Multichannel Retail & Ecommerce

Intel debuts viral gift card holiday campaign

Dianna Dilworth November 19, 2009

Intel is conducting a digital e-card campaign that lets users make personalized 3-D cards to send to their friends and family. The campaign, launched November 16, runs through the end of the year. It features a Web site where consumers can create e-cards and view information on Intel products.
 

Tobi.com debuts virtual fitting room

Dianna Dilworth November 16, 2009

For fashionistas who love trying on clothes but don't want to leave home, online retailer Tobi.com has opened a virtual fitting room. The online dressing room is based on augmented reality technology and lets a user take a photo with a webcam and then try on and rate different outfits.
 

Google: Retailers optimistic about holiday e-commerce

Carol Krol November 12, 2009

More than half (53%) of retailers' 2009 holiday advertising budgets are staying at the same level as last year, while 41% of retailers are seeing their ad spending allowances increase, according to analysis by Google and OTX, a consumer research and consulting firm.
 

IBM releases e-commerce platform for social media, mobile integration

Dianna Dilworth November 11, 2009

IBM has released WebSphere Commerce 7, the latest version of its e-commerce platform, which includes integration with social media and mobile. The overarching goal of the platform is to create a more personal experience at the consumer level.
 

Reader's Digest Association reshuffles marketing operations, names US CMO

Frank Washkuch November 10, 2009

As part of its effort to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Reader's Digest Association has reorganized its marketing structure and named a CMO for the US. The company named Lisa Karpinski its US CMO, responsible for marketing strategies across the company's brands. Based in Milwaukee, she will oversee marketing team members for all US titles.
 

E-commerce down 2% in Q3: Outlook for holiday season sunnier

Cara Wood November 05, 2009

US online retail spending totaled $29.6 billion in Q3 2009, according to a e-commerce sales estimate released on November 5 by ComScore. The period, down 2% versus a year ago, was the second in online shopping history in which sales figures had a downward trend in consecutive quarters. However, the projections for the holiday season are healthier.
 

Target eliminates 85 marketing jobs

Chantal Todé October 30, 2009

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 ups holiday season commitment to digital, direct mail

Chantal Todé October 29, 2009

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.
 

GSI Commerce acquires private sale site RueLaLa.com

Chantal Todé October 28, 2009

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.
 

Layaway returns to retailers — on the Web

Chantal Todé October 26, 2009

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.
 

Creative solutions from Supershoes.com, Rubbermaid, Inkubook

October 26, 2009

Julie Petroski, VP, group creative director at Targetbase talks about the latest campaigns from Supershoes.com, Rubbermaid and Inkubook
 

DMNews chats with Amy Kennedy, VP of marketing at Wine.com

October 26, 2009

DMNews speaks with Amy Kennedy, VP of marketing at Wine.com, about the evolution of the e-commerce site's product recommendations
 

NBA shoots for Hispanic audience

Mary Elizabeth Hurn October 26, 2009

In an effort to attract the growing economic might of Hispanics living in the US, the NBA this month launched Éne-bé-a, a multichannel marketing campaign.
 

Book prices buck trend of fewer holiday deals

Chantal Tode October 26, 2009

Although there's been talk by retail watchdogs that this holiday season's discounting might not be what it was in past years, retailers are racing to the lowest prices on book sales.
 

After dispute, eFashionSolutions to continue to manage Playboy's online business

Chantal Todé October 20, 2009

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.
 

Martha Stewart touts value of multichannel: DMA09 keynote

Cara Wood October 19, 2009

Martha Stewart delivered a single message to a crowd of about 600 at the Direct Marketing Association's annual conference in San Diego on October 19: It's good to be everywhere.
 

Study: More consumers to shop online this holiday season

Chantal Todé October 19, 2009

More consumers will shop online this year for holiday gifts than last year, according to a survey from e-commerce services provider MarketLive and consultancy The E-tailing Group released October 19. Of the 1,000 consumers queried for the 2009 Mindset of a Multi-Channel Shopper Survey, 55% said they plan to do their holiday shopping via the Web this year, compared to 49% last year.
 

Ogilvy, MarketShare Partners release multichannel media spend tool

Cara Wood October 16, 2009

In response to increasing advertiser focus on ROI, Ogilivy & Mather and MarketShare Partners are teaming up to offer marketing effectiveness tools measuring results and predicting optimal media spend across digital, direct, TV, radio and marketing channels.
 

Report shows popular brands shine online

Chantal Todé October 16, 2009

Online retailers are reporting increased profitability and market-share growth despite the current economic downturn, with the biggest brands performing better than smaller rivals, according to the third report in Shop.org's "State of Online Retailing 2009" series.
 

Brookstone appoints Boire president, CEO

Carol Krol October 16, 2009

Brookstone announced October 16 it has appointed Ronald Boire president and CEO. Boire will also join Brookstone's board of directors. Boire previously served as president for North America and corporate EVP for Toys "R" Us.
 

Amazon launches same-day delivery

Chantal Todé October 15, 2009

Amazon.com on October 15 launched same-day delivery for thousands of items in seven major cities. The online retailer has also expanded its Saturday delivery options.
 

La Perla launches new Web site

Chantal Todé October 15, 2009

Luxury intimate apparel company La Perla Fashions Inc. recently launched a new global e-commerce site on the CTS/SELL platform from Createthe Group. La Perla hopes to both acquire new customers and retain existing ones with the revamp. One of its goals is to seamlessly integrate the brand and shopping experience, said James Gardner, CEO and founder of Createthe Group, which is La Perla's interactive agency. Another goal was to be able to provide the same online experience for customers on a global basis.
 

Wal-Mart to use e-mail effort to promote expanded Web offerings

Chantal Todé October 14, 2009

Wal-Mart will support its recent addition of thousands of personal care products to its online offerings via e-mail marketing and other direct initiatives. In its latest move to expand the selection of products at walmart.com, the company has added health and beauty items, diapers, vitamins and over-the-counter medicine.
 

Cabela's hires Webtrends for analytics

Chantal Todé October 13, 2009

Outdoor gear multichannel retailer Cabela's has selected Webtrends as its analytics vendor, replacing Coremetrics. A key factor in Cabela's decision to hire Webtrends was the firm's ability to give the retailer free access to its data through an open API framework.
 

Symantec launches own e-commerce site, will end work with Digital River

Chantal Todé October 12, 2009

Security, storage and systems management services provider Symantec is rolling out its own internally developed e-commerce solution. It will not extend its contract with e-commerce solutions provider Digital River beyond its June 30, 2010 expiration.
 

Beauty ads gel with men

Mary Elizabeth Hurn October 12, 2009

Men are discerning consumers of personal care products, and marketers find direct tactics are effective ways to reach them
 

Leave online cart abandonment behind

October 12, 2009

E-commerce retailers have long been frustrated with consumers' propensity to fill an online shopping cart, only to get cold feet at the checkout screen. Four experts offer potential solutions to this problem
 

Editorial: Simplicity helps in integrated age

Cara Wood October 09, 2009

Often simple ideas are the ones that resonate with your audience and end up defining your brand. Think JetBlue's customer bill of rights, LL Bean's return policy, or Apple's user manual. In the last week, many brands enhanced their communication strategies.
 

Sears Holdings adds online layaway for Sears, Kmart customers

Chantal Todé October 08, 2009

Sears Holdings is bolstering the layaway programs of its Sears and Kmart stores with an online service. The program will launch October 9. Sears told 'DMNews' in August that it was seeing more use of layaway service during the back-to-school season. Therefore, it will make the service available to more consumers.
 

HSNi names Ethier CEO of Cornerstone

Chantal Todé October 06, 2009

Multichannel retailer HSNi has promoted Mark Ethier to CEO of its Cornerstone business, with responsibility for maximizing the catalog division's performance. The company announced the move on October 5. Ethier was previously HSNi's EVP and COO, overseeing all aspects of operations across the HSN, HSN.com and Cornerstone divisions.