Google Mobile Payment, Facebook Investments, P-Fresh Expands

Google Mobile Payment, Facebook Investments, P-Fresh Expands

Published on March 28, 2011 | Comments: 0

Google is teaming up with MasterCard Inc. and Citigroup Inc. to embed technology in Android mobile devices that would allow consumers to make purchases by waving their smartphones in front of a small reader at the checkout counter, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Google is reportedly aiming to make mobile payments easier in a bid to boost its advertising business.

Business & Finance

• Investments in Facebook and Zynga have more than quintupled the implied worth of each company in the last two years, and the social shopping site Groupon is said to be considering an initial public offering that would value the company at $25 billion.
• Borders Group, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2011 and has announced plans to close about a third of its stores, said it plans to pay key employees as much as $8.3 million in incentives and retention bonuses, according to Bloomberg.
• Amazon.com will soon start construction on a new distribution center (DC) in Rheinsberg, Germany that it expects to open in Q4 2011.

Store Openings & Closings

• Target was scheduled to launch its expanded grocery “P-Fresh” remodels in several towns in Connecticut and in the St. Louis market, according to local reports.

E-commerce & Multichannel Retailing

• Ikea has stepped up efforts to engage Hong Kong customers online with a new Facebook initiative aiming to take the online experience to the real life shopping world.
• Shoparatti.com, a daily destination site dedicated to connecting online shoppers to third party fashion and lifestyle deals, launched today.
• 1-800-Registry, a full-service wedding advisory organization, launches today.

Store Design

• Whole Foods is testing in-store bars which serve artisan beer and locally produced wines in around 12 stores in a test before a wider rollout.

Stats & Research

• The top online retailers sent each of their subscribers 3.2 promotional emails on average during the week ending Mar. 25, 2011, which is up 3% week-over-week, up 11% from where it was four weeks ago, and up 17% year-over-year.
• US consumers’ personal income increased $38.1 billion, or 0.3%, and disposable personal income (DPI)increased $36.0 billion, or 0.3%, in February 2011, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Marketing & Advertising

• Niketown Boston, the Newbury Street store that features all things Nike, said it has begun mounting a series of events that aims to help runners gear up for the Boston Marathon with a customized training program.