Gap's recent, prolonged shutdowns of its various websites (Gap.com, BananaRepublic.com and OldNavy.com) while it upgraded them - in the process turning away tens of thousands of customers and millions of their dollars - may pay off in the long term thanks to some nifty innovations, writes the New York Times. "In fact, the big question is how long it will take for competitors to catch up, and at what price," according to the Times.

Forrester Research retail analyst Carrie Johnson is quoted as saying, "Gap's new sites leapfrog every other retail site out there today…[by] providing a customer experience that other retailers will quickly try to figure out how to copy," in part because they have made progress in reducing the number of clicks needed during online shopping.

In part by using mouse-overs and pop-up windows, the sites have eliminated the need to bounce shoppers off course each time they need additional information - such as the availability of different colors and sizes. Gap built its new systems without the help of vendors, in the process ensuring that it enjoys the competitive advantages of the new features longer than it otherwise would.

But, the article points out, e-commerce technologists are likely capable of copying Gap's new features, which "could appear on its rivals' sites with unsettling speed and perhaps improved reliability, since the e-commerce software vendors have had years to work the bugs out of their systems."