Offline retailers are feeling the pinch of the down economy, but there's a glimmer of good news for online channels. Online retail will grow at a steady 19 percent annual rate from $95.7 billion in 2003 to $229.9 billion in 2008, says a new report from Forrester Research. Why such a jump? More users are going online, for one, but the biggest reason Forrester cites is the adoption of multi-channel strategies from traditional offline retailers.

According to the "US eCommerce Overview: 2003 To 2008," food and beverages, sporting goods and home goods will grow the fastest in the next five years, outpacing more traditional online categories like books and travel. Forrester projects the most dramatic growth in the food and beverage category, with sales increasing from $3.7 billion to $17.4 billion over the next five years. Grocers like Safeway and Stop & Shop/Peapod are leading the charge by executing consistent, multi-channel strategies. To make the most of online revenue potential, multi-channel retailers need to keep the customer's needs in mind. Easily navigable sites, accessible user information across all channels and seamless transactions will help retailers shine through.