  | News about digital retail commerce |  |
- Zynga files for $2 billion IPO
Zynga became the latest tech company to file for an initial public offering, seeking to raise about $2 billion. The online gaming company, which makes most of its revenue from sales of virtual goods through the games played largely on Facebook, is a rarity in the latest crop of tech firms aiming to go public: it turned a profit in the most recent quarter. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/2)        | Ad Compliance Best Practices Kit — Stay ahead of consumer concern and government regulation with TRUSTe. Gain an overview of what Behavioral Advertising (OBA) is, why it is important, and what your options are. Insights from the FTC, DAA, TRUSTe, Forbes, Publisher's Clearing House and more. Register Now. |
 | Online Retail Trends |  | | | - Wal-Mart, Kroger, Target top NRF's Top 100 list
The first 10 spots on the annual Top 100 retailer list done by Kantar Retail for STORES magazine hold the same names as last year in pretty much the same order, except that Sears and Best Buy swapped the ninth and 10th positions. Wal-Mart, Kroger and Target once again took the top three places, but pressures from the uncertain economy and the impact of online retail are forcing them to make changes to stay ahead. STORES magazine (7/2011) - Social shopping's personal touch will boost online sales
 Anonymous shopping trips both in-store and online can create uncertainty and hesitation that lead shoppers to drop plans to buy, but social shopping's ability to personalize the experience can take away hesitation and boost online sales, writes venture capitalist Gautum Gupta. TechCrunch (7/2)  - Study: Consumers use Facebook pages as retail circulars
About 25% of consumers surveyed in a recent study visit a retail or consumer product Facebook page at least once a month, with more than half of those using retailers' Facebook pages to stay current on new products, promotions and deals. Additionally, 29% said they visit Facebook pages to learn more about a specific retailer, and 20% said pages on the social site have been influential in their purchasing decisions. MediaPost Communications/Research Brief (7/4)  | 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. |
 - Does Google have its eye on a Hulu bid?
Google, which already owns YouTube, may be preparing a bid for rival TV-video channel Hulu, according to these reports. Several companies, including Microsoft and Yahoo, have been reported to be interested in buying Hulu, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., News Corp. and NBCUniversal. Los Angeles Times (7/2), Bloomberg (7/2) - Microsoft Bing will power Baidu's English-language searches
China's top search engine, Baidu, chose Bing to provide English-language results, giving Microsoft a chance to expand in a market from which Google stepped back after a high-profile protest over government censorship. "Microsoft has entered the Chinese market slowly and has made some friends, in a way that the Chinese government will have no issue with," said Andreas Pouros, chief operating officer of search-engine marketer Greenlight. The Sun (Baltimore)/Reuters (7/4) - Rising tech and fuel costs mean higher UPS prices
UPS will increase the price of shipping less-than-truckload orders of more than 150 pounds by an average 6.9% starting Aug. 1, the company said. The increase, sparked by higher costs for diesel fuel and logistics technology, won't apply to individually negotiated contracts for ongoing shipments. InternetRetailer.com (7/1)  | 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. |
 | Legislative & Regulatory | | | | - Experts: Amazon has the upper hand in California
Amazon maintains that it will not collect sales taxes on purchases by California residents despite a new law requiring online retailers to do so, a move that's likely to be tested in court. Some experts say that unless the federal government changes the rules on who must collect state sales taxes, online merchants are likely to prevail. "Barring a change in federal law, California has no chance," said Steve Gill, a professor of taxation at San Diego State University. Los Angeles Times (7/2) | Shop.org Spotlight | | | | - Amazon.com, Apple gaining ground on list of top U.S. retailers
The view from the top hasn't changed much, but America's largest retailers are keeping a watchful eye on two companies that continue to make significant advances on their coveted territory, according to the STORES Top 100 Retailers list, which ranks U.S. retailers by domestic sales. According to the report, Wal-Mart, Kroger and Target continue to top the list, but companies like Amazon.com and Apple Stores are quickly gaining ground. Read more. - Shop.org SmartStat: July 5, 2011
 More than 5,000 people have connected through Shop.org's LinkedIn group. Source: Shop.org. - ModCloth CMO discusses the future of social media
If you're a retailer, there's no doubt you're on Facebook and Twitter. But what about Polyvore, Tumblr, Pinterist, Kaboodle or Go Try It On? Clothing retailer ModCloth is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to social engagement -- and their customer base loves it. In a recent Q&A on the Shop.org blog, ModCloth CMO Kerry Cooper shares insights and projections on social media trends as well as the platforms that work for its target customer. Read more.
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Amazon plans to buy the U.K.'s largest online bookseller, Book Depository International, for an undisclosed amount. Book Depository's catalog has more than 6 million titles, and the company ships to 100 countries. 
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