E-Commerce

comScore released its Q2 2011 U.S. retail e-commerce sales estimates, which shows that online retail spending reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14 percent vs. a year ago. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

Groupon subscribers have more than doubled to 115 million since the end of last year. The company had 50.58 million subscribers at the end of 2010. That jumped 64 percent to 83.1 million at the end of the first quarter. Since then, the number of subscribers has climbed to 115 million. That means subscribers are up about 38 percent since March 31.

eBay told analysts in February it would launch branded outlet stores on its site later this year. eBay will launch the outlet stores on Sept. 19. They will include Neiman Marcus Last Call, William Rast, Spanx, Fila, Timberland, Brooks Brothers, Bluefly and Custo Barcelona.

Clad, a new e-commerce partnership between J.C. Penney and Esquire magazine, will launch later this month. Clad will debut with labels including Michael Kors, Jack Spade, Rag & Bone, Cole Haan, Redwing, Vince, Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Joe’s Jeans, Hickey Freeman, Ben Sherman, Levi’s, Tumi, Malin + Goetz, Billy Jealousy and Kale Naturals.

On Sept. 7, Zara will be launching an e-commerce site in the U.S., meaning we'll finally catch up with the rest of the universe — or a good chunk of Europe — who have had such a luxury for a year now.

Sierra Trading Post announced the official launch of its new website after one year of beta testing. To celebrate the launch, the company is hosting an online party and giving away daily prizes such as an iPad2, Kindle or Nook, Nikon camera and thousands of dollars worth of gift cards. The launch celebration runs through Aug. 8.

A greeting card company targeted to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community is open for business in Las Vegas. The company, Teazled, saw a void while looking for greeting cards to celebrate holidays.

Lantronix, a global provider of smart connectivity solutions that enable cloud-based access to any device anywhere, anytime, announced that it's launched the first Lantronix e-commerce store.

Shopatron has completed its 2011 Retailer eCommerce Study and the results show that retail-integrated e-commerce is boosting sales for both brands and retailers. The survey, answered by almost 1,000 Shopatron retail partners, gives insight into how e-commerce influences a consumer brands’ online and in-store sales. And with over 90 percent of most brands’ sales happening in retail stores, branded manufacturers considering direct-to-consumer e-commerce should take heed.

The clones are attacking in droves. Amazon.com is quietly launching its own deal-of-day discount offers in Chicago. The Windy City, of course, is the corporate home of Groupon.