February 14, 2013
The NRF voices support for the Marketplace Fairness Act, noting it will create a level playing field.
July 23, 2012
The DMA, ACMA, ERA, and NetChoice have banded together to form the True Simplication of Taxation (TruST) Coalition.
May 04, 2012
When e-commerce titan Amazon sneezes, retailers get a cold — that much is clear.
April 01, 2012
Party supply company PartyPail.com radically reduced its phone bill and created better customer engagement by calling on VoIP service provider Vocalocity.
Home improvement retailer Lowe's acquired online retailer ATG Stores, the company said on Dec. 29. Lowe's spokesperson Karen Cobb said the acquisition closed yesterday afternoon but declined to disclose terms.
Staples, Inc. launched a new e-commerce site for its b-to-b division, Staples Advantage, said Laura Brooks, VP of b-to-b e-commerce at Staples. The new site is designed to feature faster and easier search navigation, alternative product recommendations and enhanced site customization, among other changes.
Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and seven other senators introduced a bill Nov. 9 that would restore each state's sovereign right to enforce state and local sales and use tax laws. The "Marketplace Fairness Act" would also exempt online retailers with less than $500,000 in annual revenue from collecting and remitting sales or use tax.
Netflix loses 800,000 customers and changes its cocky tone.
Shoppers will spend less money on holiday gifts and seasonal merchandise this year, according to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2011 "Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey." Shoppers will spend an average of $704.18 this holiday season, a $14 decrease compared with last year, according to the survey.
Amazon.com will launch a revamped e-commerce site this fall. The upgraded site will feature enhanced product search and tablet navigation, according to numerous media reports.
Online travel company Orbitz Worldwide has launched a Facebook sweepstakes to increase consumer participation on its Facebook fan page. Orbitz worked with AOR BBDO and social media agency Socialbomb to create the "Orbitz 50 Faves" sweepstakes.
Amazon.com reported a net sales increase of 51% in the second quarter to $9.9 billion, compared with the second quarter of 2010. Marketing expenses increased 61.6% to $341 million in Q2 for the Seattle-based e-commerce company.
Amazon.com agreed to acquire online bookseller The Book Depository International, a UK-based retailer, on July 4.The Book Depository reported sales of $173.5 million in the 12 months ending in June.
Amazon.com and O.co (aka Overstock.com) have canceled their California affiliate advertising contracts as a result of the state's July 1-enacted sales tax law, which requires out-of-state retailers to collect 7.25% base tax on online purchases made by in-state residents.
JCPenney Co. reported May 16 that its Internet sales increased 6.6% to $376 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with Q1 2010. The Plano, Texas-based company's first quarter net sales increased 0.4% year-over-year to $3.94 billion, and net income increased 6.7% to $64 million in the quarter.
Multichannel retailer Express launched a commerce tab on its Facebook page on May 3 that enables consumers to browse and make purchases from Express' entire product catalog without leaving the social network.
Amazon.com net sales increased 38% year-over-year to $9.86 billion in the first quarter of 2011, the company said April 26 in an earnings report. However, net income decreased 33% to $201 million in the quarter, compared with the prior year, as marketing expenses increased by $126 million.
1800Mattress.com launched an updated e-commerce website April 12, with the goal of giving consumers a more interactive and personalized shopping experience. The enhanced site, which allows consumers to create 1800Mattress.com profiles, also features product suggestions based on past browsing history.
In the latest salvo of the hot-button information privacy issue, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) said April 11 they will introduce a "bill of rights" intended to protect US citizens' personal information both off- and online.
The average online shopper will spend $225 on Easter items this year, about $96 more than offline shoppers, according to a study released by the National Retail Federation on April 7. However, only 14.8% of consumers will make Easter purchases online, according to the survey.
EBay has agreed to acquire e-commerce and interactive marketing services provider GSI Commerce for approximately $2.4 billion, the companies said March 28. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter.
Walgreens has agreed to acquire online pharmacy retailer Drugstore.com for $409 million, the drug store chain said March 24. Drugstore.com will continue to operate independently in the near term. Dawn Lepore, Drugstore.com CEO and chairman, will report directly to Walgreen's president of e-commerce, Sona Chawla.
Custom clothing company J. Hilburn launched its first e-commerce website on March 23. The site, which the company created in-house, features sophisticated social media and e-mail sharing mechanisms. Prior to the launch, J. Hilburn's products were available exclusively through more than 800 personal style advisors nationwide who would meet with customers to take measurements and provide fashion suggestions.
Women are more likely to begin shopping and researching products online after becoming a parent, according to the findings of Totsy's first annual "Mom Shopping Trends" report.
Retailer JCPenney's 2010 fiscal year net sales increased 1.2% compared with fiscal 2009, the company said February 25. The company's Internet sales increased 4.4% to $1.5 billion in fiscal 2010, compared with the prior fiscal year.
Should consumers order fish on the Internet? Maybe. Maybe not. But there are purchases we should definitely reserve for offline channels.
Amazon.com's fourth-quarter 2010 sales increased 36% year-over-year to $12.95 billion, the company said January 27 in an earnings report. Net income in the quarter, which includes the holiday shopping season, improved by 8% to $416 million, while operating income dropped 2.5% to $494 million, compared with Q4 2009.
Cabela's, a mail-order, bricks-and-mortar and Internet outdoors outfitter, launched a redesigned website this week. The company's goal is to provide a more personalized and simple user experience on the e-commerce portal. Micros Systems subsidiary Fry Inc. built and designed the site.
Buy.com, an online retail marketplace, launched a wine store January 5 with fellow Internet retailer Wine.com. The partnership will allow Buy.com to offer about 1,500 new products.
Technology media company Ziff Davis acquired LogicBuy.com, a provider of online coupons and deals, on January 4.
Company of the week R2C GroupR2C creates, produces, distributes and measures messages that inspire and compel consumers to do something with a brand to drive commercial advantage. The full-service advertising agency specializes in creative, production, media, analytics and performance. |
What's in our mailbox this month: fitness postcards from Retro Fitness, American Woman Fitness Centers, Union's United Taekwondo Academy, and Bally Total Fitness. (We're totally pumped.)
Social data can improve a brand's bottom line and customer relationships. Just ask brands Infiniti and Diamond Nexus.
Here are three must-have data sets that every marketer should include in his or her email strategy.
