Litle & Co., a leading payment processor for direct merchants, and Accertify, a provider of fraud prevention solutions, will be holding a free seminar in New York City, Oct. 13, on "Commerce Fraud: Moving from Tools to Solutions," presented by David Montague, Founder and President of The Fraud Practice.
Creating a fraud management plan, and finding the right solution, can be difficult and confusing when you consider the vendors offering services for fraud prevention have exploded from a handful into the hundreds in the last few years. In this session participants will learn what the core features of a fraud solution are along with how they can segment and differentiate fraud solution providers by the techniques they offer (“apples to apples” comparison). Emphasis will be placed on how you should approach the evaluation of third-party tools and services in terms of an overall fraud mitigation plan. Participants can expect to be able to answer thre questions after attending the session:
(1) Define the meaning of a tool, signal, feature and a solution.
2) Describe the core features and capabilities needed to implement a Card-Not-Present fraud solution.
3) Describe how to categorize a third party fraud tool in terms of “techniques"
The seminar will be held from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at
HUDSON TERRACE
621 W 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
David's presentation will be followed by complimentary cocktails and dinner.
Space is limited so please R.S.V.P. by October 2nd to Christina Wilson, cwilson@litle.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Escalate Has CoMarketing Alliance for Scene7
Escalate Retail has a business arrangement with Adobe Systems Inc. that will allow retailers using Escalate’s eCommerce and Ecometry Commerce suites to utilize Adobe Scene7, a leading hosted rich media platform designed for companies doing eCommerce and multichannel marketing.
Adobe Scene7 is an on-demand cross-media platform that enables eCommerce and multichannel marketing companies to create rich content for Website, e-mail or print campaigns by automating the production and delivery of high-impact data-driven media.
Adobe Scene7 is an on-demand cross-media platform that enables eCommerce and multichannel marketing companies to create rich content for Website, e-mail or print campaigns by automating the production and delivery of high-impact data-driven media.
MOM Vers. 7i is PA-DSS-Compliant
Dydacomp, a provider of business automation software for multi-channel merchants, retailers, and cataloguers, has released the latest version of its Mail Order Manager (M.O.M.) software solution, Version 7i, the company's first PCI PA-DSS certified product.
"PCI compliance is of vital importance to our customers as the way they will need to process credit cards and store data is about to drastically change," said John V. Healy, Dydacomp CEO. "We've eliminated our customers' primary pain point by pursuing and receiving PCI PA-DSS compliance certification for Version 7i as well as adding numerous customer requested enhancements."
M.O.M. Version 7i includes more than a dozen significant enhancements to Version 6 (on which the current release is built). Key features include (but are not limited to) graphical and text on-demand reporting, advanced automated drop shipping, EDI, branded gift cards as a payment method, detailed data transmission to QuickBooks , and mobile access from the iPhone, iPod Touch, or other PDA devices.
"PCI compliance is of vital importance to our customers as the way they will need to process credit cards and store data is about to drastically change," said John V. Healy, Dydacomp CEO. "We've eliminated our customers' primary pain point by pursuing and receiving PCI PA-DSS compliance certification for Version 7i as well as adding numerous customer requested enhancements."
M.O.M. Version 7i includes more than a dozen significant enhancements to Version 6 (on which the current release is built). Key features include (but are not limited to) graphical and text on-demand reporting, advanced automated drop shipping, EDI, branded gift cards as a payment method, detailed data transmission to QuickBooks , and mobile access from the iPhone, iPod Touch, or other PDA devices.
Customer Service Innovations
"Customer service" is defined as "the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase," and it is a process that should never be overlooked simply because the service is occurring online, says Pete Sheldon, a product manager at Elastic Path Software, which provides a flexible Java-based eCommerce platform for enterprises.
"An effective online customer service campaign can drastically change the face of online shopping by infusing features into sites that are not easily replicated in a real-world setting. For example, Shoeline.com's Return O'Meter increases customer trust -- as well as the company's conversion rate -- by showing customers how many times a style of shoe has been returned and the reason for the return, a feature you wouldn't normally find in an offline shoe store."
Qualsys Announces QualysGuard PCI 4.0
Qualys, Inc., a leading provider of on-demand IT security risk and compliance management solutions, has announced availability of QualysGuard® PCI 4.0 which adds network discovery capabilities and introduces PCI Connect features to "the most popular PCI platform in the industry, already in use by 60 percent of all Approved Scanning Vendors (ASVs) and 49 percent of Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) to help merchants streamline PCI DSS certification and validation."
PCI Connect was the industry's first Software-as-as-Service (SaaS) ecosystem for PCI compliance, connecting merchants to multiple partners and security solutions in order to document and meet all 12 requirements for PCI DSS.
PCI Connect was the industry's first Software-as-as-Service (SaaS) ecosystem for PCI compliance, connecting merchants to multiple partners and security solutions in order to document and meet all 12 requirements for PCI DSS.
Monday, September 21, 2009
iCongo: Virtual Marketer for Enriched Communication
iCongo, Inc., a leading provider of eCommerce and multi-channel systems, has announced the availability of its new Virtual Marketer (VM) module for its eCommerce online systems and as a supplement to the company’s existing E-marketing systems.
VM allows merchants to host virtual events for conducting product demonstrations, seminars, training sessions, two way communications and more, all within their existing customer-facing online environments.
Available under a pay-as-you-go Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) pricing model, Virtual Marketer can be inserted as needed in any eCommerce B2C or B2B site. VM presentations can be made available for any length of time, from one day to a week or longer—even indefinitely. Viewers can experience a presentation live or on-demand, giving sponsors a host of options for imparting information, encouraging a sale, or generating leads.
Live and recorded video is supported in VM as well as collateral download libraries containing brochures, images, charts and audio files. During a session, participants and/or customers can be allowed to initiate two-way private or public online conversations with sales or training support specialists via the built-in chatline.
Adding further value to VM is the ability to purchase products within the same iCongo-powered online environment. For example after viewing a retailer’s presentation on BBQ grills with demonstrations from multiple manufacturers, customers can ask questions, make comparisons and immediately click on a specific product brand to make a purchase.
VM allows merchants to host virtual events for conducting product demonstrations, seminars, training sessions, two way communications and more, all within their existing customer-facing online environments.
Available under a pay-as-you-go Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) pricing model, Virtual Marketer can be inserted as needed in any eCommerce B2C or B2B site. VM presentations can be made available for any length of time, from one day to a week or longer—even indefinitely. Viewers can experience a presentation live or on-demand, giving sponsors a host of options for imparting information, encouraging a sale, or generating leads.
Live and recorded video is supported in VM as well as collateral download libraries containing brochures, images, charts and audio files. During a session, participants and/or customers can be allowed to initiate two-way private or public online conversations with sales or training support specialists via the built-in chatline.
Adding further value to VM is the ability to purchase products within the same iCongo-powered online environment. For example after viewing a retailer’s presentation on BBQ grills with demonstrations from multiple manufacturers, customers can ask questions, make comparisons and immediately click on a specific product brand to make a purchase.
FedEx SmartPost Offers Returns Service via USPS
FedEx SmartPost announced today that it is introducing a new, convenient way for consumers to return items back to a direct commerce retailer using the U.S. Postal Service for package pickup, including collection boxes, Post Offices, and delivery carriers.
Retailers will include a prepaid label in the original shipment along with return instructions. Initially, the service will be available for shippers with high volumes of returns.
After packages are picked up, they will be consolidated into larger shipments at local Post Offices and picked up by FedEx for shipment to the original retailer.
The returns option is an expansion of the existing FedEx SmartPost offering that utilizes the Postal Service for cost-effective final-mile delivery of low-weight packages to residences.
Retailers will include a prepaid label in the original shipment along with return instructions. Initially, the service will be available for shippers with high volumes of returns.
After packages are picked up, they will be consolidated into larger shipments at local Post Offices and picked up by FedEx for shipment to the original retailer.
The returns option is an expansion of the existing FedEx SmartPost offering that utilizes the Postal Service for cost-effective final-mile delivery of low-weight packages to residences.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Retailers Rapidly Adopting Social Media
Multichannel Merchant reports: The penetration of social media tools within brand and retailer organizations is extremely high, given the length of time these tools have been around, according to a study released by e-commerce consultancy the e-tailing group and software provider PowerReviews.
Five out of 10 social media tools have been adopted by more than 50% of brands and retailers, with the Facebook Fan Page leading the way (at 86% adoption). The other top tools include Twitter Publishing (65%), customer reviews (55%), blogs (55%) and viral videos (50%).
In addition, the study found three-fourths of the 117 survey respondents feel brands have accelerated their use of, and commitment to, community and social media in the past six months.
Study respondents say that over the next 12 months, they plan to adopt Facebook Connect (31% of respondents), social listening tools (31%), customer reviews (26%) and product suggestions (26%).
Aside from increasing sales, the study also found the primary goal for adopting social media was customer engagement (39% of respondents), along with mobilizing advocates to drive “word of mouth” (30%) and increasing brand loyalty (21%).
The most striking finding was the reason behind this accelerated adoption, specifically the top three concerns of marketers and merchandisers related to social media. These motivators, which drove the last wave of social media adoption, will also be driving the next wave in the coming year:
1. Brand degradation fear – “people can trash my products in front of large audiences”
2. Competence fear – “I am using outdated marketing/merchandising techniques”
3. Concern – competitive fear – “customer’s inclination to leave their site to find a more socially-engaging site”
Five out of 10 social media tools have been adopted by more than 50% of brands and retailers, with the Facebook Fan Page leading the way (at 86% adoption). The other top tools include Twitter Publishing (65%), customer reviews (55%), blogs (55%) and viral videos (50%).
In addition, the study found three-fourths of the 117 survey respondents feel brands have accelerated their use of, and commitment to, community and social media in the past six months.
Study respondents say that over the next 12 months, they plan to adopt Facebook Connect (31% of respondents), social listening tools (31%), customer reviews (26%) and product suggestions (26%).
Aside from increasing sales, the study also found the primary goal for adopting social media was customer engagement (39% of respondents), along with mobilizing advocates to drive “word of mouth” (30%) and increasing brand loyalty (21%).
The most striking finding was the reason behind this accelerated adoption, specifically the top three concerns of marketers and merchandisers related to social media. These motivators, which drove the last wave of social media adoption, will also be driving the next wave in the coming year:
1. Brand degradation fear – “people can trash my products in front of large audiences”
2. Competence fear – “I am using outdated marketing/merchandising techniques”
3. Concern – competitive fear – “customer’s inclination to leave their site to find a more socially-engaging site”
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Channel Intelligence Launching New Services
Channel Intelligence, Inc. (CI) will be unveiling several new marketing services for retailers and manufacturers at the upcoming Shop.org Annual Summit in Las Vegas, Nev., September 21-23, 2009.
Among the new services are several resulting from the key assets recently acquired from VCommerce Corporation as well as new enterprise-level Paid Search and Online Display Advertising Solutions.
The Display Advertising Solution is a performance-based program designed to drive higher converting consumers to marketers' Websites via display ads on other Web properties. The solution lets advertisers target specific types of individuals or retarget previous customers via a variety of low-cost standard ad templates as well as customized ad creative services. It also makes available accurate performance metrics including sales lift via the company’s proprietary tracking technology TrueTag™.
In addition, a new enterprise-level Paid Search Solution will be on display in the CI booth at Shop.org. This service helps drive revenue growth through Paid Search by leveraging multi-variable rules, auto-optimization, and bid management.
Some of the recently acquired Vcommerce assets will be highlighted as a part of CI’s product portfolio: the eCommerce Storefront, Order Management and Fulfillment and Integration Solutions. On-site demos of the company’s BETA SellCast® Self Management portal will be available for retailers to show how they can use it to directly manipulate and customize shopping engine data feeds on demand.
Among the new services are several resulting from the key assets recently acquired from VCommerce Corporation as well as new enterprise-level Paid Search and Online Display Advertising Solutions.
The Display Advertising Solution is a performance-based program designed to drive higher converting consumers to marketers' Websites via display ads on other Web properties. The solution lets advertisers target specific types of individuals or retarget previous customers via a variety of low-cost standard ad templates as well as customized ad creative services. It also makes available accurate performance metrics including sales lift via the company’s proprietary tracking technology TrueTag™.
In addition, a new enterprise-level Paid Search Solution will be on display in the CI booth at Shop.org. This service helps drive revenue growth through Paid Search by leveraging multi-variable rules, auto-optimization, and bid management.
Some of the recently acquired Vcommerce assets will be highlighted as a part of CI’s product portfolio: the eCommerce Storefront, Order Management and Fulfillment and Integration Solutions. On-site demos of the company’s BETA SellCast® Self Management portal will be available for retailers to show how they can use it to directly manipulate and customize shopping engine data feeds on demand.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Adobe Buys Omniture
Adobe said Tuesday that it has reached a deal to acquire Web analytics firm Omniture for $1.8 billion. Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen called the move a "game changer" for the company.
"Adobe customers are looking to us for solutions to deliver engaging experiences and more effectively monetize their content and applications online," Narayen said in the press release announcing the deal.
In an interview with CNet, Adobe senior vice president Paul Weiskopf said the deal will allow Adobe to merge the "art" of developing and delivering content with the "science" of measuring the impact of that content. "Today that's a real pain point for customers," Weiskopf said. "We have the opportunity to integrate what is today a pretty disparate and not tightly integrated set of workflows."
The deal is the Adobe's largest since its $3-billion-plus acquisition of Macromedia in 2005.
"Adobe customers are looking to us for solutions to deliver engaging experiences and more effectively monetize their content and applications online," Narayen said in the press release announcing the deal.
In an interview with CNet, Adobe senior vice president Paul Weiskopf said the deal will allow Adobe to merge the "art" of developing and delivering content with the "science" of measuring the impact of that content. "Today that's a real pain point for customers," Weiskopf said. "We have the opportunity to integrate what is today a pretty disparate and not tightly integrated set of workflows."
The deal is the Adobe's largest since its $3-billion-plus acquisition of Macromedia in 2005.
Festive Lights Implement Exact Abacus
The UK’s largest online Christmas and Festive lighting store, Festive Lights, has chosen to implement 3EX.NET back office software from Exact Abacus to manage their rapid business growth. Specialising in Lighting for domestic and commercial displays, Festive Lights carry a comprehensive product range and required a more flexible and intuitive system to handle sales order processing, purchasing, stock control and customer relationship management. The system is on schedule for launch in October 2009.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Catalog-On-Demand Sends Personalized PDFs
If you manage a Magento-powered eCommerce site, you can send vistors/shoppers customized PDF or printed brochures of wish lists or individual products using a new service from Catalog-on-Demand, which can also be used to support affiliate marketers and for sales force lead follow-up and conversion applications, as well.
You can also pursue data mining opportunities with "PDF-e-Link™" reports.
Versions for other eCommerce platforms will be developed in the future. For more details on how this works, check ouf the Catalog-on-Demand website.
You can also pursue data mining opportunities with "PDF-e-Link™" reports.
Versions for other eCommerce platforms will be developed in the future. For more details on how this works, check ouf the Catalog-on-Demand website.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Feds Reveal More Re Cyberthief Gonzalez
According to StoreFront Backtalk: When cyberthief Albert Gonzalez pled guilty to many of the charges against him last Friday, the government revealed a bit more about the case, e.g. "it was BJ’s Wholesale Club that was first attacked and that the Secret Service has collected 'more than forty million distinct credit and debit card numbers from two computer servers' controlled by Gonzalez and his associates and has counted the consumer, retail and bank victims as 'an enormous number of people, certainly millions upon millions, perhaps tens of millions.'
"Those comments from Assistant Boston U.S. Attorney Stephen Heymann during Friday’s hearing may be the beginning of the end of details to be released about the case, as the guilty plea means the avoidance of a trial, which in turn means that the government won’t be forced to reveal even more details. That’s a relief to many of the retailers involved, as they see the less light shed on their roles, the better."
For more of Evan Schuman's trenchant views on this important case, click HERE.
"Those comments from Assistant Boston U.S. Attorney Stephen Heymann during Friday’s hearing may be the beginning of the end of details to be released about the case, as the guilty plea means the avoidance of a trial, which in turn means that the government won’t be forced to reveal even more details. That’s a relief to many of the retailers involved, as they see the less light shed on their roles, the better."
For more of Evan Schuman's trenchant views on this important case, click HERE.
Friday, September 11, 2009
David Fry Redefining Role with Fry Inc.
Reports Internet Retailer - David Fry, president of Web design, development and managed services vendor Fry Inc., is moving to a part-time role with the company he founded in 1994. Rudy Pataro, who joined the company in 2001 and currently serves as both chief technology officer and vice president of sales, will head the company as president.
Fry, who will remain involved with the company as a strategy consultant and will continue to work with major customers, says he plans to take a larger role in his family’s long-time printing business. Fry says that’s part of the reason he sold the company last year to enterprise applications vendor Micros Systems Inc. for $49.7 million.
That deal brought Fry’s Open Commerce Platform and other eCommerce technology into the Micros Systems portfolio, which previously focused on point-of-sale and loss-prevention applications and includes the CommercialWare CWDirect and CWSerenade platforms (as part of Micros-Retail). It also extends Fry’s reach into the hospitality industry where Micros is well established, and other industry sectors, as well as internationally.
Fry, who will remain involved with the company as a strategy consultant and will continue to work with major customers, says he plans to take a larger role in his family’s long-time printing business. Fry says that’s part of the reason he sold the company last year to enterprise applications vendor Micros Systems Inc. for $49.7 million.
That deal brought Fry’s Open Commerce Platform and other eCommerce technology into the Micros Systems portfolio, which previously focused on point-of-sale and loss-prevention applications and includes the CommercialWare CWDirect and CWSerenade platforms (as part of Micros-Retail). It also extends Fry’s reach into the hospitality industry where Micros is well established, and other industry sectors, as well as internationally.
CommerceV3, Timberline Interactive Merge
eCommerce platform provider CommerceV3, Pensacola, FL, and online marketing agency Timberline Interactive of Middlebury, VT, today announced a merger.
Blake Ellis, who co-founded CommerceV3 with CV3 President Nathan Focht, will serve as the new president of Timberline. Ellis is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in several Internet start-ups over the years, including CommerceV3, Rails Machine and ResEngine.com.
"Timberline brings a wealth of experience to the table, especially their work launching sophisticated sites and growing revenue for large merchants with complex needs," says Ellis. "CommerceV3 provides a strong, affordable technical foundation. Together we offer a high octane growth solution to merchants large and small -- a combination you can't find anywhere else in our industry."
"CommerceV3 meets complex customer requirements straight out of the box," says Deb Brisson, Timberline's VP of Software Development. "And when we need to go further, we utilize TI Commerce," a customizable commerce platform built using the Microsoft .NET programming environment. "With CV3 and TI Commerce, we have more technical flexibility than any other provider in the industry, period."
CV3 is known for its integration with a wide variety of direct commerce order management solutions. "This is big news in multi-channel and direct marketing circles," says Scott Weaver of Atlanta-based Colinear Systems, a software firm specializing in order management software. "Anybody who has searched for products on Google and shopped online has probably encountered the work of these two firms without knowing it. They're the folks behind the scenes who make finding products and ordering online a smooth and easy process. This is a great opportunity for their existing customers as well as any merchants who want to thrive on the web."
Blake Ellis, who co-founded CommerceV3 with CV3 President Nathan Focht, will serve as the new president of Timberline. Ellis is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in several Internet start-ups over the years, including CommerceV3, Rails Machine and ResEngine.com.
"Timberline brings a wealth of experience to the table, especially their work launching sophisticated sites and growing revenue for large merchants with complex needs," says Ellis. "CommerceV3 provides a strong, affordable technical foundation. Together we offer a high octane growth solution to merchants large and small -- a combination you can't find anywhere else in our industry."
"CommerceV3 meets complex customer requirements straight out of the box," says Deb Brisson, Timberline's VP of Software Development. "And when we need to go further, we utilize TI Commerce," a customizable commerce platform built using the Microsoft .NET programming environment. "With CV3 and TI Commerce, we have more technical flexibility than any other provider in the industry, period."
CV3 is known for its integration with a wide variety of direct commerce order management solutions. "This is big news in multi-channel and direct marketing circles," says Scott Weaver of Atlanta-based Colinear Systems, a software firm specializing in order management software. "Anybody who has searched for products on Google and shopped online has probably encountered the work of these two firms without knowing it. They're the folks behind the scenes who make finding products and ordering online a smooth and easy process. This is a great opportunity for their existing customers as well as any merchants who want to thrive on the web."
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Direct Commerce Dominant in Japan
From BusinessWeek, Sept. 4 - Using data from the Japan Direct Marketing Assn. and Nomura Research Institute (NRI), the Nikkei daily estimates online shopping sales in Japan rose 22% [this year] to $67.2 billion. That's despite Japan's deepest recession in the postwar era savaging consumer confidence following the collapse of Lehman Brothers last fall. If catalog shopping is also included, the figure rises to over $86 billion—or more than is spent in Japan's department stores or ubiquitous convenience stores.
Noritaka Kobayashi, senior consultant at Nomura Research Institute in Tokyo, says that while the growth will likely slow due to the recession, the consumer e-commerce market will continue to outstrip other forms of shopping.
What explains Japanese consumers' shift to shopping online? In the last year, as the global recession pounded the Japanese economy, pundits began using the term sugomori ("chicks in the nest") to describe people who stay home to keep outside expenses to a minimum. Shopping online is not only often cheaper, especially when compared with expensive department stores, but it also saves on transportation and eating out while shopping.
Other reasons for the rapid expansion of online shopping in Japan are perhaps more compelling—and Japan-specific. One factor is undoubtedly the widespread use of high-speed Internet. Fast broadband connections are the norm in Japan, while high-speed Internet-enabled mobile phones are long established. NTT DoCoMo's (DCM) 3G service is now in its 10th year of operation. The upshot: Japanese young and old are comfortable and experienced online.
It helps that workers in Japan typically take long commutes, often in crowded trains. That leaves plenty of time to text, read the news, play games, or shop using a mobile phone.
Meticulous home-delivery service is another factor boosting online shopping. Delivery companies such as Yamato Transport, Sagawa Express, and JP Express are famously reliable. The companies usually offer to deliver within a two-hour time slot selected by the customer and are rarely late. They are also remarkably fast. Yamato, for instance, has a tieup with Amazon and other mail-order companies by which it offers next-morning delivery for orders made by midnight the previous day. And if the customer prefers, deliveries can be made to one of Japan's 50,000 convenience stores. For only a small extra fee, delivery firms will deliver frozen or chilled products, leading to the rapid expansion of online purchasing of fresh produce, such as freshly caught crab from Hokkaido or pineapple from subtropical Okinawa.
Payment options have evolved to meet customer needs and soothe fraud concerns. For consumers who don't want to input credit card numbers over the Internet, Yamato and others offer a pay-on-delivery service. "These finely tuned delivery services are boosting the mail-order business," says Masao Ueda, chief researcher at the Distribution Economics Institute of Japan.
Noritaka Kobayashi, senior consultant at Nomura Research Institute in Tokyo, says that while the growth will likely slow due to the recession, the consumer e-commerce market will continue to outstrip other forms of shopping.
What explains Japanese consumers' shift to shopping online? In the last year, as the global recession pounded the Japanese economy, pundits began using the term sugomori ("chicks in the nest") to describe people who stay home to keep outside expenses to a minimum. Shopping online is not only often cheaper, especially when compared with expensive department stores, but it also saves on transportation and eating out while shopping.
Other reasons for the rapid expansion of online shopping in Japan are perhaps more compelling—and Japan-specific. One factor is undoubtedly the widespread use of high-speed Internet. Fast broadband connections are the norm in Japan, while high-speed Internet-enabled mobile phones are long established. NTT DoCoMo's (DCM) 3G service is now in its 10th year of operation. The upshot: Japanese young and old are comfortable and experienced online.
It helps that workers in Japan typically take long commutes, often in crowded trains. That leaves plenty of time to text, read the news, play games, or shop using a mobile phone.
Meticulous home-delivery service is another factor boosting online shopping. Delivery companies such as Yamato Transport, Sagawa Express, and JP Express are famously reliable. The companies usually offer to deliver within a two-hour time slot selected by the customer and are rarely late. They are also remarkably fast. Yamato, for instance, has a tieup with Amazon and other mail-order companies by which it offers next-morning delivery for orders made by midnight the previous day. And if the customer prefers, deliveries can be made to one of Japan's 50,000 convenience stores. For only a small extra fee, delivery firms will deliver frozen or chilled products, leading to the rapid expansion of online purchasing of fresh produce, such as freshly caught crab from Hokkaido or pineapple from subtropical Okinawa.
Payment options have evolved to meet customer needs and soothe fraud concerns. For consumers who don't want to input credit card numbers over the Internet, Yamato and others offer a pay-on-delivery service. "These finely tuned delivery services are boosting the mail-order business," says Masao Ueda, chief researcher at the Distribution Economics Institute of Japan.
GSI Commerce Acquires Pepperjam
GSI Commerce has acquired certain assets of Internet marketing agency Pepperjam, which operates an affiliate marketing network and offers search engine marketing and online media planning.
GSI moves directly into the affiliate network business with the acquisition, said Nick Pahade, president at GSI Interactive, the digital marketing services agency at GSI.
“We believe the affiliate marketing space to be a powerful and effective marketing tool,” he said. “By owning our own network, we think we can drive better innovation and additional enhancement to the industry moving forward.”
Pahade explained that GSI was also interested in acquiring Pepperjam for its affiliate network's transparency system, which provides advertisers with contact data and promotional methods.
“This is a key differentiation in the marketplace that allows advertisers to have more control over the affiliates they are working with,” he said, adding that it also “empowers affiliates to build stronger relationships with advertisers.
Pepperjam, located in Wilkes-Barre, PA, has 48 employees. It will operate as a separate business unit of GSI Interactive. In April, GSI Interactive acquired Silverlign Group, an integrated marketing strategy and design agency.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Channel Intelligence Buys VCommerce
Channel Intelligence, Inc. (CI) has announced the acquisition of key assets of Vcommerce, a provider of eCommerce solutions in Scottsdale, AZ. With the newly acquired assets, CI will, through a new, wholly-owned subsidiary, provide storefront, order management and fulfillment services to retailers, manufacturers and publishers across several industry verticals.
The acquisition of the Vcommerce assets will expand CI's eCommerce platform increases its overall customer base to 235, with more than 25 percent represented in the Internet Retailer Top 250.
Channel Intelligence claims 80 percent market share helping manufacturers drive sales to their channel partners. With the addition of its display advertising, social networking and the Vcommerce fulfillment and storefront assets, CI can now be even more deeply aligned with a manufacturer's overall eCommerce strategy. By partnering with manufacturers and their advertising agencies to drive traffic, process orders, and track sales directly from the manufacturer's on-line store and through CI's vast world-wide network of large and specialty retailers, CI provides a performance-based solution for manufacturers.
For its retail customers, CI now adds complete order management and fulfillment services to its portfolio, allowing retailers to maximize their catalog sales and enable seamless integration across their channel partners. These capabilities, combined with CI's existing comparison shopping engine service and new performance advertising and search engine marketing services, provides a complete end-to-end solution for retailers to drive profitable sales from these programs.
The acquisition of the Vcommerce assets will expand CI's eCommerce platform increases its overall customer base to 235, with more than 25 percent represented in the Internet Retailer Top 250.
Channel Intelligence claims 80 percent market share helping manufacturers drive sales to their channel partners. With the addition of its display advertising, social networking and the Vcommerce fulfillment and storefront assets, CI can now be even more deeply aligned with a manufacturer's overall eCommerce strategy. By partnering with manufacturers and their advertising agencies to drive traffic, process orders, and track sales directly from the manufacturer's on-line store and through CI's vast world-wide network of large and specialty retailers, CI provides a performance-based solution for manufacturers.
For its retail customers, CI now adds complete order management and fulfillment services to its portfolio, allowing retailers to maximize their catalog sales and enable seamless integration across their channel partners. These capabilities, combined with CI's existing comparison shopping engine service and new performance advertising and search engine marketing services, provides a complete end-to-end solution for retailers to drive profitable sales from these programs.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Transpay, ControlScan Partner for PCI Compliance
Transpay Processing, a provider of direct commerce transaction processing services, has joined forces with ControlScan, a leading provider of Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance and security solutions exclusively focused on small- to medium-sized merchants, to help its merchants meet mandatory requirements set forth by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).
"Transpay Processing has partnered with ControlScan to help our merchants achieve PCI compliance and maintain long term security for their businesses," said Kristy Razo, Director of Operations, Transpay Processing. "Not only is ControlScan's program easy for us to implement, but we can now provide our merchants with an easy-to-use solution, backed by a personal level of service, to help them achieve PCI compliance and protect their customers' sensitive information."
Transpay Processing merchants will now have access to ControlScan's PCI 1-2-3 compliance solution, available online via a Web-based merchant portal called myControlScan.com, which provides merchants with the leading tools and support necessary to analyze, remediate and validate PCI compliance.
"Transpay Processing has partnered with ControlScan to help our merchants achieve PCI compliance and maintain long term security for their businesses," said Kristy Razo, Director of Operations, Transpay Processing. "Not only is ControlScan's program easy for us to implement, but we can now provide our merchants with an easy-to-use solution, backed by a personal level of service, to help them achieve PCI compliance and protect their customers' sensitive information."
Transpay Processing merchants will now have access to ControlScan's PCI 1-2-3 compliance solution, available online via a Web-based merchant portal called myControlScan.com, which provides merchants with the leading tools and support necessary to analyze, remediate and validate PCI compliance.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Phone Call Tracking Via Google Analytics
ClickThrough Marketing, one of the UK's fast-growing Internet marketing and search engine marketing companies, has announced the launch of an add-on module for Google Analytics that allows you to track phone call conversions from any source including Pay Per Click, natural rankings, forums, banners, affiliates or any online advertising channel.
Launched as a free service to current clients, the system allows marketers to track phone calls made from a Website and display them in Google Analytics as a "conversion" alongside other conversions like sales, enquiry forms and e-mail subscribes, helping you make informed decisions based on the real Cost Per Acquisition each campaign is delivering.
The call tracking module can show the geographical location of callers, and offers free call queuing, missed call alerts via Email/SMS, free voice mail and customised messaging.
Launched as a free service to current clients, the system allows marketers to track phone calls made from a Website and display them in Google Analytics as a "conversion" alongside other conversions like sales, enquiry forms and e-mail subscribes, helping you make informed decisions based on the real Cost Per Acquisition each campaign is delivering.
The call tracking module can show the geographical location of callers, and offers free call queuing, missed call alerts via Email/SMS, free voice mail and customised messaging.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
eBillme Launches eCommerce Option
There are 28 million Americans without a bank account and another 44 million Americans considered "underbanked" according to the FDIC. To take advantage of the opportunity to help these consumers shop online, eBillme, the online payment option that already enables consumers and small businesses to use online banking to pay securely with cash, has introduced eBillme Walk-In, a new way for consumers to shop online and pay with cash, without having a credit card or even a bank account.
The company has partnered with providers including MoneyGram International to assemble the largest network of U.S. based walk-in locations.
Says Marwan Forzley, President and CEO of eBillme, "We want every consumer to be able to pay securely with cash and benefit from the eBillme platform, which includes a rewards program and buyer protection features giving consumers all the perks of credit cards without getting into debt or incurring extra fees. For merchants, eBillme Walk-In offers an opportunity to reach a new consumer market and increase sales."
Upon selecting eBillme Walk-In, online shoppers will be sent an eBill which can now be paid using online banking or by presenting the eBill to a participating location. A locator is available to show consumers the nearest walk-in location based on their address. Consumers can simply take their printed eBill to one of the over 75,000 walk-in locations across the US to make payment, including MoneyGram`s nearly 40,000 agent locations.
The company claims over 800 online merchants now accept eBillme.
The company has partnered with providers including MoneyGram International to assemble the largest network of U.S. based walk-in locations.
Says Marwan Forzley, President and CEO of eBillme, "We want every consumer to be able to pay securely with cash and benefit from the eBillme platform, which includes a rewards program and buyer protection features giving consumers all the perks of credit cards without getting into debt or incurring extra fees. For merchants, eBillme Walk-In offers an opportunity to reach a new consumer market and increase sales."
Upon selecting eBillme Walk-In, online shoppers will be sent an eBill which can now be paid using online banking or by presenting the eBill to a participating location. A locator is available to show consumers the nearest walk-in location based on their address. Consumers can simply take their printed eBill to one of the over 75,000 walk-in locations across the US to make payment, including MoneyGram`s nearly 40,000 agent locations.
The company claims over 800 online merchants now accept eBillme.
ABC’s of PCI Validation
ABC’s of PCI Validation: A Merchant's Guide to Working with Your Acquirer - a live Web briefing presented by James Bibles, Director of Product Marketing, PCI Compliance Solutions (presented by Qualys)
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Time: 2:00PM Eastern / 11:00AM Pacific
Merchants will get practical, straightforward answers to working with your Acquirer, including:
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Time: 2:00PM Eastern / 11:00AM Pacific
Merchants will get practical, straightforward answers to working with your Acquirer, including:
- How does the enforcement structure for PCI DSS work?
- How does my Acquirer determine my compliance validation level?
- Which validation requirements are mandated by the association and which ones are unique to my Acquirer?
- What are the consequences if I fall out of compliance for a short period of time?
Sigma Micro Launches LastAndFinal.com
Sigma Micro, an Indianapolis-based eCommerce technology and fulfillment solutions/services provider for direct retailers, announced today the successful launch of its new discount eCommerce site, www.LastandFinal.com.
The online clearance shopping destination received more than 15,000 visitors in its first week, due to the success of its initial marketing campaigns and the efforts of Sigma Micro’s marketing, eCommerce, and creative services teams.
Marketing efforts around the launch involved email communication, pay-per-click campaigns (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO), affiliate programs, and social media marketing through Twitter and Facebook.
“The early success of this website really communicates the strength of the secondary retail market for great products at clearance prices,” said Matt Konkle, the company’s president. “This launch has provided us a greater depth of insight into the operations and challenges of online retail and has brought us even closer to our clients. We will continually make further enhancements to our software while building upon our expertise in direct marketing.”
LastandFinal.com, which was launched operationally to employees, friends, and family only one month ago, will soon carry thousands of products across such categories as Electronics, Home & Garden, Sports & Outdoors, Tools & Automotive, Travel & Entertainment, and others. Merchandise is supplied by niche retailers with overstock inventory, which is offered at heavy discounts to minimize valuable occupied warehouse space and recover unrealized potential revenue.
Operations for LastandFinal.com are handled by Sigma Micro’s sister company, Stark Bro’s Fulfillment, which processes all orders, provides pick/pack/ship services, and handles all call center operations.
Retailers who are interested in offering clearance merchandise on LastandFinal.com can contact Sigma Micro for contract terms and details.
The online clearance shopping destination received more than 15,000 visitors in its first week, due to the success of its initial marketing campaigns and the efforts of Sigma Micro’s marketing, eCommerce, and creative services teams.
Marketing efforts around the launch involved email communication, pay-per-click campaigns (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO), affiliate programs, and social media marketing through Twitter and Facebook.
“The early success of this website really communicates the strength of the secondary retail market for great products at clearance prices,” said Matt Konkle, the company’s president. “This launch has provided us a greater depth of insight into the operations and challenges of online retail and has brought us even closer to our clients. We will continually make further enhancements to our software while building upon our expertise in direct marketing.”
LastandFinal.com, which was launched operationally to employees, friends, and family only one month ago, will soon carry thousands of products across such categories as Electronics, Home & Garden, Sports & Outdoors, Tools & Automotive, Travel & Entertainment, and others. Merchandise is supplied by niche retailers with overstock inventory, which is offered at heavy discounts to minimize valuable occupied warehouse space and recover unrealized potential revenue.
Operations for LastandFinal.com are handled by Sigma Micro’s sister company, Stark Bro’s Fulfillment, which processes all orders, provides pick/pack/ship services, and handles all call center operations.
Retailers who are interested in offering clearance merchandise on LastandFinal.com can contact Sigma Micro for contract terms and details.
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