Goodwill e-commerce booming

It's not just the Goodwill thrift stores that are doing brisk business these days.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida in north Fort Myers says it sold more than $2 million worth of goods online last year, a 348% increase compared with 2011.

Goodwill sells donated high-end goods through ShopGoodwill.com, craigslist and eBay. The nonprofit organization's e-commerce staff has grown from six employees in 2008 to 26 people today.

The organization has become a force in retailing in the region that encompasses Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. It operates 26 stores in the region and total retail sales reached $25 million in 2012.

Goodwill helps 30,000 people in the region with various programs, from job training to housing and schooling.