Pete Prestipino says, “Believe it or not, a vast majority (92 percent) still occur offline. A new study from Ripen Ecommerce explores the reasons what exactly is keeping shoppers offline and the answers might surprise you. When asked what would make them most likely to purchase an item in-store instead of online, 30.8 percent said they wanted to see or feel products in person. Other reasons include wanting items right away (29.9 percent), maintaining personal privacy (16.9 percent), saving on shipping costs (14.4 percent), and easier/cheaper returns (6.5 percent)“. Overcoming E-Commerce... [...]

Arie Shpanya says, “Dynamic pricing is a pricing strategy in which prices change in response to real-time supply and demand. While this isn’t a brand new pricing strategy, (American Airlines first introduced it in the early 80’s) it is currently taking ecommerce by storm. Dynamic pricing allows retailers to remain competitive with 24/7 price monitoring and changes, boosting profits by 25% on average”. Why dynamic pricing is a must for ecommerce retailers ‘Econsultancy’ Blog  [...]

Allison Howen says, “Selecting an e-commerce platform is one of the most important decisions an Internet retailer will make. This platform will determine the direction of an online business and will play a vital role in its future success. Luckily, there is not a shortage of platforms to choose from, which means that with a little research, merchants can find a solution that will support their goals and help their businesses flourish for years to come”. 5 Tips for Selecting an E-Commerce Platform Website Magazine  [...]

Ben Davis says, “High street stores are getting their mojo back, so what can ecommerce do to engage the consumer? Here are just 10 features that help to keep customers engaged on ecommerce websites. If you’ve seen any innovative new features from ecommerce companies, please let us know below. For all things engagement and optimisation, why not attend theFestival of Marketing, in London, November 12-13th”. 10 ways to increase customer engagement in ecommerce ‘Econsultancy’ Blog  [...]

Jitender Miglani says, “Last week, two news items captured the front-page headlines of the Indian financial newspapers. The first was an announcement by Flipkart on July 29 that it has raised fresh capital of $1 billion in one of the largest funding rounds. The second was an announcement by Amazon on July 30 that it will invest another $2 billion in India. These numbers appeared large to us when seen in the context of overall online retail sales in India. As per the Forrester Asia Pacific online retail forecast published in early October 2013, India’s online retail spending was expected... [...]

Sebastian Gutierrez says, “Smartphones can support impulsive purchasing – browsing a retailer’s website while waiting in a supermarket queue and clicking ‘buy now’, for instance. Meanwhile, the widespread use of tablets as second screens presents the opportunity to make purchases, perhaps in response to advertisements, from the comfort of your sofa. Digital window-shopping, or showrooming, is common among smartphone users and often leads consumers into physical stores to try on or test products, or to making online purchases from another device at another time. Recent research... [...]

Greg Randall says, “Due to the popularity of the article titled, ‘Ecommerce product pages:  where to place 30 elements and why‘, a sequel has (finally) been written. The focus now turns to the main category page, which is used in ecommerce to give shoppers access to a range of products such as ‘menswear’ before they drill further down to find specific items (e.g. socks, jeans). This article will add value if you: Have little confidence in your current main category page layout. Are in the process of redesigning your website and need guidance on the main category page”. Ecommerce... [...]

Zia Daniell Wigder says, “Many brands eyeing Latin American eCommerce markets look first to Brazil, and with good reason. Brazil is Latin America’s largest online retail market by a wide margin and growth rates remain high: Our forecast shows the market growing by a CAGR of 18% to reach $35 billion in 2018. As in every fast-growing eCommerce market, however, companies that compete in this environment face numerous challenges. Issues like complex tax navigation and the long path to profitability are well documented. In addition, companies need to prepare for shifts in what consumers... [...]

Graham Charlton says, “Earlier this year, I wrote a post looking at some of the best ecommerce sites around, picking out aspects of these sites that others could learn from.  As the vast majority were B2C, some commentors challenged me to find similarly good examples of B2B ecommerce sites. I’ve asked the Econsultancy team, found a few myself, and here we are. Some are listed because they offer a great all round experience, others because they do a particular thing very well (navigation, copywriting, and so on)”. Which B2B ecommerce sites are getting it right? Here’s... [...]

Jason Del Rey says, “Investment in the burgeoning Indian e-commerce industry continues to boom, with Flipkart, perhaps the country’s best-known online retail marketpalce, raising a new $1 billion in funding. The round includes investments from Tiger Global and Naspers and brings Flipkart’s total backing to nearly $2 billion. The funding gives Flipkart a deep war chest as it faces off against competitors Amazon, eBay and eBay-backed Snapdeal“. Flipkart, Amazon’s Indian Rival, Lands $1 Billion Investment Re/code  [...]