 | News about digital retail commerce |  |
| Top Story |  |  | | - Amazon aims to make its mark in fashion
Amazon's Jeff Bezos is heading up Monday's Costume Institute gala at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and taking opportunities to advertise its growing fashion offerings. The online retailer has been adding to style offerings since launching MyHabit a year ago, and industry watchers say it aims to become a bigger player in the world of fashion. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/4)       | Fly a lot? Earn 3X rewards points on airline purchases with The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster:
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  - Study: Google's comparison site sees higher conversions
Google's comparison shopping site beats those of similar sites from players including Amazon, Bing and PriceGrabber in traffic and conversions, according to a study by CPC Strategy. Amazon Product Ads ranked sixth in the study, with a first-quarter conversion rate of 1.6%, compared with Google's 2.78%. Internet Retailer (5/3) - Online shoppers prioritize free shipping over speedy delivery
Three-quarters of consumers in a recent survey said they're willing to wait up to five days for their online purchases to arrive if the trade-off is free shipping, according to AlixPartners. The survey also found that shipping fees have a greater influence on purchasing decisions than the addition of sales tax. Internet Retailer (5/3) - High rents drive more Hong Kong designers online
New designer brands and young labels are eschewing the ultra-high retail space rents in Hong Kong and opting to sell their looks online. Some launch their own online shops and others carve out space on multi-brand platforms including ShopdesCreateurs.com, BuyMeDesign.com, and Zeuz.com.hk and Taobao.com. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/3)  | Which do you choose: Customer frustration…or channel integration? Today's consumers expect to shop the way technology lets them work and live: easily, efficiently and seamlessly across channels. Aberdeen's 2012 Analyst Insight on the Omni-Channel Retail Experience explains how your competitors make that happen – and how you can too! This $399 value is now yours free. Download the report now! |
 - Should comparison sites consider more than price?
The rapid rise of online shopping comparison sites mean retailers and marketers run the risk of focusing too much on price to the detriment of value, said Bonobos marketing vice president Richard Mumby. Ads on comparison sites serve customers better when they combine merchandising and brand expertise in addition to price, he said. MobileCommerceDaily.com (5/3) - EBay beefs up iPad app with bar code scanning
The latest version of Buy and Sell with eBay, the online retailer's iPad application, offers new features including bar code scanning, better image quality and more options for personalization. The app also gives users access to more functions from the homepage, the company says. TechCrunch (5/3)  - Opensky adds beauty products
Social shopping platform Opensky has expanded beyond fashions with Thursday's launch a section selling beauty products alongside beauty advice from experts including Pati Dubroff, Fredric Brandt and Serge Normant. The year-old site boasts 1.5 million users and style advice from celebrity experts including Martha Stewart and Bobby Flay. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/3)  | What Data Thieves Don’t Want You to Know:
How a multi-layered data security solution, including encryption and tokenization, protects data in transit, in use and at rest. When combined, these two technologies provide a powerful method for securing sensitive data wherever it exists. Get proof here. |
- Facebook rolls out "Offers" ad platform nationwide
Facebook announced that it is rolling out its "Offers" marketing platform nationwide after a test phase that included the likes of Macy's, Walgreen and Old Navy. Facebook has said that any business may use the self-service platform for free, without Facebook taking a cut of, for example, redeemed coupons, but would subsequently distribute ads to friends of coupon redeemers via their news feeds. Businesses can also pay to get a bigger play by buying Facebook Marketplace or Sponsored Stories units. ClickZ (5/3)  | Hiring exceptional talent is critical to the success of your business. Whether it’s the executive who offers visionary leadership, or the sales professional who won’t settle for less than 100%, a business needs great people to thrive. This guide provides best practices for securing the top talent you need to drive business results. |
 | Legislative & Regulatory | | | | - French court overturns part of eBay ruling
The French high court partially overturned a lower court's 2008 verdict against eBay in a case brought by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which accused the online marketplace of selling counterfeit goods. The high court ruled that the appeals court had jurisdiction to impose fines and block sales of certain items on eBay's sites in France and the U.K., but not the U.S. The Wall Street Journal (5/3) | Shop.org Spotlight | | | | - How to achieve brand consistency across print and digital
As new technology emerges, so does the number of channels and opportunities to reach new markets. But how can retailers ensure their creative departments aren't sending mixed messages? In a May 9 webinar, marketing executives from Bare Necessities, Best Buy, and Sears Holdings will discuss how to organize a marketing team, who should make decisions, and how to ensure brand integrity across channels. This webinar is free for NRF and Shop.org members. Register now. - KPMG global retail director talks trends for 2012
With cost-containing initiatives out for retail executives in 2012, many will look toward investing in strategies that will optimize their online and mobile platforms to increase sales and customer satisfaction. In a post on Retail's BIG Blog, KPMG's Global Head of Retail Mark Larson discusses retailers' most important initiatives for 2012 and top themes in NRF Foundation's "Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2011, Forecasts for 2012" report. Read more.
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