Mobile commerce to shine for the holidays, eBay CEO says

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/djahCaiGapCbjSgGCidawJBWcNuKsb

October 20, 2011 Sign up Forward Archive RSS Feed News about digital retail commerce   Top Story    Mobile commerce will shine for the holidays, eBay CEO says E-commerce giant eBay says its mobile applications have been downloaded more than 50 million times, leading to expectations that mobile commerce will play a leading role in holiday shopping this year. John Donahoe, eBay's CEO, said in an interview with AllThingsD, "I think you'll see a mobile commerce Christmas, which is on the way to a completely blended commerce world." All Things D (10/19), Reuters (10/19), Bloomberg Businessweek (10/19)      Download GSI Commerce’s 2011 Holiday Planning Guide GSI’s 2011 holiday guide centers around the key tactics to keep top of mind. It contains a practical checklist that spans 10 critical areas of your business, and includes a workbook to help you move from concepts to planning easily. Download now »   Online Retail Trends    Best Buy, Finish Line ban anti-drilling group Best Buy and Finish Line have determined that a group formed to fight gas drilling in residential and conservation areas is political in nature and won't be allowed to participate in online purchasing programs that let shoppers contribute to their cause. The group, Friends of South Fayette, is currently listed with 19 other online merchants, including Amazon. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (10/19)      John Jantsch shows you how to win at the local marketing game. John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing gives five strategies for helping any local business to stand out online in this exclusive offer to SmartBrief readers. Download your free white paper from American Express OPEN, How to Win at the Local Marketing Game.   New Media & Technology    Online and in-store are coming together Rapid adoption of mobile technology is hastening a convergence of in-store and online retail, said industry executives at a recent conference. "The lines [between online and offline shopping] are blurring as people use devices to find the best prices and who has the products they want before they hit the road," said eBay CEO John Donahoe. Computerworld (10/19)      Other News Report: 81% of users of top websites are outside the U.S. All Things D (10/18)      Consumer Insights Your Brand Needs to Know: Latest Trends in Behavioral Advertising Learn what brand managers, advertisers, as well as networks, agencies, and publishers need to know about consumer survey insights into behavioral ad serving, also known as interest-based advertising. Learn more today!   Companies in the News    N.J. buses, trains now take Google Wallet New Jersey Transit, the third-largest U.S. transit system, has begun letting commuters use Google Wallet's mobile payment system to pay bus and train fares at certain stations, including Penn Station in New York. Macy's, Foot Locker and The Container store already accept Google Wallet, but this is the first partnership with a transit system, Google says. Bloomberg (10/19)      QR codes help eateries migrate to mobile, says Papa John's executive QR codes are the best way for restaurants that are just beginning their mobile efforts to make the connection between print and digital, says Papa John's digital marketing manager Jim McDonnell. "I love anything that can leverage the camera because you're bridging the physical and mobile world," McDonnell said. MobileCommerceDaily.com (10/19)      Amazon seals expanded deal for PBS programming PBS shows, including episodes of Julia Child's pioneering 1960s cooking show "The French Chef" and current programming such as "Frontline" and "Washington Week," will be available with Amazon's streaming service under an expanded agreement. "We are committed to bringing Prime members and Kindle Fire owners even more compelling content very soon," said Brad Beale, director of video content acquisition for Amazon. Los Angeles Times/Company Town blog (10/19), CNET (10/19), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (10/19)      Other News Restaurant chains test mobile inventory management system FastCasual.com (10/19) New Signals in Search, Social & Commerce @ SES Chicago, Nov 14-18 Explore advanced social marketing & search strategies from mobile to video optimization to leveraging influencers & audiences. We've recruited the industry's most cutting edge practitioners, sharing case studies on what's working, what's not, emerging trends, & new technologies to help you measure your results. Register today & SAVE 20%. Use SMB20   Featured Content    How Economic Deleveraging Will Affect Business Mike Periu 5 Link-Building Tips To Improve Your Brand TJ McCue Do You Need To Upgrade Your Small Business Technology? RIEVA LESONSKY How To Achieve Online Goals Without Getting Overwhelmed MATTHEW MANSFIELD Why Personal Branding Is Important For Small Businesses Dan Schwabel   Interactive Advertising    Column: How to sell to consumers who don't stop researching Connected consumers now spend much more time researching before they buy everything from cat food to cough syrup, and marketing strategies and tactics need to keep up, writes columnist Antony Young. Brands need to always think "social" and focus advertising on heavy influencers whose recommendations carry clout, according to Young. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (10/18)      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  States try to determine sales tax for daily deals Some states are working on how to calculate tax on daily deals. Officials in New York studied the issue for months before ruling that merchants should collect sales tax when consumers redeem their daily-deal vouchers. They should calculate the tax based on the face value of merchandise, while service providers need to collect only on the amount paid. Portfolio.com/Daily Brief blog (10/18)      Online sales tax could bring 11,000 Ohio jobs, study says Ohio's state and local governments stand to gain more than $200 million a year in revenue and the state would recapture about 11,000 jobs if laws change and online retailers are required to collect sales tax, according to a study released this week by the University of Cincinnati. The study was conducted by the university's Economics Center on behalf of a nonprofit organization. American City Business Journals/Cincinnati (10/19)      Other News Palm Beach County lawmakers push for online sales tax The Palm Beach Post (Fla.) (10/18)        Shop.org Spotlight  Free regional dinners head to Philadelphia, Toronto in November If you'd like to enjoy a free meal with your retail peers, Shop.org is hosting two November networking dinners with stops in Philadelphia and Toronto. These free, retailer-only events offer executives a chance to network and discuss digital retail topics in a casual and relaxed environment. View the full fall schedule.      Prepare your holiday hires for selling and service You want your customers to experience the best this holiday season, so train associates in the crucial areas of selling and service. NRF University wired's online courses teach associates strategies and skills essential for building strong customer relationships, delivering the best customer service, and closing the sale. Learn more.      Shop.org Smartstat: Oct. 20, 2011 Nearly 40% of consumers begin their holiday shopping before Halloween. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch        Learn more about Shop.org -> Website  |  Events  |  Research  |  Shop.org Blog  |  Join Shop.org   SmartQuote  A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised." --Napoleon Bonaparte, French military and political leader        This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Senior Account Director:  Dena Malouf (202) 407-7837 Download Media Kit       Recent Shop.org SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Tuesday, October 18, 2011 Monday, October 17, 2011 Friday, October 14, 2011 Thursday, October 13, 2011     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information