E-Commerce

While the twinkling lights and tinsel make 2011 seem like a typical year for holiday shopping, the truth is it's not. The biggest difference this year is with consumers themselves, specifically where and how they spend their money and how retailers are competing for those dollars.

Swedish fashion chain H&M has admitted to using computer-generated models to showcase a range of collections on its website. The virtual models look completely human, but if you look closely, they all have the same body shape and pose.

For the holiday season to date, nearly $20 billion has been spent online, marking a 15 percent increase from the corresponding days last year. The most recent week saw three individual days eclipse $1 billion in spending, led by Cyber Monday, which became the heaviest online spending day on record at $1.25 billion.

A day after Amazon announced that it would give shoppers up to $15 for using its Price Check app in a brick-and-mortar store and buying that item from Amazon afterward, prominent retail groups are lashing out at the e-commerce giant.

Newark/element 14, a cross-channel retailer of electronic components, has leveraged LivePerson's LP Marketer website personalization tool to help it realize significant gains in conversion rate and average order value. Check out the video to find out how.

High-impact customer experiences are the heart and soul of successful multichannel retailing. The development of multiple channels is clearly a priority, but many retailers overlook the value of site redesign strategies and simple modifications that can dramatically improve customer experiences and conversion rates.

Retailers spend billions on customer acquisition, but then spend very little time or money on the next step: getting customers to stick around. Most retailers have become extremely adept at getting their messages and promotions in front of prospects. But even when they succeed in acquiring a new customer, that person usually only makes up to two purchases per year. That equates to billions of dollars spent for very little long-term value.

Amazon has pulled back the curtain on yet another way it will be snagging purchases away from physical retail outlets. Starting Dec. 10, users of Amazon’s Price Check app will be able to score up to $5 off a purchase of any product if they use the app in-store.

When Keds sneakers were launched back in 1916, the world was in the midst of World War I. Finally, 95 years into its existence, Keds is branching out and trying something new: apparel.

The American Family Association has published a "Naughty or Nice" list to identify retailers that were "for" or "against" Christmas. The organization wants its members and those who support its cause to spend money with those retailers who are "for" Christmas.