Commerce

Since last fall, Google has shown a more aggressive stance in challenging Amazon’s dominance in e-commerce, particularly as Facebook has also been making its own significant maneuvers in the space. Google’s $125 million acquisition of Channel Intelligence, one of its four Google Shopping launch partners, is designed in part to develop more in-house capabilities to […]

Mobile and video are the fastest growing segments of display – eMarketer has video’s growth rates rising 46.5% for 2012, while it says smartphone based ad spending will jump 180% this year to top $4 billion. And yet, aside from Google/YouTube, Facebook, and Hulu, there are very few sites that can truly make the claim […]

With ecommerce retailers infusing their publishing plans with ad placements and sponsored mini-sites, Ari Paparo said yesterday that he’s excited by the possibilities ahead in his new role as SVP of Media Products at Austin, Texas-based social software company, Bazaarvoice (see release). Paparo has taken the deep dive on the ad tech side previously with […]

The concept is simple enough. When you’re shopping online, you’re showing “intent” to purchase.  And so it follows that display media placed on an ecommerce publisher’s site can guide consumers, positively affect conversions and drive awareness for hungry advertisers. This was the premise for Florida-based Triad Retail Media way back in 2004 when CEO Greg […]

The Saturday before Christmas came in as a top three December shopping day for many retailers, including Best Buy, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Walmart. Below we present final holiday 2012 data from location analytics company Placed, which analyzes in-store visits of consumers who have opted-in to a mobile location measuring app. Placed’s location-based network does […]

Offered without comment, here are two recent quotes about Walmart’s approach to digital innovation: “We are uniquely positioned to give customers anytime, anywhere access to Walmart by combining the smartphone, online, and the physical stores. Ultimately, that will give us an edge over any competitor. …We’ve hired hundreds of incredibly talented people, in Silicon Valley […]

The three days following Thanksgiving delivered a strong beginning to the online Christmas shopping season, several reports suggest. While sales figures will have to wait for Cyber Monday (Nov 26), Monday (Dec 3) and Green Monday (Dec 10) – the 3 heaviest online shopping days for 2011, according to Jefferies analyst Brian Pitz – all […]

The Black Friday holiday shopping tradition has been turned on its head, thanks to social media and Facebook. While retailers continue to encourage customers to rise before the sun on the day after Thanksgiving, they are adding ever more Facebook deals and apps, as well as mobile tools, that can be used throughout Thanksgiving week. […]

Facebook’s Exchange is in full swing outside the U.S. Speaking at the AppNexus Summit in New York this week, Facebook VP global partnerships Blake Chandlee noted FBX buyers can now access audiences in the Asia-Pacific region and in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. A spokesperson later confirmed the expansion and said Facebook is actively […]

There’s a demonstrated link between foul weather and e-commerce revenue. Storms bring more shopping activity, higher order volume, and higher value per order.  They also create a data retargeting opportunity, as website visits increase. But when the weather turns from unpleasant to destructive – as it did with “Superstorm” Sandy this week – that link […]