   | News about digital retail commerce |  |
| Top Story |  |  | | - Digital video is key to "This Is Retail" contest
Retailers looking to win the $25,000 grand prize in NRF's "This Is Retail" contest told their stories through digital videos. Now, the public can now log onto NRF's website directly or through social media channels to vote on their favorite videos, which come from retailers of all sizes. "The incredible stories we heard from small business owners and employees through this contest serve as a reminder that retail is at the heart of every community," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. AuctionBytes (4/4)       | Earn 3X rewards points when you fly with The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster:
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  - Do Pinterest users spend more on e-commerce?
Customers who find online home-furnishings retailer Wayfair through social site Pinterest spend an average of 70% more than shoppers who arrive there via other channels, says Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah. "It's about the pictures. You have decided you like it before you know what it costs." CNBC (4/3) - Daily deals give Italy's e-commerce a boost
Daily deals from companies including Groupon, Amazon and Groupalia helped spur double-digit online retail growth in Italy last year, executives say. Daily deals and flash-sale sites have proven the most popular with middle-income women between 20 and 40, according to Italian e-commerce consortium Netcomm. Internet Retailer (4/3)  | Learn how the OfferWise Solution creates cost-effective marketing. OfferWise allows customers to purchase and redeem their deals easier by offering a paperless solution. With a simple set-up and integration process, merchants will see the impact from their online promotions on in-store purchases and will be given the tools to improve campaign results. |
 - Goodsie adds more services for small online retailers
Online retail platform Goodsie, which hosts 1,200 small business storefronts that do a total of about $300,000 in monthly sales, has added new services including e-mail marketing and sales analytics tools. "It's not just about setting up a shop, it's about managing and growing after you get started," said CEO Jonathan Marcus. GigaOm (4/3) - Why in-store apps can be problematic
 Retailers including J.C. Penney, H&M and Barnes & Noble have all promoted in-store mobile applications to their customers, but there's a piece missing, according to new study from Deloitte. About 37% of shoppers who tried to use in-store retail apps were thwarted because the stores had no Internet connections, the study found. The Business Insider (4/3)  | Leveraging Cloud Security to Weather Threatening Storms
Web attacks and retribution campaigns are on the rise, and they have become more frequent, more random and more extreme. This paper assesses the current cyber threat environment and discusses the use of distributed cloud services as an effective means to protect against evolving, modern-day IT threats. |
 - Starbucks offers daily deal via Google Offers
Starbucks will offer $10 gift cards for $5 via Google Offers this week, the coffee chain's first national daily deal. Google will donate $3 for each offer sold to the Opportunity Finance Network, which makes loans available to low-income people and communities. Internet Retailer (4/3) - Harrods launches tablet app for popular magazine
Harrods has created an iPad application for its widely circulated Harrods Magazine, which offers readers all of the print content plus digital features including video interviews with designers, fashion show coverage and a virtual makeup tester. Luxury Daily (4/3)  | The Business Case for Mobile and Tablet Shopping
Is mobility an out-of-reach luxury or could it really improve your business? Get the facts! Aberdeen’s Analyst Insight examines the impact of mobile solutions on retail transactions, customer expectations, and important profit opportunities. This research – a $399 value- is yours free! Download your copy here! |
- Amazon sees CPG ads as a source of revenue growth
Companies in consumer packaged goods are expected to spend about $5 billion on online advertising by 2015. Amazon, which began allowing third-party ads about six years ago, aims to grab a larger share of that revenue, said Lisa Utzschneider, vice president of global advertising sales. "There are millions of moms researching products and buying online," Utzschneider said. Reuters (4/3) - Friends don't let friends use rotating banners
Rotating banners, which transition from one promotion to another, are "absolutely evil," writes Tim Ash. Often used as a compromise when Web teams can't decide what to prioritize, rotating banners distract users and don't give them enough time to process the information that's displayed. "Rotating banners are a bad idea because you have basically abdicated your responsibility for curating and editing the content on your page," Ash argues. ClickZ (4/3)  | A large men’s apparel retailer has found the key to loyalty success with an initiative that allows customers to engage with the brand on their terms, not based on a time sensitive promotion. Download A Cross-Channel Loyalty Case Study to learn how this retailer has ensured that its brand is aligned across channels for a cohesive loyalty program. |
 | Legislative & Regulatory | | | | | Shop.org Spotlight | | | | - The madness doesn't end in March: Vote now for America's Best Retail Story
With the men's and women's NCAA Championships coming to climatic ends, NRF has created its own bracket-style tournament to keep the madness going into April. With the Top 20 "This is Retail" finalists selected, a first-round quarter final has pitted America's best retail stories in one-on-one matchups. By logging in with your favorite social media site, you can vote up to 10 times each day for your favorite story -- and play an important role in whittling down our contestants until the public decides which retail employee will receive the $25,000 grand prize. Learn more or vote. - How Guitar Center achieves omnichannel excellence
In a few short years, omnichannel has evolved from a buzz word to an operational necessity in the retail industry. In a post on the Shop.org blog, Senior Director Artemis Berry explains how Guitar Center has harnessed the power of SoLoMo to provide a unique customer experience and a hyperlocal feel to more than 4,000 stores nationwide. Read more. Shop.org Blog (4/4)
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This Easter, 18% of men plan to use their smartphone to purchase products, compared to 9% of women. Source: 
