Publisher`s Letter
The case for electing Barack Obama
Our choice of a President could determine whether we suffer for a decade or put the economy on the road to recovery.
Newsline
Online retailing a bright spot amid a struggling economy, report says
Despite a tough economy, online retailers are expecting average annual growth this year of 25%, and 35% say they expect to perform better than initially expected through the first half of next year, according to the “State of Retailing Online Profitability, Economy and Multichannel” report released in September by Shop.org and Forrester Research Inc.
Target.com gets on target with access for the blind
The National Federation for the Blind has a new partner in Target Corp., which has settled a two-year lawsuit related to making Target.com more accessible to blind people. Target will establish a $6 million settlement fund and submit to an accessibility certification program.
Amazon, Netflix tune web-to-TV video
Amazon rolled out in September a system that allows consumers to watch movies and TV shows through their web browsers without downloading files. Netflix is working with partners to bring out devices for streaming video from Netflix.com to TV sets.
Coborn’s grocery brings back SimonDelivers.com
Within weeks after shutting down its operations, SimonDelivers.com has emerged as a unit of Coborn’s Inc., an operator of several Midwest grocery chains. The online operation will now be known as CobornsDelivers.com and handle web orders for pick-up at stores.
QVC joins the m-commerce elite with text message purchasing
In addition to launching a mobile retail site at m.QVC.com, QVC Inc. is trumping almost all of the small but growing number of retailers in m-commerce by offering a text message purchasing program.
TurnTo network letting shoppers tap friends for product advice
The TurnTo network, accessible through a widget on a retailer’s home page, lets shoppers see what products friends have purchased at the site, then contact them for feedback on the products.
Ops&Tech
Laying the Groundwork
Rich media wows shoppers, boosts sales and builds brands—if e-retailers build it right.
WebSellingSegments
Driving Up Margins
How web-based transportation management helps retailers get around the rising cost of fuel.
Ops&Tech
Control Issues
Maintaining web site performance today means monitoring and managing content and traffic that’s outside a retailer’s control.
WebSellingViews
Money in the E-Mail
Sending more e-mail can increase revenue but lower profit. Arthur Middleton Hughes of e-Dialog explains how—and what to do about it.
WebSellingStats
Plans to improve the shopping experience
How retailers plan to make their web sites more attractive shopping destinations. A new survey from Retail Systems Research.
SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT: Customer service: Raising the stakes as customers expect more
Whether outsourcing customer service or doing it in house, retailers must manage complexity and responsiveness to give shoppers the help they seek.
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