Content about Electronic commerce

September 26, 2012

Deloitte is forecasting holiday sales will increase between 3.5% and 4% as the economy's health and the presidential election take center stage among consumers this fall.

NEW YORK — Deloitte is forecasting holiday sales will increase between 3.5% and 4% as the economy's health and the presidential election take center stage among consumers this fall.

Despite some distractions this year, retailers should expect a modest increase in 2012 holiday sales, according to Deloitte’s annual holiday forecast release Tuesday morning.

September 26, 2012

NRF: Swipe fee reform saving up to $18 million per day

The National Retail Federation estimated that U.S. retailers and their customers are benefiting from savings of up to $18 million every day since the implementation of debit card swipe fee reform.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation estimated that U.S. retailers and their customers are benefiting from savings of up to $18 million every day since the implementation of debit card swipe fee reform.

September 21, 2012

Got mobile? Shifting consumer behavior is 'too large for retailers to ignore'

Once again, mobile capabilities made headlines as a study by ComScore revealed that nearly 86 million Americans are now shopping on their smartphones. To put it another way: That’s 4-out-of-5 smartphone users.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Once again, mobile capabilities made headlines as a study by ComScore revealed that nearly 86 million Americans are now shopping on their smartphones. To put it another way: That’s 4-out-of-5 smartphone users.

(THE NEWS: Survey: 4-out-of-5 smartphone users access retail content. For the full story, click here.)

September 21, 2012

Target offers mobile coupons via Passbook

Target customers who receive the retailer's mobile coupons now can access them on their iPhone or iPod Touch via Passbook.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target customers who receive the retailer's mobile coupons now can access them on their iPhone or iPod Touch via Passbook.

"We're thrilled to bring our guests the ability to use Target mobile coupons via Passbook on their iPhone and iPod Touch," said Phil McKoy, VP Target.com and mobile experience. "Passbook marks an exciting step forward as Target continues to seek the most innovative ways to deliver a great shopping experience to our guests."

September 20, 2012

Retailers charge that proposed Visa/MasterCard interchange settlement is unacceptable

Retailers are up in arms over the proposed settlement filed in July of antitrust lawsuits by merchants against Visa, MasterCard and the nation's largest banks.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Retailers are up in arms over the proposed settlement filed in July of antitrust lawsuits filed by merchants against Visa, MasterCard and the nation's largest banks. A total of nine associations representing a broad swath of retail industry expressed their reservations to members of Congress on Thursday, charging that their interests were not represented and asking Congress to reject that settlement.

September 19, 2012

Booz & Co. unveils shopping trends for 2012 holiday season

While holiday retail sales will remain flat or only slightly up from last year, emerging consumer buying trends will have significant implications for retailers, according to a new survey from Booz & Co.

NEW YORK — While holiday retail sales will remain flat or only slightly up from last year, emerging consumer buying trends will have significant implications for retailers, according to a new survey from Booz & Co.

September 18, 2012

Simplifying the sales tax

As of Sept. 15, California became the eighth state in which Amazon.com will levy sales taxes on purchases made by residents in that state. Pennsylvania joined that group two weeks prior. Add to that the five states that don’t have any sales taxes, and that’s 13 states where national brick-and-click retailers are competing on a level playing field with the pure-play online retail juggernaut.  

September 17, 2012

California becomes latest state to require online retailers to collect sales taxes

As of Saturday, California became the latest state to implement "sales tax fairness," in requiring online-only retailers to begin collecting sales taxes on products sold to California residents.

ARLINGTON, Va. — As of Saturday, California became the latest state to implement "sales tax fairness," in requiring online-only retailers to begin collecting sales taxes on products sold to California residents.

September 11, 2012

NRF seeks to block swipe fee suit settlement

The National Retail Federation is set to go to court in order to block the proposed $7.25 billion settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit over Visa and MasterCard credit card swipe fees.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation is set to go to court in order to block the proposed $7.25 billion settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit over Visa and MasterCard credit card swipe fees.

September 10, 2012

Belkin launches new protective sleeves for latest Amazon Kindle

Belkin has unveiled a new collection of sleeves for the latest Amazon Kindle.

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Belkin has unveiled a new collection of sleeves for the latest Amazon Kindle.

Featuring a mix of fabrics, patterns and features, Belkin's 12 new designs offer maximum style, functionality and protection on the go for the 7-in. Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

September 7, 2012

Lessons from mobile gaming applied to CPG brand engagement

User engagement is critical to driving brand loyalty. Mobile gaming can offer a unique perspective on how consumer packaged goods firms can engage their consumers.

August 30, 2012

Amazon.com to begin collecting sales taxes for purchases made in Pennsylvania

Online giant Amazon.com will begin collecting a 6% state sales tax on purchases being shipped to Pennsylvania beginning Sept. 1, according to published reports.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Online giant Amazon.com will begin collecting a 6% state sales tax on purchases being shipped to Pennsylvania beginning Sept. 1, according to published reports.

The move is being made so that the online retailer will be in compliance with a new Pennsylvania state law going into effect that requires online retailers to collect state taxes if that retailer has a physical presence in the state.

August 30, 2012

Retailers in Pa. and Calif. no longer swimming against a sales tax undercurrent

As of Sept. 1, some 1.2 million Pennsylvanians will be able to go to bed at night secure in the knowledge that their jobs won't be drowned out by some online juggernaut. And by the middle of September, 3.1 million Californians will be able to breathe that same sigh of relief.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — As of Sept. 1, some 1.2 million Pennsylvanians will be able to go to bed at night secure in the knowledge that their jobs won't be drowned out by some online juggernaut. And by the middle of September, 3.1 million Californians will be able to breathe that same sigh of relief. That's how many retail employees there are across those two states.

August 29, 2012

Nielsen: Intent to buy food, beverages online continues to grow

Global consumers' intent to buy food and beverages online has jumped 44% in two years, and more than one-quarter (26%) said they planned to purchase food and beverage products by way of a device with Internet access — such as a computer, mobile phone or tablet — in the next three to six months, according to Nielsen.

NEW YORK — Global consumers' intent to buy food and beverages online has jumped 44% in two years, and more than one-quarter (26%) said they planned to purchase food and beverage products by way of a device with Internet access — such as a computer, mobile phone or tablet — in the next three to six months, according to Nielsen.

August 28, 2012

IHL study: Self-checkouts on the rise

Self-checkout technology continues to rise in importance at retailers in North America, according to a new study by IHL Group.

NEW YORK — Self-checkout technology continues to rise in importance at retailers in North America, according to a new study by IHL Group.

The "2012 North American Kiosk" study finds that self-checkout shipments are increasing 8% year to year, with self-checkout transactions exceeding $255 billion annually in North America. Transactions at self-service kiosks are growing more than 7% per year in North America, and are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2014.

August 27, 2012

Multichannel strategies rise in importance

Do you doubt the importance of having a multichannel strategy to reach shoppers? If so, consider the fact that — for as little 2.5% off — nearly half of your customers will walk out of the store to make their purchase online. How about a 5% discount? Well, that number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Do you doubt the importance of having a multichannel strategy to reach shoppers? If so, consider the fact that — for as little 2.5% off — nearly half of your customers will walk out of the store to make their purchase online. How about a 5% discount? Well, that number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave.

August 27, 2012

Survey: Consumers may get early start on holiday shopping due to economic outlook

It seems that consumers' outlook on the economy is influencing how they will shop this upcoming holiday season, according to a new survey.

AUSTIN, Texas — It seems that consumers' outlook on the economy is influencing how they will shop this upcoming holiday season, according to a new survey.

August 24, 2012

Shopping in Olympic proportion

This year’s Olympics coverage on NBC stood in stark contrast to the television network's failed attempt to offer expanded audience choice through their pay-per-view “Triplecast” in 1992. Remember that 20 years ago, NBC aired the Olympics through three pay-per-view channels? Their total number of subscribers, either for a one-day pass or any of the “gold,” “silver” or “bronze” packages probably couldn’t equal even the smallest service area for a major cable company.

August 21, 2012

Study: Discounts as low as 2.5% sway shoppers to leave stores, purchase online

Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick-and mortar-locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, according to new showrooming research from GroupM Next.

ST. LOUIS — Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick-and mortar-locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, according to new showrooming research from GroupM Next.

This number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave and purchase a product online for a savings of 5%. When discovering an online discount of 20%, a small percentage of shoppers (13%) stay and complete their purchase in store.

August 16, 2012

Leading retailers seek to deliver mobile wallet to consumers

A new company formed by leading U.S. retailers is looking to offer consumers a mobile commerce experience that will combine the convenience of paying at the register with customizable offers.

DALLAS — A new company formed by leading U.S. retailers is looking to offer consumers a mobile commerce experience that will combine the convenience of paying at the register with customizable offers.

August 15, 2012

Better BTS promotions offered by retailers this year, PriceGrabber survey finds

Nearly half of consumers polled in the latest PriceGrabber survey said that retailers are serving up better back-to-school promotions this year, compared with 2011.

LOS ANGELES — Nearly half of consumers polled in the latest PriceGrabber survey said that retailers are serving up better back-to-school promotions this year, compared with 2011.

August 13, 2012

Why in-store, mobile shopping go hand in hand

Nothing beats the experience of shopping in a store: touching and feeling the merchandise, enjoying the ambiance of the store with the Muzak playing in the background, engaging with the retailer's wonderful customer service representatives and then pulling up that product on Amazon.com and clicking "check out."

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Nothing beats the experience of shopping in a store: touching and feeling the merchandise, enjoying the ambiance of the store with the Muzak playing in the background, engaging with the retailer's wonderful customer service representatives and then pulling up that product on Amazon.com and clicking "check out." Coupling online retailing with ease of access through smartphones and tablets and a lot of points of differentiation that retailers had used to distinguish their brands — namely, convenience amd price — go straight ou

August 8, 2012

Survey: Consumers more willing to disclose data to retailers than social networks

Consumers are more comfortable sharing data with retailers than they are with social networks, especially if it enhances the shopping experience, according to a recent survey conducted by the E-tailing Group and MyBuys.

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Consumers are more comfortable sharing data with retailers than they are with social networks, especially if it enhances the shopping experience, according to a recent survey conducted by the E-tailing Group and MyBuys.

July 31, 2012

L'Oreal USA selects Clarabridge for social media listening initiative

Beauty brand L'Oréal USA is leveraging Clarabridge, a provider of sentiment and text analytics for customer experience management, to monitor what is being said in real time about its 27 brands across social media outlets, including website reviews, product reviews, blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

RESTON, Va. — Beauty brand L'Oréal USA is leveraging Clarabridge, a provider of sentiment and text analytics for customer experience management, to monitor what is being said in real time about its 27 brands across social media outlets, including website reviews, product reviews, blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

The move will enable L'Oréal USA to automatically route consumer insight to the right people and more effectively engage with its consumers.

July 30, 2012

Buyer impulse still strong

Shoppers still are purchasing on impulse at the front end of the store. Data from SymphonyIRI Group indicated that more than half of consumers make unplanned purchases upon seeing products or deals in the store — a percentage that has remained unchanged during the past 18 months. In a recent survey of more than 1,500 consumers, 46% said they made an unplanned purchase during their most recent trip to the drug store. (For complete results, visit DrugStoreNews.com/c2b-mobile-insights) 