CRE Loaded is an open source online shopping cart software for start-up Ecommerce sites from Chain Reaction eCommerce. It is based on osCommerce and runs on any LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) web server. The Standard version of CRE Loaded is available as a free download. Pro and Pro B2B versions with expanded feature sets and support are available for a fee.

Key Features

CRE Loaded differs from osCommerce and other related applications primarily through its offering of add-on modules and systems to provide expanded functionality.

Free online manual

Fully integrated Content Management System

Fully integrated File Distribution Management System

Integrated shipping and payment modules

Multiple images per product

B2B Tools: Customer groups, wholesale pricing, volume discounts, etc.

Integrated security options

Integrated Live Chat option

Complete free online documentation and Knowledgebase

Phone, email, and chat support

Customer statistics report

Download Controller for managing sales of downloadable files

Easy Populate allows uploading a complete product database in one batch

Meta-Tag controller

Monthly sales & tax reporting

Gift certificates and discount coupons

Product Development

Current (August 2008) CRELoaded version is 6.2 with patches up to 13.2. Chain Reaction Ecommerce is advertising the pre-release of CRE Loaded Standard 6.3. It is said to have expanded Admin features, Shipping and Image Modules and increased flexibility.

CRELoaded offers Add-On Systems, Add-On Modules and Add-On Services. Add-On Systems introduce entire new frameworks into your site and can themselves support additional Add-On Modules.
Add-On Modules enhance the capabilities of your CRE Loaded store with these Add-On Modules.
Add-On Services are the partner relationships that CRE Loaded has developed with Ecommerce-related services.

The Add-On Systems offered are Content Director and File Distribution Manager.
The Add-On Modules offered are Mega Add-On Bundle 2, Recover Abandoned Carts, Checkout Success, SEOURLs and Admin Sessions Length Control.
The Add-On Services offered are C.R.E. Merchant, C.R.E. Secure, BuySafe, My Store Rewards and Shipwire

Company Profile

Chain Reaction eCommerce was founded in 2002 to provide complete, integrated e-commerce business-development services. Chain Reaction eCommerce maintains a variety of websites offering web hosting, e-commerce project development, and e-commerce software applications such as CRE Loaded.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia the leadership of Chain Reaction Ecommerce includes Michael Valverde, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Fuller, Chief Operating Officer; Salvatore Iozzia, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer; Gregory McGraw, Chief Financial Officer and Scott M. Pranger, EVP of Global Sales and Business Development.

Chain Reaction Ecommerce also maintains separate websites for Project Developers and for freelancers:

CREForge is the Development center, where all of the CRE Loaded publicly available files and support tools are maintained. Developers can post their own files for use by the community.

CRELance is a skills exchange website where freelance programmers, coders, and marketing specialists with expertise in CRE Loaded offer their skills on a freelance basis. Interested parties can browse freelancers or projects, or post projects on which freelancers make bids.

CREShare is a public support forum to aid the user and developer communities.

See Also:

osCommerce

Zen Cart

Magento

External Links:

http://www.getcre.com Chain Reaction Ecommerce official site

http://www.getcre.com/creloaded CRE Loaded official site

http://www.creforge.com CRE Loaded project developer’s site

http://www.crelance.com CRE Loaded freelance jobsite