Category Archives: Ecommerce

Managing an air traffic control tower from afar

An article in WIRED magazine (http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/08/st_flybywire/) describes technology used in Sweden that can provide a 360 degree hid-def screen view of aircraft and detailed data around a control tower. The benefit is that a air traffic controller can be located … Continue reading

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“Amazon Law” and supply chain impact

A Wall Street Journal article (August 3, 2011) estimates that being required to collect sales tax would reduce Amazon.com’s sales by 1.4 % or about $ 650 million per year.   While operating without a brick-and-mortar store in all states, Amazon.com does … Continue reading

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Ecommerce Robustness during economic downturn

A Wall Street Journal article (August 14, 2011) describes the potential growth of ecommerce businesses (10 % in 2011 and 9 % in 2012) even as overall retail sales are expected to decrease. Increased selection, pooled inventory that can be … Continue reading

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Brick and Mortar Retailers urge sales tax collection by etailers

A Wall Street Journal article (March 17, 2011) describes a move by retailers such as WalMart and Target to force internet merchants to collect sales tax – a much needed source of revenue for struggling states. The move has resulted … Continue reading

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Limiting number of times ebooks are issued in libraries

A New York Times article (February 28, 2011) describes a move by HarperCollins to limit the number of times an ebook at a library can be issued to customers to 26.   Once this limit is reached, the ebook has to … Continue reading

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Zazzle.com and Mass Customization

A recent Financial Times article (page 14, Dec 8,2010) describes Zazzle.com – an ecommerce company that offers mass customization of products produced on demand. The company creates digital versions of products that customers use to order the physical products.  The … Continue reading

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Expensive iPad case, free iPad

The Oct 11 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek has an interesting story of auctions on Yahoo by companies in Taiwan. Apple currently does not sell the iPaDs in Taiwan. But savvy companies are selling iPad cases for over $ 1000 and … Continue reading

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Quidsi, Diapers.com and $ 500 million of diapers

Bloomberg Businessweek (Oct 11, 2010) has a story about Quidsi, the holding company that owns Diapers.com and Soap.com. The story reports on how a focus on diapers, with low 5-7 % margins, has enabled the company to build a loyal … Continue reading

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Multi-Channel Logistics at Nordstrom

In the August 24, 2010 issue, the New York times page B1 had an article titled “The Web as a Store Window – Nordstorm Links Online Inventory to the Real World”. The article describes how customers can look for a … Continue reading

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