E-Commerce

Target confirmed that its website crashed for the second time in six weeks on Oct. 25, going down at approximately 12:50 p.m. EDT and then coming back up two hours later. Target.com also crashed on Sept. 13, after the retailer’s online introduction of its new line of Missoni apparel and items.

While many consumers remain focused on prestige pieces that will retain their worth, young consumers are racing to purchase "new luxury" accessories like high-priced handbags and shoes, according to a study just released by PM Digital, a New York-based digital marketing agency.

When the first flakes of a snowstorm start falling in Philadelphia, it doesn't take nearby Home Depot stores long to position shovels and rock salt up near their front doors. At the same time, if a heat wave is blasting Phoenix, shoppers walking into their local Wal-Mart will be tempted to buy air conditioners, kiddie pools and slushy machines.

Online retailers have plenty to be joyous about this holiday season as new research shows companies are adjusting their holiday plans based on expected growth and strong demand from holiday shoppers.

Retailers are so desperate this holiday season that they're willing to lose money to get you to spend yours. Take online jeweler Stauer. It's offering a $249 amethyst necklace for free — provided customers pay the $24.95 it costs to ship it. Stauer will lose money on the deal, but it hopes to reel in new customers who will buy other jewelry.

Any digital-based business, whether it’s advertising, commerce or publishing, is still saddled with the burden of potential. Growth is expected to be exponential. Therefore, it surprised me that more than a few experts are throwing in the towel on some important growth markets.

Amazon-owned Soap.com has begun selling grocery goods. Unlike Amazon Fresh, which delivers a full range of groceries via an elaborate system of delivery trucks, Soap.com‘s selection is limited to approximately 10,000 nonperishable items such as cereal and coffee.

Bodymetrics, a London-based company with a thing for body scanning, has teamed up with PrimeSense to create a full, 3-D body scanner that could have a serious impact on online clothes shopping.

Sears announced that it's offering free shipping from Oct. 30 through Dec. 19 at Sears.com and Kmart.com. In addition, the company is offering free same-day store pickup.

Apple is giving customers a new option for receiving items that they order online. The company is slowly rolling out a new program called “Sherwood” that will allow orders from Apple’s website to be picked up at a local Apple retail store.