Internet Swoosh.

Nike beefs up website, adds online ordering; New Balance adds tracking over Internet

Two footwear manufacturers are flipping the switch on electronic commerce with new or expanded Internet sites.

Nike Inc. debuted its new www.nike.com website Feb. 9 to sell its footwear and apparel lines directly to consumers. It's a change of face for Nike; it had been using its website for marketing and public relations.

The addition of online ordering won't diminish Nike's marketing emphasis on its website. It still wants to get people inside its stores as well as online. That's because a large percentage of consumers who check out the Internet are more …