Manufacturers and brand marketers overhaul Web presence to reinforce digital presence, provide superior customer experiences, and drive additional sales.

Samsung, conducting a test for more than six months on BestBuy.com, found that it could increasingly interact with consumers via a "Mr. Samsung" expert who answers consumers' questions on the retail site. The company discovered that consumers tend to view products more often after interaction with Mr. Samsung, says Kris Narayanan, director of integrated marketing at Samsung Electronics America.

Target has eliminated 85 positions as part of a reorganization of its marketing department. The company said in a statement that it "routinely evaluates all areas" to ensure its organizational structure is efficient and that staffing levels meet its changing needs. The position eliminations were not specific to employment levels or skill sets, according to a company spokesperson.

Kohl's Department Stores will increase its investment in digital media by 25% this holiday season. The chain will also boost the amount of mailings to Kohl's Charge Card users, including distributing a men's holiday gift guide in select markets.

E-commerce services provider GSI Commerce has agreed to acquire Retail Convergence, operator of private sale e-commerce site RueLaLa.com, for up to $350 million. The transaction includes a $180 million pay out at the closing of the deal and an earn-out of up to $170 million based on Retail Convergence's performance in fiscal year 2012.

InfoGroup will combine its nonprofit-focused units into one direct marketing services provider, called InfoGroup Nonprofit, next month. The new unit will offer services including data processing, list brokerage and fulfillment and creative and print services. The provider will have four office locations: Washington, DC; Greenwich, CT; Marshfield, WI and Omaha, NE.

Direct marketing services provider Harte-Hanks has opened a US office for business-to-business technology subsidiary agency Mason Zimbler. The Austin, TX office adds program strategy, creative development and campaign execution and management offerings to the agency's US footprint. Harte-Hanks acquired UK-based Mason Zimbler in February 2008 because of its digital offerings, according to the agency.

Add Toys "R" Us to the list of retailers that recently introduced or reintroduced in-store layaway — a service that had been eliminated by many retailers.

Amazon.com has expanded its Amazon Payments solution to nonprofits, allowing consumers to make donations to participating groups using their accounts with the Web merchant. The American Red Cross, UNICEF, Greenpeace, The Nature Conservancy, Feeding America and Children's Miracle Network are among the organizations accepting donations via Amazon Payments on their Web sites.

Playboy Enterprises and e-commerce and catalog service provider eFashionSolutions have settled a dispute over the operation of Playboy's e-commerce and catalog businesses. The companies announced the deal on October 20. EFashionSolutions said in a statement that it will continue to manage the e-commerce operations of Playboy's retail brands ShopTheBunny.com and PlayboyStore.com.