An apparatus and a method are provided for facilitating the ability of a
local organization to have its products or services displayed to a
consumer on a computer monitor in a manner that facilitates their
identification by the consumer in the local area. A search engine server
is formed to display search results according to distance from the
consumer. Search results are ordered in a specified manner that includes
evaluating store location, product availability and price. With respect to
store location, GPS coordinates are used if available to determine
distances from the stores to the consumer. If GPS coordinates are not
available, then a database that correlates postal codes is used to
determine adjacent postal codes. Thus, search results are ordered in terms
of highest priority being given to vendors in the same postal code, then
to vendors in neighboring postal codes. Thereafter, priority is given to
vendors whose postal codes are within the same city, then the same county,
and finally, within the same state. The display results are generated with
a graphical user interface that creates "buttons" to facilitate the user
sending an e-mail message to the particular store, a hold request to hold
a particular product, and to initiate a voice call between the consumer
and the store.
