E-Commerce

Online music service Rhapsody announced that it's purchased Napster from Best Buy. Rhapsody didn't disclose the price it paid for Napster, which Best Buy acquired in 2008 for $121 million in a bid to break into the online music subscription space.

The competitive shopping marketplace is really changing with the advent of Google Product Search, which encourages consumers to make split-second decisions based on price. Are shoppers changing the way they make purchasing decisions based on search shopping feeds like Google Product Search? What are some practices around how to reach shoppers in this new environment?

A new consumer survey about online shopping, navigation and trust reveals the obstacles brands face in having offline marketing efforts materialize with online sales. Three-quarters of consumers are likely to go online after visiting a store to find a better deal before buying, and most start with search engines.

MyHabit.com, a new designer flash-sale site from the folks at Amazon.com, kicked off Real by MyHabit, a series of plus-size fashion flash sales. 

In an effort to help its retail partners create an ideal shopping experience on behalf of Philip Stein, the brand is halting all online watch sales on its website. “A positive retail experience is a vital part of the Philip Stein mission to make their customers their number one priority”, says Will Stein, president of Philip Stein watches. “The best way to do that is by providing the service and attention that only a retail environment can provide.”

With retail profits taking a hit due to a combination of rising production costs and a decline in sales as a result of the weakening economy, the internet has emerged as the new battleground for teen apparel retailers Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters.

One size daily deals don't fit everyone — not even Groupon. In an effort to diversify revenue and maintain its rapid growth, Groupon, which has temporarily shelved its $750 million public offering, is fast evolving its business model.

The Limited will enter the women’s plus-size business, called eloquii by The Limited. It will launch online in October, with stores to follow next year, a report said. The merchandise mix will include sportswear, dresses and accessories, with sizes ranging from 14W to 24W.

When Target made headlines with the launch of its limited partnership with designer Missoni, it probably didn’t expect demand for the fashion line to crash its website. While we usually hear about retail website crashes on or near Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Target’s recent site outage is remarkable for its atypical timing, severity and length.

OneStopPlus today announced the launch of fullbeauty.com, a website for plus-size bras and lingerie representing a comprehensive range of brands, styles, sizes and colors.