Nearly 90 million adults - 40% of the US population age 16 and older - are on-line. Approximately 20% e-shop regularly and 80% have made impulse purchases at least once. When privacy and security concerns are satisfied, e-shopping is sure to explode. Every day thousands of consumers purchase goods and services on-line for the first time. Most come back to shop again. While credit cards have enabled on-line shopping, they also stall its growth. More than 50% of Internet users cite security and privacy as deterrents to using credit cards. Further, credit cards exclude lucrative market segments too large to be ignored. Case in point: 38 million US youths who spend $153 billion annually - though few of them are likely to own credit cards. e-Cards also are an effective marketing tool, particularly when used in loyalty programs. Today, the successful retailer has struck a balance between the virtual world and real world where e-Commerce and Brick'n'Mortar investments complement, rather than compete with each other. And loyalty cards familiarize the Internet for customers who otherwise might never log on. Merchants can issue their own e-Cards or several businesses can build a virtual mall, where all stores honor a common e-Card. Across all industry sectors, almost 40% have on-line business capabilities in place. Another 47 percent are planning to add them in the future. e-Cards can serve as signposts to these cyberspace sites - and ensure sales when the customer arrives.