| News about digital retail commerce |  |
| Top Story |  |  | | - Amazon debuts local deals in Chicago
Amazon launched AmazonLocal deals in Chicago through a partnership with daily-deal website LivingSocial, in which the retailer has an equity stake. AmazonLocal, which launched last month in Boise, Idaho, with offers from merchants and restaurateurs, debuted in Chicago with a dinner for two at Real Tenochtitlan Restaurant for $35. Chicago Tribune (7/28)      - Amazon seals deal to stream Universal films: Amazon signed a deal with Comcast's NBCUniversal to stream movies from Universal Pictures to Amazon Prime members. The agreement, similar to one made with CBS this month for TV shows, brings Amazon's video catalog to 9,000 titles. CNBC/The Associated Press (7/28)
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  - Brands that compete for customers risk losing retailers' business
Brands and manufacturers that sell directly to consumers online are taking the risk that their retailer customers are going to cut orders or quit doing business with them altogether, according to a new survey from Shopatron. The survey of 958 retailers found that 64% would reduce ordering or sever ties with brands that compete for retail customers online, compared with 51% in a similar survey two years ago. InternetRetailer.com (7/27) - Edition01.com to feature designers' capsule collections
A new e-commerce site set to launch in September aims to create a space just for capsule collections from upscale designers. Edition01.com founders Estefania Lacayo and Jessica Wilpon Kamel have spent two years convincing designers including Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Narciso Rodriguez to create exclusive designs for the venture. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (7/28)  | As eCommerce has grown to represent a significant percentage of retail sales and profits, merchants should consider payment strategies that can enhance their online services, open new markets and protect the bottom line. Download this free white paper to learn more. |
 - Google offers speed tuneup for websites
Google is offering a way for websites to speed access, with its Page Speed Service, which it says can reduce loading times by 25% to 60%. "Your users will continue to access your site just as they did before, only with faster load times," says Ram Ramani, a Google engineer. "Now you don't have to worry about concatenating CSS, compressing images, caching, gzipping resources or other Web performance best practices." Los Angeles Times/Technology blog (7/28)  | At MetLife, Protecting Your Family Is Our Business
With rates like these, there may never be a better time to open a quality life insurance policy for your family. Get a life insurance policy from MetLife. Rates are as low as $14 per month for $250,000 of coverage, or $21 per month for $500,000 of coverage. Get a free, no-obligation quote today. |
 - SavingStar sign-ups are promising at Price Chopper
Price Chopper Supermarkets said that as of this week, nearly 7,800 shoppers have signed up for SavingStar, an electronic coupon service. Last month, the chain was the first to offer a private-label coupon through the service; about 12% of customers used the offer. Supermarket News (7/28)  | Let Social Media Find Your Staff For You
Give your hiring managers fast, easy access to quality employees by pairing social media with automated recruitment solutions that use Web 2.0 functionality. Download the white paper Automating Social Recruiting for Better Hiring and see how 85 percent of best-in-class companies save money with automation. |
| Interactive Advertising | | | | - 5 questions to keep digital marketing plans on track
Marketers often find themselves in the position of designing digital marketing plans using tactics and metrics their bosses see as important but don't really further the true goals of the company, writes Catalyst S+F senior partner Jim Nichols. He offers a five-point checklist to help marketers sell bosses on more sensible plans, starting with defining the campaign's objective. iMedia Connection (7/29) | Shop.org Spotlight | | | | - Shop.org SmartStat: July 29, 2011
 Online back-to-school shoppers will spend a third more than all other shoppers for shoes and school supplies. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch.  | - 6 ways to screw up your mobile app
Mobile applications hold the promise for companies to reach new customers and improve the customer experience but need to be developed, launched and maintained significantly to avoid costly "gotchas." A recent addition to the Shop.org white paper library outlines solutions to common mistakes ranging from one-shot applications and the limitations of the "wrapper" to platform evolution and third-party development. Read more. |
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--Marcus Aurelius,
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