
E-Commerce

Focusing on the omnichannel customer, mobile apps vs. mobile sites, and the real return on investment of social media were just a few of the many topics discussed at eTail West, which took place in Palm Desert, Calif. this week. Here's a look at a few key takeaways — and fun perspectives — via tweets sent during the conference:
MyBuys, Inc. and the e-tailing group today announced results of primary research across more than 1,100 consumers that examined how personalized marketing across channels impacts shopper attitudes and buying behavior. Survey results reveal that customer-centric marketing — the ability for retailers to engage consumers in one-to-one conversations across the customer lifecycle and all touchpoints — increases buyer readiness, engagement and sales activity, with a record 40 percent of respondents now stating that they buy more from retailers who comprehensively personalize the shopping experience across channels.
Move over flash sales and online fashion discount sites, one of the biggest off-price retailers in America is about to launch e-commerce. According to reports this morning, T.J.Maxx and Marshalls are set to announce plans to enter the world of online shopping. Currently a brick-and-mortar operation, T.J.Maxx and Marshalls sold $25.9 billion worth of merchandise last year alone. With a designer roster that spans mass market household names to high-end Italian luxury labels, this is one new e-commerce player to watch.
Google's recent purchase of Channel Intelligence underscores its unstated goal of gobbling up every industry. This particular move is a not so subtle signal to the marketplace that Google intends to become the dominant player in global e-commerce, which in the U.S. alone is a $186 billion industry. Yes, for Google this isn't just about owning the entire retail ad marketplace. It intends to eat up all of retail, starting with e-commerce.
On the heels of a strong performance in 2012 that included a 7.3 percent same-store sales increase, Nordstrom is investing heavily in its future. Two big areas of investment: online and expansion of the Nordstrom Rack outlet division, both in the United States and Canada. Some 24 new Rack locations are planned for this year, with more than 30 expected in 2014. The company is looking to double its Rack portfolio, from its current 119 locations to more than 230 stores over the next four years.
A report from CPC Strategy says Google Shopping was on average 32.77 percent more cost effective for merchants during last year's third and fourth quarters than Amazon Product Ads. The 2012 Ecommerce Industry Report analyzed the sales data of over 200 online retailers with ad-buying power of over $2.4 million, analyzing over 6 million clicks and $14.6 million in revenue. The study compared the effectiveness of Google Shopping against rival shopping engine Amazon Product Ads.
The e-commerce and payments giant officially rolled out its website redesign, the biggest change in its history. eBay first introduced the new features, which it says creates a more personalized experience, in October. Since that time, eBay has allowed site visitors to opt in for the new design. Starting yesterday, users no longer have the option to use the older design, but eBay says the new site is "more intuitive." One feature, dubbed Feed, curates a user's favorite items on a personalized page and displays the images in a setup very similar to Pinterest's layout.
Amazon.com has launched the Entertainment Collectibles Store, which offers more than 350,000 unique and rare collectibles, including memorabilia from Academy Award- and Grammy-winning artists and honorees. Amazon shoppers can browse collectibles by item type, entertainment type, autographed, price and year to find everything from classic photographs and original manuscripts to signed artist contracts and autographed movie posters.
The departure of Finish Line Chief Digital Officer Christopher Ladd is the latest bit of fallout from the e-commerce snafu that has cost the retailer $3 million (and counting) in lost sales. There are strong indications that Ladd's departure won't be the last piece of bad news associated with Finish Line's digital debacle. Sources have revealed to RIS News that relations between Finish Line and its key e-commerce vendor partners have been strained by the incident.
American Express is enabling cardholders to purchase items on Twitter by using push notifications with special hashtags. Cardholders must first sync their eligible cards on the American Express website. Then, if they see an offer that American Express...