What is the Sloan Center for Internet Retailing?

The Sloan Center for Internet Retailing at the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California, Riverside, is the world's leading university research center dedicated to improving the effectiveness of online retailing.

The Center advances new knowledge through original research that provides deep understanding of the Internet retailing industry and makes a real and positive impact on business practice (download the UCR Sloan Center brochure).

The UCR Sloan Center for Internet Retailing was founded by Professors Donna Hoffman and Tom Novak in 2003 and moved to UCR in 2006 with grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the University of California, Riverside, and founding partners Lands' End and Walmart.com.

What Research Does the Center Do?

Thirteen faculty at UCR and 12 faculty affiliates at other leading institutions conduct research on some of the most pressing challenges facing Internet retailers today.

Current research topics include: consumer-generated media; virtual worlds; search marketing; online customer experience; pricing, trust and competition in online marketplaces; and the online purchase process. About Sloan Industry Studies Centers The UCR Sloan Center for Internet Retailing is one of 26 Sloan Industry Centers dedicated to creating academic communities that deeply understand industries and research the pressing issues these industries face. Sloan Centers have a significant impact on business practice in the industries studied. For further information about the Sloan Center, please contact Professors Donna Hoffman or Tom Novak.

Sloan Center Timeline

2006.  The Sloan Center for Internet Retailing moves to the University of California, Riverside.  UCR eLab is launched.

2003.  The Sloan Foundation provides funding to establish the Sloan Center for Internet Retailing at Vanderbilt University, co-directed by Professors Hoffman and Novak. 

2002.  eLab online panel is launched by Professors Hoffman and Novak.

2001.  eLab online laboratory is founded by Professors Hoffman and Novak with a grant from Vanderbilt University. 

1999.  Project 2000 is renamed “eLab.”

1998-2000.  Paul Allen’s Interval Research Corporation provides a second three-year grant to support Project 2000 research activities. 

1995-1997.  Paul Allen’s Interval Research Corporation provides a three-year grant to support Project 2000 research activities. 

1994.  Project 2000 is founded at Vanderbilt University by Professors Hoffman and Novak to study the marketing implications of commercializing the World Wide Web.