Shoppers will be able to get their hands on almost any product they want in Bermuda and save money at the same time thanks to a new on-line shopping website launched by Pearco.

Pearcoonline.com offers everything from appliances and electronics to furniture and baby products and even grocery delivery service.

It also has a range of new and innovative features including membership deals, a reward points scheme and different payment methods.

But the real beauty of the new service according to sales and marketing manager Valachi Pearman, who runs the company with his wife and general manager Tracey, was that it offers every item it is able to source, including from a host of US companies it has teamed up with.

"Our philosophy is based on the fact that in order for us to be successful we have found that we have to be able to give our customers not only what they want, but everything they want," he said.

"We have put together a most comprehensive range of products online that are available in Bermuda at reasonable prices.

"We also offer services that add value to the money that is spent with us and because of the use of this wonderful technology that is available to us we have added an enjoyable on-line experience.

"Even if customers cannot find what they want, they can contact us and we can usually find it for them."

Mr. Pearman, who worked as a corrections officer in the Department of Corrections prior to setting up his own business, said there were a number of membership options available, such as annual membership for $60, which offers five percent off on everything in store, or free membership, which allows goods to be bought for the price advertised on the website.

There was also a reward points programme, with consumers getting two percent reward points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed in store or kept for future use, as well as receiving points just for signing up to the service, for writing reviews and making referrals.

"When you look at the five-percent discount for joining plus the two percent reward points when you buy something, really your are getting seven percent off what is available across the store," said Mr. Pearman.

"We try to get customers involved in what we are doing and offer them incentives to bring people."

Other applications include a 'save to buy' scheme, which enables customers to put aside money to use when they are able to afford an item, including for groceries.

Meanwhile, clients can choose to pay by credit card, cash, cheque and cash on delivery (for one- to three-day delivery guarantees) and even bank transfer.

"What we are trying to do is give Bermudians an option that is going to allow them to to buy at a reasonable price and also add value to the money that they are spending," he said.

"A lot of people are shopping overseas trying to get value for money, but what we are trying to do is encourage Bermudians to buy Bermuda, because right now it is not doing the economy any good if they are spending their money elsewhere."

Mr. Pearman, who taught himself to do website design, first got the idea for the service when he was drawing up the site and it just grew from there, with an office and warehouse from where the operation is run.

The company, which uses the logo 'The Smart Way to Shop', was officially launched in May last year, but with new products being added to the website on a daily basis and business spreading by word of mouth, it relies on customers to keep it informed of what stock they want and is security protected by Hackersafe.

It is going up against rival www.shopaholic.bm, which is run by Brenton and Ralph Richardson and which bills itself as a virtual shopping mall.

"The response has been really good as far as our website," said Mr. Pearman.

"My wife and I have always been entrepreneurs and we felt it was time for me to come out and work on my own business and actually do the website and it has gone well so far."

To find out more information about the service, call 234-7327, fax 234-7003 or visit www.pearcoonline.com