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  | News about digital retail commerce |  |
- Source: Groupon ends acquisition talks with Google
Groupon co-founders Eric Lefkofsky and Andrew Mason reportedly ended talks with Google late last week, turning down a $5 billion acquisition offer by the search giant and opting to keep the 2-year-old Chicago-based daily-deal site independent. Lefkofky's majority stake in the company has the potential to catapult him to billionaire status if Groupon continues on its growth path and sells or goes public in the future, sources say. Chicago Tribune (12/5)        | A Win for Consumers and Retailers
ShopRunner is a members-only program offering unlimited free 2-day shipping and many other exclusive benefits from a network of leading online stores. With ShopRunner's collaborative approach, retailers are able to present consumers with a far more attractive program than they can as standalone merchants. "Click here to contact us now" | - FedEx expects to mark its busiest day ever
FedEx predicts it will move about 16 million packages and parcels on Dec. 13, doubling its typical daily load and making the holiday shipping day the busiest in the company's history. A significant increase in online shopping is behind the 11% increase in business from last year's busiest day, the company says. The Daily News (Memphis, Tenn.) (12/6) - 7 trends to shake up mobile marketing in 2011
Smartphones are getting smarter, iPads have launched a hunger for tablet computers and more consumers are sharing their shopping experiences and product recommendations via social media. Those trends and several others are set to change the game for mobile marketers next year, writes eMarketer principal analyst Noah Elkin. iMedia Connection (12/6)  | FREE Forrester Research Report: What Every Exec Needs to Know About the Future of eCommerce Technology, compliments of Adobe. From shopping in Facebook to mobile purchases, this indispensable guide covers all the key emerging eCommerce technologies to help you make the right technological investments for your online business. Download the report. | - ROI from daily deals comes from positive word-of-mouth
 Most merchants don't reap significant financial rewards with Groupons and other daily deals designed to bring more customers into their stores and restaurants. Instead, retailers are likely to see longer-term ROI from the promotional buzz the deals create and their potential to establish new customer relationships. Bazaarblog (12/3) - Mobile campaigns drive more holiday retail traffic
Marketers have beefed up their mobile efforts this season and the moves seem to be paying off in increased customer traffic and sales, according to a new report from Millennial Media. Mobile media advertisers saw a significant uptick in brand interaction during Black Friday weekend, with restaurants reporting a 51% spike in interaction rates. DMNews (12/3)  | Supercharging the Online Channel
Getting to the right shoppers and then converting them to buyers in your online store is every retailer's key objective. Short purchase windows, impatient buyers, and new mandates around security are creating unprecedented demands on commerce sites. Learn how to attract customers to your site, optimize their online shopping experience and drive more transactions. Watch the webinar NOW! |
 | Hot Topics |  | | | Top five news stories selected by Shop.org SmartBrief readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
| Companies in the News | | | | - Rivals aim to keep up with Netflix
The growth of Netflix and its streaming-video services that allow consumers to watch online movies on their televisions has tech and entertainment companies scrambling to compete. Amazon is developing its own subscription service to deliver movies and TV shows, and several media companies reportedly are talking with streaming-device makers Sony and Microsoft about bypassing Netflix and cutting direct deals to offer content to consumers. The Wall Street Journal (12/6) - Gilt's full-price men's site reflects different shopping styles
Men shop differently from women, says Gilt Groupe's John Auerbach, who will head up a full-priced men's shopping site set to launch next summer. The new site is a shift away from Gilt's discount flash-sale model. "It's often said that women tend to buy something they like and then find an occasion to wear it, while men will think about the occasion and outfit themselves accordingly," he said. Mashable (12/1) - Online retailer CSN manages about 200 sites
CSN Stores operates close to 200 websites that sell products including furniture and home decor items, mostly shipped directly from manufacturers. Its latest site JossAndMain.com uses a flash-sale model to sell name-brand items such as cutlery and glassware. The owners want to develop a recognizable site that creates customer loyalty. The Boston Globe (12/5) | | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| Shop.org Spotlight | | | | - Last call for 2010 regional dinners
The winter schedule for Shop.org's free, retailer-only networking dinners will close this week with dinners in Chicago and Columbus on Dec. 7 and 8. Sign up now to enjoy a good meal with great company! Dinners are open to area online and multichannel retailers and nonmembers are welcome. Only a few spots remain, so get your reservation in now. Register or learn more.
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One-third of retailers surveyed have invested in product videos for the holidays. Source: 
