GSI Commerce goes upscale with RueLaLa.com acquisition
The good life isn't so good for luxury brands these days. Thanks to the Great Recession, many consumers aren't as eager to spend big bucks on high-end fashion and accessories. Spending less is in vogue and that has been good news for companies that are ready with bargains.
And that explains why GSI Commerce, an e-commerce and multichannel solutions provider, is paying up to $350m for Retail Convergence, the company that operates private sale website RueLaLa.com and off-price e-commerce website SmartBargains.com.
The impact of negative consumer reviews is growing
As consumers gain more outlets for expressing their views online, brands are becoming less concerned with reaching out to professional writers to spread the word about their products. But while getting a positive review from a professional writer may have much of a sales impact, negative consumer reviews are becoming increasingly problematic.
According to Brand Reputation, 84% of the consumers they surveyed are more likely to look for online product reviews than they were just a year ago. And those who have had a negative experience are five times as likely to tell their friends. Brands can do a lot to monitor this shift and arrange their resources accordingly.
Mobile app review: Amazon
Online retail behemoth Amazon launched the UK version of its iPhone app this week, allowing users to search and shop from their mobiles.
I've been trying out the Amazon mobile app...
Site review: javari.co.uk
Launched at the end of last week, javari.co.uk is Amazon's new standalone site selling footwear and handbags.
The online retail behemoth has been selling shoes on its main site for some time, but launched a dedicated site to attract more brands. I've been taking a closer look at the website...
EBay shows that mobile commerce can work
Online auction giant eBay recently announced that it has generated $380m in sales through its mobile commerce channel, showing the potential value of m-commerce for retailers.
The figures are interesting, especially as other large retailers such as Amazon have yet to reveal their mobile commerce sales, and shows that enough shoppers are prepared to make purchases on their mobiles to make it worthwhile for retailers.
Q&A: Dominic Jacquesson on how eReaders can change the media landscape
Dominic Jacquesson has been running offline and online publishing and marketing businesses for the last 12 years, and now runs digital publishing consultancy Ink on Dead Trees.
I've been talking to Dominic about the eReader market, the Kindle, and how he expects the technology to impact media and marketing over the next few years...
Microsoft may be jealous of Google but that doesn't mean it isn't right
The proposed settlement in the class action lawsuit over Google Books has proven to be quite controversial. Amazon, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are among those questioning the proposed settlement. On the other side, Sony, the Computer & Communication Industry Association and the Authors Guild are among those supporting the settlement.
Opponents claim that the settlement will give Google a virtual monopoly over online books. Supporters claim that the settlement will benefit consumers and does not preclude others from competing in the market.
YouTube looks into online movie rentals
YouTube's quest for professionally created content is about to get interesting. The Wall Street Journal reports that the video giant is in talks with movie studios to stream movies to its users for a fee.
That will bring a shift from its free video supported by advertising model, but could go a long way toward helping the site turn a profit for Google — and possibly change the game for online film viewing.
E-commerce delivery options - key tips
Delivery details and the different options available can be a deal-breaker for online retailers. Free delivery offers are now quite common, but very few seem to offer delivery on a specified date.
Offering to deliver items on a particular days can be a compelling prospect for customers, who may be impatient to get hold of their purchases, or who have work commitments and need a definite date.
I've been looking at some UK e-commerce websites to see if they offer this service, and how it is communicated to shoppers...
Tomorrow's news companies: small, lean and venture capitalist
Future news organisations, the ones that make it out of the recession, will look much different than pre-recession times. They'll be smaller and leaner. But if they're smart, they'll also have a big role in VC for companies developing products that could help them gain a competitive advantage.
Social media: the best and worst of 2009
Email marketing: six steps to improving customer engagement in 2010
Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
