Specialty shoe retailer DSW Inc. is going to launch its first-ever comprehensive e-commerce site in year 2008.

DSW has announced its recent third quarter earnings call and revealed that the company will launch its e-commerce site in the first half of year 2008.

According to DSW's recently filed quarterly earnings reports, DSW is investing heavily in the web and e-commerce technology. The company has already spent almost US8 million developing an e-commerce infrastructure.

DSW Inc., which operates 255 stores in 35 states, will be entering a lucrative, but competitive, web sales niche.

According to Forrester Research Inc., online footwear sales are growing nearly 15% annually and will become a US5.5 billion market by year 2010.

DSW Inc. recently reported its third-quarter sales and earnings increased. For the three months ended 3 November 2007, the company had earnings of US22.4m, or 51 cents, as compared to US16m, or 36 cents, a year ago.