 and continued growth expectations for 2007, has been reported by e-tailer of apparel and gifts, Alpaca. The online retailer is showing surprising adoption and success with its recent implementation of Google Checkout. Alpaca Direct and Google have teamed up to provide a hefty incentive this month, whereby Google will instantly credit $10 to online shoppers who spend at least $30 on the web site.

Kelley Hobart, a Founder of the Silicon Valley based Alpaca stated, ''This is a great opportunity for consumers to try our products and also experience the convenience of the new Google Checkout process. Quality alpaca apparel and yarn is lightweight, soft as cashmere and warmer than wool. American shoppers are beginning to discover the many unique benefits of Alpaca clothing. This natural hollow-core fiber is lightweight and thermal regulating, making it a perfect fit for creating versatile sweaters, ponchos and socks that can be worn throughout the year. The response has been phenomenal! When our clients discover alpaca, they become lifelong customers.''

In addition, most of the Alpaca products available have not been designed for the North American fashion market. Mrs. Hobard continued, ''We teamed up with American designers to introduce the public to fresh colors and style combined with the incredible natural benefits of alpaca. Combining incredibly high quality products with easy online shopping and fast shipping has been a winning combination. Our goal is to educate the consumer market about alpaca apparel. Most people do not realize this natural fiber is soft as cashmere but much warmer and 5 times stronger than wool.''

Alpaca Direct is addressing the market by making the entire line of Alpaca apparel available online, in popular American styles through a highly usable retail website. Most retail web sites are very difficult to use and have a high abandon rate. To solve this issue, the software design team at Alpacadirect has focused on usability of the core shopping experience. This focus, combined with old-fashioned customer service like free shipping and free gift wrap aims to set new service level expectations for online retailers.

Mrs. Hobart continued, ''Our goal is to target a specific market niche, usability test the shopping experience and refine our approach based on user feedback. It is all about the basics… Great products, competitive pricing, excellent customer service all delivered in an effective online shopping experience.''

Alpaca are native to the high Andes Mountains of South America. Domesticated for centuries by the Inca of Peru, their precious fleece was worn only by royalty. Alpaca produce over twenty natural shades of a fiber that is soft as cashmere and stronger than wool. This unique hollow core fiber is extremely light yet retains the ability to warm its wearer against even the harshest winter chills. Alpaca are still very rare in the United States with the current US alpaca population at about 50,000. The average female alpaca sells for between $15,000 and $30,000 dollars in the US market.

Alpaca Direct is the latest e-commerce retail venture launched out of Silicon Valley. Located in Brentwood, California, USA the site was extensively tested in a state of the art usability lab and offers a wide range of high quality Alpaca apparel and gifts.