E-Commerce

Target is getting ready for the holidays with a big multichannel push that includes expanding its in-store pick-up program for products ordered online to all of its U.S. stores by Nov. 1 — a service that's now available in about half of the chain's locations. Target will run an ad campaign Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 that promotes deals during Cyber Monday and the rest of Cyber week. Target's overall holiday campaign, themed "My Kind Of Holiday," will extend across all channels, including broadcast, radio, in-store, catalogs, digital and social media.

The leading trade group representing the retail industry lauded a bill introduced in Congress this week that would seek to curb frivolous but costly litigation targeting patent holders, a blight the National Retail Federation says is a growing problem for its members. The Innovation Act, backed by Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, would provide for numerous reforms to rein in abusive lawsuits brought by entities that hold patents but don't use the covered intellectual property in any products or services. 

Amazon.com has raised its free shipping minimum order to $35. The change came after a decade of free shipping to U.S. addresses on a minimum order of $25 on Amazon's site. It took effect Tuesday, just ahead of the holiday shopping season, according to Amazon Spokeswoman Julie Law. Amazon now finds itself in the mid-range of major retailers that offer free shipping on online orders. Wal-Mart and Target offer free shipping on many purchases of over $50, while Best Buy's minimum order is $25. Earlier this year, Amazon warned that its shipping costs were going to increase during the holiday season.

Tiffany & Co. is relaunching its e-commerce site. The site includes enhanced zoom capabilities and several expanded sections. Blue Book, the company's collection of couture jewels, is showcased with scenes from the Tiffany workshop where they are created, as well as an expanded engagement section with a gemologist's video and review of Tiffany's quality standards.

For the typical e-commerce startup that's selling a physical product, shipping is often an afterthought. Compared to splashy marketing campaigns and new product features, shipping isn't exactly the sexiest topic. However, efficient shipping operations directly affect revenue and future growth, and companies that don't adhere to best practices run the risk of having increasing sales without raking in enough profits. Consider implementing these six tips:

With the hiring of one of Apple's e-commerce leaders, eBay is looking to expand its presence in the mobile shopping segment and steer the company's global expansion. In early November, RJ Pittman will join eBay as the first chief product officer of eBay's Marketplaces division. In an email, Pittman was cagey about the particulars of his mission, talking somewhat vaguely of plans "to streamline buyer and seller experiences and functionality" and "working to further simplify buying and selling," though he indicated that he has designs on advancing eBay's work in mobile commerce and the company's international development.

The holiday season is right around the corner, meaning most e-retailers are in the thick of finalizing promotional campaigns and optimizing websites in the hopes of increasing traffic and avoiding conversion roadblocks. However, before launching their email, social and traditional advertising campaigns, many online retailers would be well served to take the time to re-evaluate the overall digital experience they're delivering to visitors. 

There are two common sense strategies that every digital marketer should employ well before Cyber Monday: one, maximize conversion drivers and, two, minimize conversion barriers. Here are some ways how:

The objective of promoting a favorable and distinctive online experience is a deepening engagement with consumers. This means understanding the consumer's psychology and fashioning your website to appeal to the way people shop in the era of social networking, mobile devices and voice-prompted actions. Every e-commerce site is now at shoppers’ fingertips, enabling them to compare prices and features with a few clicks. By remembering the following eight tips, website designers can help ensure they keep this on-the-go, socially focused shopper in mind when creating e-commerce pages, text and graphics:

Identity theft and consumer fraud are synonymous with internet scams. From complaint boards to value-added upsells solicited by credit card companies, when it comes to fraudulent online activity, the most common offender is seen as a vicious criminal. However, a different type of fraud is taking the lion's share of this nomenclature by storm, boasting an explosive growth rate when it comes to online transactions. The criminal behind the scenes is one who is very rarely recognized. This is what's being referred to as "friendly fraud."