July 28, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

“There’s an app for that.” That statement becomes truer every day. The latest ring of truth for this overused phrase comes in the form of HotelTonight’s popular hotel reservation app that went live for Android today. Available for the iPhone for months, and clocking in at over a half million downloads, the ecommerce software app is already going strong and helping people save money in almost 20 cities.

The way it works is simple and actually mirrors the increasingly popular “on demand” local deals ecommerce software setups of systems like Groupon Now! and others. Basically instead of booking a hotel ahead of time through a website like Travelocity or Expedia, you just head to your destination and start having a good time. When it’s starts getting late and you want somewhere to hang your hat, you whip out your smartphone, activate HotelTonight, and look for a cheap place to stay.

The way that old-school hotel reservation sites used to work was this: hotels had empty rooms that they knew they weren’t going to make any money off of, so they would sell them to the third party sites at a discount. Those sites would then do all the marketing and advertising (all those Shatner commercials) and try to drive customers to those discounted rooms.

HotelTonight shakes up this model. It works much like how Groupon Now! allows local businesses to drive targeted traffic through their doors during times when they need it most. Like let’s say a bar wants to draw in more customers on a slow Tuesday afternoon – they just put up a 2-for-1 beer deal on Groupon Now! and wait for the people to start rolling in. Hotels linked up the HotelTonight can decide to put their rooms up on the service for a significantly discounted rate if it looks like the room is going to go empty for the night – heck, even an extremely discounted room is better than having nobody in it at all.

The system only works with up to three hotels at a time, presumably to keep quality high and encourage hotels to compete with each other for the privilege of being listed on the service. I tried to find a more detailed explanation from HotelTonight, but none was readily apparent.

Additionally, while it’s not a last-minute accommodation solution, Airbnb has been competing well against hotels, routinely delivering higher-quality places to stay for significant price reductions. They just brought in another hefty investment round, but recent news that a houseguest went terribly wrong may damage their ability to compete.

July 28, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

The rise of streaming online sites like Hulu and Netflix has given viewers options that they’ve never had before. For the first time since the rise of TV and movies, users have had the ability to choose which media they wanted to watch and when, for free or for a low subscription rate. They could choose it quickly and easily, pipe it directly into their homes on their schedules, on a variety of devices (a far cry from the old days of Pay-Per-View movies where you had to fit your schedule to the movie company’s before you put it into your “shopping cart”).

Well the TV revolt’s most recent iteration involved viewers catching up on their favorite network shows the next day via Hulu. Fox is taking steps to prevent non-paying viewers from being able to watch right away, however. And we’re not just talking about users who’ve put “Hulu Plus” into their online shopping carts and started paying the $7.99/month. Fox only wants paying Hulu Plus subscribers and people who pay for Fox any other way (Direct TV, etc.) to “authenticate” their paid subscription before viewing their desired content the next day. Everyone else will have to wait eight days.

Increasingly we’re seeing previously free online services disappearing behind pay walls. Fox’s plan, while it stings for people without cable service, makes some sense. There’s a whole generation cropping up these days with no TVs or at least no cable TV service – just cable internet! People complaining about it earnestly probably don’t know how good they had it for so long. Complaints about other pay walls, like the NYTimes, speak to the same overly-entitled mentality: people expect stuff for free if it’s online – no matter how much it costs to make that content.

The NYTimes paywall has a variety of shortcomings. For starters, it’s not absolute. Readers get their first 20 articles every month for free, then the site asks them to put some kind of subscription package into their shopping cart and actually pay money. There are several exceptions to this rule, one being that if you receive any printed edition of the paper (even just Saturday/Sunday), then you get free open access.

So in a lot of ways, Fox’s move to restrict users is similar to major paywalls already in effect elsewhere. If you didn’t pay to help make the content, then you have to wait a little longer to watch it. Some could argue that the advertisements on sites like Hulu is a form of revenue for networks like Fox, but that’s a newer model and much less trusted by the old media giants who still walk the earth, and every so often have to remind us to fear them.

July 28, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Has the world of online shopping become a bit too bland and two-dimensional for you? Ecommerce solution providers VirtualE and z3D both plan to change the online experience for shoppers around the world. The company is working on the development of an online shopping mall featuring 3D products and storefronts, complete with social interactions with other customers.

The new development from VirtualE is operating and licensing electronic malls to give online shoppers the sense of actually being “there.” VirtualE “e-malls,” as they call them, require users to download their proprietary software, which then lets them create a shopping avatar, peruse a 3D electronic mall, and meet up with friends while they’re checking out the digital storefronts. The result of all this interactive shopping is a more entertaining and fun shopping experience according to CEO Mark Stein.

“It makes for a more dynamic experience,” said Stein. “I compare it to the transition from black and white to color TV. Once color was possible, why would you want black and white?”

ZEDDD, another 3D ecommerce solution, is working with shoppers and companies to bring their product, called z3D, to market. “ZeDDD is working with a number of companies around the world to set up z3D malls and shops,” ZeDDD spokesperson Michael Hodges says. The company says it can provide a customized or template z3D application, and the software is free for shoppers and storeowners alike.

z3D sees the potential for 3D shopping to expand, potentially allowing entire virtual cities to develop where shops have established virtual addresses within the application. This new approach to shopping could also attract a new customer base, particularly amongst those who have been reluctant to purchase online in the past. 3D images of products provide a more hands on experience, and also allow users to get a feel for what they are actually buying.

In order to sell in 3D, businesses need to create digital 3D versions of their products. The investment is worth it according to ZEDD. Creating 3D renditions of products leads to a higher interest in products, and translates into higher sales for companies. Keep an eye out for more 3D ecommerce solutions!

July 28, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

The push to eliminate boring static images on the web just gained some momentum! Pixazza, one of the premier interactive image/shopping experience providers on the web, has rebranded. Along with the new company name comes a new platform for advertisers and other clients. The ecommerce solution is now called Luminate, and will continue to provide interactive images that link shoppers to the items they see.

Interactive images work like this: the consumer lands on a page, showing a breathtaking shot of a woman hiking in the mountains. Say the person wants to buy the shirt they see the model wearing in the picture. This is where Luminate comes in. Using this ecommerce solution, publishers or advertisers can link the image to multiple similar products available on the web. So when the end-user clicks the Luminate icon on the image, they can purchase the product they are seeing. Luminate also allows clients to provide factual or interesting information about, for example, the mountains in the image.

The apps that Luminate offers aren’t just for online shopping. They also allow users to share notes about a particular portion of an image, accessible only by certain people. They can also view news about an event, read additional relevant content to what is featured in the image, or experience music or video related directly to the image.

Luminate allows clients to “engage consumers through beautiful online images. Luminate enables brand advertisers to deliver powerful brand impressions. We help direct response advertisers and ecommerce companies acquire new customers and generate additional transactions on a CPC (cost-per-click) basis.” The company currently “luminates” images at a rate of 30 billion images a year. The ecommerce solution currently claims to have around 150,000 users and 4,000 publishers. The company also has the backing of some heavy-weight investors, such as Google Ventures

For advertisers, the idea of interactive images means big bucks. Being able to strategically place an ad for a resort within a picture of a sandy beach allows the advertisers to tie a picture to an experience or product, and generate greater sales. This ecommerce solution is one to watch!

July 28, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Galaxy S II vs iPhone (5) - who will come out on top?

The ecommerce tides are-a-changing as we transition deeper into Q3. What this means is that consumers are readying their shopping carts for companies like Apple and Samsung to release their newest devices. You may or may not have heard of them but they go by the name of iPhone 5 and Galaxy S II.

A recent survey revealed that 35 percent of American consumers are waiting to put an iPhone 5 or the next generation of the iPhone (whatever that name may be) in their shopping carts, which is a clear indication that Apple has built a strong following for a phone whose launch date has not been officially confirmed by the company. Although there have been rumors of a September release, everyone knows Apple loves its rumors and the fall release could be just that — a rumor.

However, all the hype of the supposed ‘iPhone 5’ may be overshadowed by the upcoming, and highly anticipated US release of the Samsung Galaxy S II for Android, as its performance around the globe reveals that this is one little-smartphone-that-could.

The Galaxy S II made its first appearance in South Korea at the end of April, and since then has made it to Japan, parts of Europe, and most recently into China. Within its three months on the market (85 days to be exact), the company sold over 5 million Galaxy S II units (that’s a lot of shopping carts!). By comparison, this is a sales rate that is 40 days faster than it took the original version (Galaxy S) to reach the same milestone.

Samsung expects that rate to increase as they anticipate releasing its Android-based phone in 120 countries and aims to sell 10 million units. Now hitting its halfway mark right before entering one of the most profitable consumer markets, the U.S., the company is right on track. The Galaxy series have risen to become the true champion for the Android market and a formidable competitor for the line of iPhones.

The Galaxy S II will be officially heading to the US in August with AT&T as its expected (yet still unconfirmed) carrier.

Although Apple has not confirmed an iPhone 5 launch date at the end of Q3, it allows room for Samsung to gain some ground and build its own following against the current smartphone king. Everyone loves a little competition between two tech giants, and it looks like it is just heating up before the big holiday shopping season arrives.

July 28, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Facebook, the world’s largest social networking site, officially launched its “Facebook For Business” page last night. The move is likely a push to get ahead of Google+, which launched last month and already has over 20 million users. Google has come under some fire from business owners, who have been banned from establishing business accounts on the new social networking site.

Google is said to be in the process of developing a “for business” model of Google+, and will allow businesses to finally create pages separate from the personal accounts already allowed on Google+. Sites like Mashable lost their Google+ privileges after trying their luck establishing an account for the company. Ford Motor Company also received a ban from Google+ for the same reason, trying to use Google+ as an ecommerce solution.

Facebook, with 750 million active users, already has a leg up on Google+ in terms of personal accounts. The network has, however, run into some roadblocks with businesses. This leaves the door wide-open for command of the business side of social networking. With Google lagging behind in terms of development and implementation of a business-oriented product, Facebook has stepped in to fill the void. The new business page is focused on setting up small businesses for utilizing Facebook as an ecommerce solution.

Facebook for Business will allow small businesses to establish a presence amongst a crowded Internet marketplace. Social networking makes it easier for small stores or restaurants to gain a following and for customers to rant and rave about the business. All of this free exposure can equate to improved reputations and increased sales. The new site offers insight on how to use the networking tools such as Sponsored Stories and directed ads, which target Facebook users based on language, location, age, gender and most importantly interests.

Google+ users such as Michael Dell have expressed interest in using Google+ to bolster their ecommerce solutions. Dell wants to find a way of communicating with customers directly, saying he would like to use Google+ in some fashion to be able to help customers with issues they may be encountering with products. At this time, Google is working overtime to push out a suitable product, so Dell and other heads of business will have to wait.

July 27, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

WhiteHat Security, a leading online security firm specializing in ecommerce solutions, financial institutions, and healthcare outfits has announced that they’ve raised eight million dollars in investment funding from Investor Growth Capital (IGC). IGC specializes in growing organizations organically from the inside out, giving them the capital and guidance that they need to reach the next level.

WhiteHat CEO Stephanie Fohn said this of the deal:

“We are pleased to bring on board a long-term focused, growth investor with years of experience backing high-growth software and technology firms. For WhiteHat Security, this investment is the right step to fuel our growth as the Web security market expands and is a great validation of our industry-leading work.”

Online security is a major issue for anyone with an online presence. Ecommerce solutions want their consumers to know that they can shop with confidence. Financial institutions need their clients’ information and holdings to stay safe. Healthcare organizations have massive amounts of very sensitive information that they can’t afford to lose. Still reeling from the onslaughts unleashed on Sony and others by hackers only weeks ago, many industries are wondering “Could I be next?”

IGC’s Brian Mulvey, a VP, echoed these sentiments:

“Web security is suddenly top of mind for every CEO in the country — in reality the threat has been growing for years. WhiteHat’s leadership team recognized this early on and has been out in front of the market. The company has shown that their vision for Web security is the only scalable way for companies to manage these threats and WhiteHat is ideally positioned to lead the next generation of security companies. We are very enthusiastic to be leading this new round of funding.”

When choosing an ecommerce solution or shopping cart software for your business, no matter how large or small it is, safety and security are factors. You might not be able to hire a large scale security firm like WhiteHat, but you can find many great ecommerce solutions with security features that will allow your shoppers to make purchases with confidence, knowing that they will be free from fraudulent charges and other types of cybercrime.

July 27, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

In the wake of Netflix’s gutsy decision to increase the prices on their streaming movies plus DVDs-by-mail combo package, their stock is down and a new contender has entered the ring (but will you be putting their digital movies into your shopping cart?). About two weeks ago Netflix, obviously still dealing with the logistics and added costs of physically shipping discs through the mail decided that if their subscribers were so married to the idea of getting DVDs in the mail, that they should be willing to pay a little extra cash every month for the privilege.

That being said, they bumped up the monthly cost for these services from $10 for unlimited streaming with DVDs to $8 for unlimited streaming and/or $8 for DVDs by mail. The result? A six dollar hike in overall price for past subscribers who had the combo package. No change for people who just had streaming, And a whole lot of abuse hurled at Netflix.

Facebook and Twitter exploded with rage, as they are wont to do when catastrophic news like this occurs. Many people claimed that this was the beginning of the end for Netflix, that the service was going downhill, and that they would be quitting forever. Some of them obviously made good on their promises, as cancellations are up and stock prices are down. Netflix took a ten percent hit in the stock market. Despite that fact, CEO Reed Hastings seemed upbeat and confident during a recent earnings call:

“We tried to be as straightforward as we could, and that has worked out very well for us. In terms of the customer support line, it was a very short amount of time that it exceeded our capacity there. And now, our service levels have returned to our normal great service levels.”

Walmart might have smelt some blood in the water, however, choosing this week to accent their newly Walmart-branded “Vudu” service. Having acquired the online streaming company some months ago, they made it official by slapping the Walmart name over everything and giving it plenty of social media attention. It’s not a Netflix-killer, though. Instead of operating on subscriptions, it uses an online shopping cart to manage movies.

The Walmart system features different tiers of movies, available for different periods of time. Users browse the list, choose their movies, and put them in an online shopping cart, right there inside of the Walmart ecommerce solution. At prices ranging from $2 to $6 depending on the release date and how long you want it, the model leaves a lot to be desired. The major selling point could be the availability of new releases, which is something that Netflix struggled with as well. Between Hulu, Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and now Walmart, online movie watchers have a ton of options, but none to rule the all.

July 27, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

I couldn't find their logo, so here's an actual purple leaf.

Something is always going on at Amazon – as the world’s largest ecommerce solution, it would be hard not to. With their wildly successful ebook/ereader business, online music system, and developing tablet/cellphone possibilities, they are going in a lot of different directions. However, a legal challenge has come at them completely out of left field. Purple Leaf,a Texes-based online payments company, is alleging that Amazon’s ecommerce software that allows for online payments between customers and merchants infringes on a patent that Purple Leaf holds.

In court documents filed in Texax, Purple Leaf invokes their right to a trial by jury. The papers state that Purple Leaf is the exclusive holder of “the 311 Patent,” which pertains to technology centered around a “Process and Device for ConductingElectronic Transactions.” They go on to indicate that Purple Leaf’s patent dealt with a method for remitting payment based on a receipt given to the shopper.

On the surface that sounds like every shopping transaction, whether it takes place on an ecommerce software system or not. The shopper picks out their items, goes to checkout, and the store gives them a bill. Then the shopper remits payment, then they get a final receipt. Based on how simple this whole system is, it seems unlikely that Purple Leaf will be able to prove conclusively that Amazon stole their idea. However, they could ties Amazon up in costly/length legal proceedings for who knows how long, and may be hoping for a quick payoff just to go away.

The best case scenario for Puple Leaf would be something akin to the numerous patent battles swirling around in the smartphone world. A judge rules that Company A actually owns the patent on some piece of technology used in all of Company B’s phones. Rather than pull all the phones off the market, Company A agrees to let Company B pay them a fee for every phone they ship and or activate. If Purple Leaf had it their way, they could see Amazon paying them a fee every time someone processes a transaction on their ecommerce software.

Again, if that will happen is still extremely uncertain. Especially in light of the fact that Purple Leaf recently pulled the exact same trick with Google and eBay/PayPal, alleging that their ecommerce software also infringed on this exact same patent! It’s almost like they’re just throwing lawsuits at the wall to see if they stick.

July 27, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Technology moves fast. Everybody knows this. Technology has moved fast for as long as technology has existed. And the more technology is created, the fast the landscape for everything that touches it will change.

TurnTo is one company that exemplifies the rapid changes that the world of ecommerce solutions are experiencing. More sites are taking advantage of their novel social question and answer system every day. The latest site to do so is Adorama. One of the Net’s leading photography ecommerce solutions, they chose to go with TurnTo instead of relying on the reviews element of their preexisting ecommerce software.

Product reviews have long been a vital aspect of any ecommerce solution. Shoppers use them to tell retailers what they think of certain products, warn other shoppers to avoid a specific product, or to loudly voice their praise for something. However, reviews tend to be extremely objective and give users little flexibility when it comes to find out more information and broadening their knowledge base.

TurnTo’s social q-and-a technology changes all that. By giving shoppers a social means to access people who have already purchased the item that they are looking at, TurnTo’s system gives retailers a powerful means to drive conversions. A shopper who is sure that what they are buying is what they want is more likely to convert than someone who has reservations.

That’s one major shortcoming of ecommerce solutions: with a brick-and-mortar store, shoppers and retailers are there in person and can ask questions and volunteer information. Online, no matter how plugged in you are to your ecommerce solution, the chances of you or a staff member being able to answer every question all the time are slim to none (even though there are plenty of integrated online programs to allow you to just this).

With TurnTo’s quick turnaround time for questions and answers, and the increasing number of people who shop socially online and want to share their experiences and opinions (doesn’t everybody?), the potential for this system is only going to keep on growing.

July 27, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Every once in a while we’re fortunate enough here at Zippycart to snag some quality time with a leading figure in the world of ecommerce. Today we’re presenting a special interview that we had recently with Zmags’ CEO Michael Schreck. He gave us the inside story on Zmags and their new product “Commerce Pro.”

Q. You were recently appointed as CEO – how did that come about? What attracted you most to Zmags?

My own personal iPad epiphany drove me to connect with Zmags Corporation (Zmags). On day 1 with my shiny new iPad, I was navigating around Flipboard and the WSJ and experienced my first compelling online advertisement (no, dancing babies do not qualify as compelling). I couldn’t believe it. Finally the content, the navigation, and seamless ability to respond to a call to action, could all co-exist simultaneously in a rich media environment. All my beliefs about the future of mobile marketing seemed to finally be possible and available. I wanted to be part of that future.

When I co-founded m-Qube in 2001 (where we accomplished many amazing things and the company was acquired by VeriSign for $250MM) it became abundantly clear that wireless carriers’ platforms and handset limitations at the time would constrict our ability to execute our full vision. I had been waiting for a dynamic new platform to unleash the creativity of the world’s marketers and a signal that the time had arrived.  The iPad was the signal. I wanted to be part of that transformation in marketing. I began searching for a company that truly got it – that understood that rich media and these new devices were offering a new way to market…to market the “possible.”

When I experienced my first Zmag, I saw the potential. I was instantly intrigued by what the company was trying to do for its 3,000 global brands; icons like Lenovo, Ralph Lauren, Lexus, Dick’s Sporting Goods and thousands of other leading brands. The Zmags platform offered marketers the brilliance they customarily accomplished offline—but now across virtually any online or mobile device—that was a revelation. Helping leading global brands to better convert and leverage offline skills to drive online engagement and purchases across mobile devices and social media was something I knew I had to be a part of.

And as you know, the Company just launched the first e-commerce engine integrated directly inside this rich digital experience called CommercePro. Some of the top retailers/brands in the world have quickly adopted the solution from Express to Jenny Craig to Laura Ashley. They understand that a truly engaging experience results in improved conversion rates and larger order sizes. For the first time, there are significant impulse purchases happening online thanks to CommercePro.

Q. What is one thing that e-commerce retailers are not paying attention to that CommercePro can help them take advantage of to drive sales?

I think there are two profound trends that major retailers/brands need to be extraordinarily sensitive to:

1. E-Commerce, as we know it today, commoditizes and homogenizes previously profitable customers.
2. Truly leveraging the art of off-line merchandising and engagement will determine long-term winners and losers in the future of online commerce (f-commerce, e-commerce and mobile commerce). Most retail online sites habitually condition shoppers to search for discounts and promotions, lack an ability to drive impulse purchasing, and fall far short of a comparable in-store experience. The core of web shopping was designed by non-retail techies (often in their early twenties) who had little or no interest in designing a channel that would engage “power shoppers”, merchandise brilliantly, or offer a truly personalized shopping experience. As larger and larger percentages of retail dollars come through the online channels, retailers need to adapt now before they permanently condition massive swaths of profitable customers to become “bargain shoppers” or “task-only shoppers” and lose their accompanying margins forever.

Further, retailers must offer online the “ideal personalized shopping experience” that they work so hard to provide consistently offline. When I walk around a leading retailer’s offline store, there are so many cues that encourage me to stay longer, browse and ultimately buy more. This is exactly what is missing online. Retailers and brands are creating very “standard issue” e-commerce sites (particularly parroting Amazon) because they feel they have to. But competing with a retailer with 2-3% margins feels like a fool’s errand. At its core, personalized merchandising is virtually absent online.

CommercePro solves for both of these challenges. First, it is designed to offer a different path and experience for certain segments of a site’s traffic. Its focus is on the most profitable customers who are seeking engagement and merchandising and enjoy that experience. Second, the digital experience inside CommercePro can be customized and curated (and constantly optimized) leveraging a retailer’s off-line merchandising assets and strategies. Finally, retailers can be consistent across their channels and procure the increased conversions, order sizes, and margins that correlate with such effective cross-channel merchandising.

Q. What is one thing that you want people to know about CommercePro that they might not realize from reading the promotional material? What’s the heart and soul of this product, to you?

Because CommercePro is the first digital interactive experience available with an integrated e-commerce engine, there are no words yet in our common vocabulary to fully describe the Zmags experience. Thus, we tend to refer to it as an “interactive catalog experience” – but it’s so much more than a digital version of a paper catalog. While the user feels that he/she is in control of the experience with the dynamic interface, it is truly the retailer’s direction that guides the interaction between user and products and user and brand. Much like Cyrano de Bergerac, the retailer can orchestrate an outcome without making it obvious who is pulling the strings.

Q. How is the business/retail climate different now? What about today’s marketplace makes it ripe for CommercePro?

The tablet and social media phenomena have forced retailers to accelerate their marketing agendas at a rate previously unheard of. Smartphones, iPads, Groupon, Facebook, to name only a few, are now a permanent consideration for marketers and have arisen virtually overnight. Marketing organizations were already resource constrained as they battled with how the web and offline channels should align (which now seems like the easy part of the challenge).

That is where CommercePro comes in. Our over 3,000 global customers wanted one solution that could help them address all these new channels simultaneously. CommercePro provides the functionality to deliver an interactive digital experience across virtually all devices seamlessly (without significant IT requirements). We can have a leading brand up and running in a few weeks. We can port a merchandised experience to the iPad, Facebook, and the web all from our SaaS solution today.

Q. Which kinds of online businesses are most well-suited to CommercePro – how can businesses of all kind leverage CommercePro?

The core market for CommercePro is principally retailers and brand owners who have 1) an e-commerce store 2) a print catalog/circular 3) brick & mortar locations and/or 4) a product line that is sold through other retailers. Aligning all these channels with a consistent merchandised experience is critical and CommercePro makes that easy.

One of our most prominent conversations right now with global brands is around Facebook commerce.  Retailers have spent months (sometimes years) collecting thousands of “fans” in the social network. Yet very few are able to turn those fans into buyers – and even fewer without leaving the Facebook environment. One example of how CommercePro is changing the face of interactive shopping is through Facebook – our customers can embed a fully functioning digital Zmag right into their fan pages. And their fans can become buyers with a few simple clicks. As far as I can tell, that means that virtually every leading brand out there can leverage CommercePro.

Q. Is there anything you’d like to leave our readers with in terms of advice or insight into how to succeed in e-commerce or business in general?

Something I’ve said for years about the offline world continues to be even truer in the online and mobile realms. “It’s all and always about (understanding) the customer, stupid.” What have you done today to delight your customer and how do you know? Ensuring that your culture believes this, is empowered to do this, and most importantly has consistent metrics to track it. We tend to use the Net Promoter Score as our core metric for internal and external customer measurement and in so doing are constantly learning about how we please (and sometimes displease) our clients.

Q. What is a typical day like at Zmags? You have offices in multiple different time zones, how does that affect things?

Even though we have 3,000 brands as customers, we are still a young company striving to keep up with our growth. Because our teams are distributed nearly equally between Boston, Copenhagen and London, each office feels more like a “start-up” in its intensity and collegiality (it is hard to “hide” in an office of only 40-50 teammates). I like that a lot. The downside of course, is we have to travel more, use video conferencing and FaceTime a lot, etc. When we get it right, we effectively have a company that is operating virtually 24×7 somewhere in the world—which is exciting from a productivity point of view. We also benefit from a broader set of cultures, languages, disciplines, and experiences. Cross-functional teams are a part of the daily diet, which means we’re all learning globally all the time. In our new Boston office, we have a large Chinese orchestral gong that is “rocked” whenever we do something that delights a customer. It can be awfully loud….but we want everyone to know when we have made a difference for a customer.

Q. If Zmags was a dog, what kind of dog would it be and why?

I’d say we’re a Labernard – a combination of two great dogs, where the end result is a beautiful hybrid. It’s the best of both animals – the energy and beauty of the Labrador with the protective qualities of a St. Bernard. I like to think we are extraordinarily energetic in innovating with and yet fully protective of our clients. Hopefully, we exhibit the traits of this “gentle giant” of a dog.

July 26, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Startup valuation are all over the place these days. With ecommerce solution Zillow’s IPO skyrocketing even before the stock went on the market, as well as the LinkedIn and Pandora IPOs (and the still-looming shadow of Groupon, with its incredibly high valuation [which many believe may be somewhat inflated]), it can be difficult to say what makes a good company or a believable, sustainable valuation. Some might say that a company has a high valuation because it is a good company, others might say that a good companies earn high valuations and make them sustainable and believable for the long run.

Whatever your criteria are for a secure valuation that you can really stand behind, Airbnb’s online rental ecommerce solution is raking in revenue and the company is gathering investment dollars to match its one billion dollar (or more) valuation. They recently closed a Series B financing round that brought in more than 100 million dollars from a variety of sources. Originally birthed by the Y-Combinator business incubator, the burgeoning company went on to acquire backing from Greylock Partners, Sequoia Capital, Ashton Kutcher, and many others.

Airbnb is really a great example of sustained, uniform growth: They started off small with a hard-to-swallow business plan (but one which they strongly believed in). Slowly but surely they grew their circle of host properties (more on that later) and clients. As more people took advantage of their novel service, they started bringing in more money, both from customers and from investors.

Not bad for an idea that seems (on the surface) kind of insane. We covered Airbnb a few weeks ago (when they brought in another load of investment money). For those who don’t know, it’s a service that allows people to list a portion of their property, such as a spare room, etc. on the site’s ecommerce solution. They set a price and wait for reservations to come in. Travelers who need a place to stay in that area can make a reservation through the site, confirm it with the owner, and then show up at the appointed time.

That’s right, if you’ve ever wanted a site that would let total strangers stay with you in your house, congratulations, you’ve found it! See what I meant about the idea sounding a little insane? Well I’ve had a chance to use the service since my last article about Airbnb and I can tell you firsthand, it actually works really well! The ecommerce solution is super-convenient, the accommodations were comfortable and affordable. Best of all, the people I stayed with were super-nice (Airbnb can’t gurantee that, but the site’s review and ranking options allow the community to exercise some level of quality-control). It just goes to show you that if you have a great idea and really believe in it, amazing success CAN happen.

July 26, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Yet another bird-related startup name has emerged in the world of tech. Geekatoo is taking aim at Geek Squad and other local computer-fixers everywhere. The website is very similar to Freelance.com’s ecommerce solution, and hopes to help keep people from getting taken advantage of. Geek Squad charges a hefty fee for some of the most basic problems and installs, and the price can get jacked up pretty quick. This is where Geekatoo comes in.

Let’s say you just downloaded an email attachment from Joe, or you thought it was Joe. You restart your computer to find a pop-up ridden browser and more. You delete the downloaded attachment and hope that everything is gone, but it’s not. You’ve downloaded the “Cockatoo Virus.” No worries though! Cockatoo’s arch enemy is Geekatoo.

You log onto the ecommerce solution, describe the horrific program that you downloaded and what it did, then submit it with your location (just your zip code).  Local Geekatoos around your area will flock to your listing (pun intended) and start bidding to take the job. The geeks have to submit a minimum price, hourly rate, and maximum rate.  This helps keep the customer from paying way more than expected.

After the amount of time you specified for the bidding to take place (which can be from hours to days) you can choose the lowest bidder, or anyone who bid for that matter. If the lowest bidder didn’t have the credentials you wanted then you can choose someone higher.

Once you have chosen the person to take on the task, you are connected with the geek and can give him your address to come over and get the virus off of your computer!  If the job takes only 10 minutes then you pay the minimum rate.  If it takes two hours then you pay the hourly rate IF it’s not over the maximum bid from that geek. You can never pay more than the maximum amount!  No hidden fees in this one.

The user pays the geek through Geekatoo’s ecommerce solution. The company keeps 12%. That might sound bad at first, but it’s a pretty good deal when you consider that they’d most likely be paid much less if they worked for Geek Squad or someone else.

Let’s say the Cockatoo virus is too hard to crack for the geek after 10 hours. You’ll still have to pay the minimum fee, which is disappointing, but next time you can choose to get someone with higher credentials.

The company’s website is incredibly well done and very intuitive. It is simple enough to start a bidding war even for the novice internet user. The idea looks very promising, and seems like a lot of Geek Squad members might want to look at this for a little side-job to make some extra cheddar.

July 26, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Following hot on the heels of Apple’s massive quarter, the CFO of Apple essentially confirmed the upcoming September release of the iPhone 5. The new phone is expected to be a massive hit, as a recent report claims 35% of the US public is waiting to add an iPhone 5 to their shopping cart (that’s roughly 108 million people, for those who are wondering). Recent slow downs in production and a decrease in the availability of the iPhone 4 also lend evidence to a September release.

In a conference call discussing the recent earnings report, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer was asked why the company predicted a 12% drop in revenue over the next 10 weeks. One factor is the anticipated slowdown of new users adding the aging iPhone 4 to their shopping cart, as consumers play the waiting game for the newest iPhone installment. Additionally, Oppenheimer’s response claimed there is “a lot going on in the fall with iOS 5 and iCloud,” and added that there will also be a “future product transition that we will not talk about today.”  This last little piece is just about as close as Apple ever comes to announcing a forthcoming release. It all but confirms the corresponding release of the new iPhone and iOS 5, the beta testing of which is on course for a September release.

iOS 5 will be massive update to the year-old iOS 4, and will bring with it deep Twitter integration and of course the almighty iCloud. Perhaps most importantly, the new system allows over-the-air software updates, which will make updating games and apps purchased from the iPhone App Store even easier.

In the past, iPhone and iPad users had to connect their phone to a computer, download the new operating system update, and then let iTunes install the update. Now that process can be done natively on the phone itself, no computer necessary. This is helpful from an ecommerce perspective, as independent app developers and Apple have both struggled with getting users to update their software. Apple also tweaked the notification system in iOS 5, which will alert users when their previous App Store shopping cart purchases are in need of an update. Stay tuned for more news on the new iPhone release date!

July 26, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

The world of mobile apps is growing every day and in every imaginable direction. However, even amidst all this rapid expansion, not every company that wants or needs a custom mobile app has the ability to create one to suit their needs. That’s changing with the advent of Canvas, an innovative app-creating assistance system that boasts a comprehensive ecommerce solution aimed at helping businesses of all sizes find apps that suit their needs.

Do-it-yourself ecommerce solutions like this are becoming more popular among smaller and independent businesses who don’t necessarily have the cashflow for major development programs or buy-ins for advertising, but still want to be part of the latest trends in ecommerce, mcommerce, and commerce of any other kind. Apparently their model has struck a chord with businesses, because they just closed a series by round of funding, bringing in more than a million dollars.

The 1.2 million dollar funding round was led by Motorola Solutions Venture Capital. The firm, formerly “Motorola Ventures” was a natural fit for a mobile app developer like Canvas. Along with the name change came a dedication to “new idea” technologies, especially ones that would dovetail with Motorola Solutions business strategies. Investment in Canvas’ unique ecommerce solution was a targeted move for them. Reese Schroeder, managing director of Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, had this to say about the deal:

“Canvas is well positioned at the epicenter of several shifts underway in the mobile business application market, including an increasingly mobile workforce and growing adoption of smartphones, tablets and enterprise digital assistant devices. With a proven management team, differentiated product offering and a scalable go-to-market strategy we are confident Canvas will continue to gain rapid traction in a ‘mobile apps for business’ market just beginning to take off.”

The investment comes at a key time, as Canvas had already raised about a million dollars in funding. Its ecommerce solution already boasts over 750 apps designed to allow mobile business users to gather, analyze, and share information. Each one is universally customizable for the specific needs of the business that selects it. There are an estimated 400 million mobile business users out there, and a majority of them still rely on paper forms to meet their information needs. Canvas might be changing all that with their app ecommerce marketplace.

July 26, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

One of the most sobering moments in life is the untimely passing of a talented artist at a young age. Consider those in the music industry — Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain, all young artists who have mysteriously passed at the age of 27 however whose music increased in popularity after, thus dubbed the members of the “Forever 27 Club.”

Winehouse on the cover of the Back to Black album

On Saturday, July 23, five-time Grammy Award winner Amy Winehouse became the latest young artist to join the Forever 27 Club.

Her passing has gathered great criticism from the public at large about her lifestyle choices and bad girl image but what is clearly emerging to the forefront (as it should be) is her talent, her music.

The news of her death sparked almost, if not immediately, a wave of fans rushing to online stores like iTunes and Amazon (who had immediately released online special promotions) to fill shopping carts with Winehouse singles and albums.

Winehouse’s most public album, “Back to Black” (2007) has now skyrocketed in sales, a clear nod to a genre of music that, unfortunately, will not be produced again or at least with Winehouse’s soulful voice behind it.

According to the UK’s Official Charts Company, shopping carts have been increasingly filled with Winehouse music that the ‘Black’ album sales increased by 299%, jumping to the 59th spot in just two days, and is sold out in many brick and mortar shops.

As of Monday, the album took over the number one slot on iTunes in the U.S. and the U.S., UK, French, and German Amazon sites have both of Winehouse’s albums ‘Black’ and “Frank” (2003) taking over the majority of the top five spots on the site’s bestsellers list.

However, officials say this is just the start as sales are expected to continue to surge over the upcoming week. As the past has shown, posthumous fame (like those in the Forever 27 club) ushers in a new audience of listeners and creates the kind of success that can only snowball after death.

Winehouse clearly brought her inner demons and pain into her music. With bleeding heart singles like “Love is a Losing Game,” “Back to Black,” and the now very transparent “Rehab,” the ‘Black’ album is a eery snapshot of the troubles the artist was battling that eventually lead to her fatal undoing.

As the demand for her music increases, Winehouse’s label, Universal Music is rumored to release an album of songs that were expected on an upcoming album in addition to any unreleased recordings of the soul singer.

Wanting fans can anticipate to put at least one more new song from Winehouse in their shopping carts. The legendary Tony Bennett was the last person to work with the singer and recorded “Body and Soul” set for Bennett’s upcoming album “Duets II.” Bennett responded, “She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent and has come to such an early end.”

From her signature smoky voice and beehive coif, a style nod to an era where the 60’s girl group reigned supreme, paired with a gritty, unabashed personality, Amy Winehouse has become one unforgettable talent in music history.