E-Commerce

Wal-Mart is planning to launch several new projects this holiday season based on the technology it acquired from the social media startup Kosmix back in April. Kosmix’s platform previously powered multiple services, including a Twitter search site called TweetBeat, a health vertical called RightHealth and a homepage where users could search the web by topic.

As of Aug. 29, Wal-Mart will close the Music Downloads digital music store that it's operated since 2004, exiting a market that is dominated by Apple and iTunes. However, the company is still a player in the competitive video streaming market.

Scentiments.com's Founder and CEO Howard Wyner took time at the eTail 2011 conference in Boston to discuss how retailers can leverage customer service to engage consumers and drive repeat sales.

The big relaunch of Target’s digital platform isn’t due until later this fall, but that didn’t deter the company from offering plenty of ways to interact electronically with the brand for back-to-school shopping.

I’ve just returned from the eTail conference in Boston, and I got to say, the mood was pretty upbeat considering the economic news swirling around the event. A plummeting stock market, stagnant unemployment numbers, downgraded credit rating and talk of a double-dip recession seemed to be mere afterthoughts for those at the event. Heck, the only double-dip that internet retailers may be familiar with these days is scoops of ice cream as they celebrate their latest round of good news.

Major retailers, including Nordstrom and Gap, have begun offering electronic versions of receipts, either emailed or uploaded to password-protected websites. The retailers report more customers are opting for paperless.

The popularity of flash-sale websites with limited time and inventory offerings has grown exponentially over the past two years. Online shoppers’ love for the thrill of snagging designer clothing, home décor, travel and even wine has caused visits to the category to increase 368 percent in July 2011 as compared to the same month two years ago and 109 percent one year ago. 

The long-term profitability of participating in daily-deal promotions remains an open question for local businesses, even as services like Groupon remain popular and more businesses jump on board with deal offers.

Despite leaving the company five weeks ago, Shoebuy.com founder and former President and CEO Scott Savitz led a session at this week's eTail conference in Boston where he detailed the steps the online footwear retailer took to grow into one of the most successful online brands, averaging more than 8 million visitors to the site monthly and realizing gross margins in excess of 43 percent for those visitors.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is using ChannelAdvisor's solutions to transform its original print catalogs into interactive online sales tools, boosting the make-your-own stuffed animal retailer's online presence.