U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 28, 1999
Commission File No. 0-22524
REAL GOODS TRADING CORPORATION
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
California 68-0227324
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
3440 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa California 95403
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Issuer's telephone number, including area code:
(707) 542-2600
Item 5. Other events
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference the information
contained in Attachment A hereto in response to this Item 5.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information:
John Schaeffer, CEO; 707.521.4444
Mark Swedlund, President 707.521.4400
REAL GOODS ANNOUNCES INTERNET SALES UP 501% IN FISCAL 1999
Santa Rosa, California, 28 June 1999... Real Goods Trading
Corporation (Nasdaq: RGTC, Chicago Exchange: RGT), a California
based retailer of environmental and renewable energy products
using catalogs, retail stores, and the Internet announced that
sales of products through its Internet channel of distribution
increased 501% to $551,000 in Fiscal 1999 from $110,000 in Fiscal
1998. The Internet sales were 5.2% of total catalog sales. The
Company believes this is a higher percentage of Internet sales
than most catalog retailers are currently generating. The
increase was highlighted by fourth quarter sales of $224,000 for
Fiscal '99 vs. $46,000 for the same period in Fiscal '98, a 487%
increase.
The Company also announced that "raw hits," the total number
clicks on its website, reached an all time high of 4,650,000 for
the fourth quarter of Fiscal 1999 (the quarter ending March 31,
1999). The Company believes that this is an extraordinarily high
number given its position in the Internet marketplace.
According to CEO, John Schaeffer, "We're extremely pleased to see
such strong growth of our website as it justifies further focus
on Internet resources. As we launch our affiliate program with
other like-minded companies, we see this strong growth
continuing. We are proud to offer the broadest selection of
environmental products in cyberspace."
Not just offering a full array of more than 1,000 environmental
products for sale, the Company's website offers traditional
consumers as well as new customers a wider array of renewable
energy and environmental lifestyle products than they can find in
any other location in cyber space. The Company's website is
unique in that it is the first site ever approved by the SEC
(Securities and Exchange Commission) to allow the buying and
selling of stock by its shareowners over the Internet. Buyers of
the stock pay no commission to stockbrokers. The site's other
popular features include a virtual tour of the Company's 12-acre
Solar Living Center, the online Renewable Energy Catalog, and a
powerful search engine that enables Real Goods customers to find
any product quickly.
The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press
release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading
"Certain Considerations" in the Company's annual report on Form
10-KSB for the year ended March 31, 1999. These include risks and
uncertainties relating to sales growth, availability of capital,
customer preferences and the general economy.
Real Goods Trading Corporation sells a broad range of renewable
energy and sustainable living products through its mail order
catalogs and three retail stores and on its website
(www.realgoods.com) (call 1.800.762.7325 for a free catalog). The
Company believes that it is the largest retailer of these
products in the world. The Company's common stock is publicly
traded on the Chicago Stock Exchange under the symbol "RGT", on
the Nasdaq Small Cap market under the symbol "RGTC", and through
a bulletin board maintained on its web site
(http://www.realgoods.com).
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements on the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
REAL GOODS TRADING CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: June 28, 1999
By:[S]LES SEELY
Leslie B. Seely
Chief Financial Officer
