Behind Branson’s E-empire

British entrepreneur Richard Branson is turning his Virgin Group empire–170

or so businesses–virtual. He has set up virgin.com as the Web portal for his

online businesses, everything from booking airline tickets to buying wine. Here’s

a sampling.

Virgin Atlantic Airways

This is Virgin’s biggest online moneymaker. The airline user the Net to

sell tickets and to cut inventory costs by ordering spare parts as needed over

the Web instead of stocking them in a warehouse.

Virgin Mobile

The joint venture with Deutsche Telekom’s cellular company, One 2 One, was

launched in November, 1999. Virgin Mobile has 548,000 customers in Britain and

is expanding to Australia and Southeast Asia. Customers get mobile-phone

service, e-mail, and online services such as dining tips.

Virgintravelstore.com

The online travel agency launched in December. Netizens can book everything

from airline flights to hotel rooms to guided tours from a wide selection of

travel companies, including Virgin.

Virgin Cars



A virtual showroom where consumers can compare models before buying online at

prices 17% cheaper than traditional dealerships. Buyers get maintenance thrown

in and can arrange financing, as well as sell their existing car on the site.

Since its June launch, 1950 cars have been sold.

Virgin Money



The financial service, launched in June, is similar to Charles Schwab.

Besides online trading, users get financial info and can compare every financial

product available on the market–not just Virgin’s.

Radiofreevirgin.com



The free digital radio tuner, when downloaded to a PC, gives listeners

CD-quality music from 50 Net channels. Launched in the U.S. in February, the

site boasts 500,000 user and hopes to go global.

Virgin Energy



The Internet-based gas and electricity supplier went live in July. The

venture, 25% owned by London Electricity, has attracted 5,500 consumers and

plans to roll out across Europe. Customers who haven’t saved money after

switching will receive a refund of the difference plus 20%.

Virgin Direct



Along with partners, Virgin sells insurance, mortgages, and investment funds.

It has more than 1 million customers and $4 billion in assets. Losses in 1999

were around $35 million, with a goal to break even in 2000.

Thetrainline.com



It was started in February,1999, as a joint venture with British Transport

Company Stagecoach. The site sells tickets for Britain’s 23 train operators,

has 1.8 million users, and is adding 55,000 new ones each week. It expects to

break even by next October.