CEO John Donahoe Says eBay Is Building the Uber for Delivery

The company is experimenting with pilot programs in San Francisco and New York City.

“App and Mortar” Is One Way to Describe the Trend in Mobile Commerce

A new report figures out who is benefiting right now from the mobile commerce trend. Surprisingly, it’s physical retailers.

Online Holiday Spending Stumbles Over Fiscal Cliff

Here’s something else you can blame on Congress — online spending was up 14 percent this holiday season, falling short of expectations.

News Byte

Jingle All the Way: Consumers Loaded Up Their iPads on Christmas Day

Experian Marketing Services said in its latest report that online traffic to retail sites rose 27 percent overall compared to last year on Christmas Day, with top sites being Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy’s. Apple iTunes saw visits increase 193 percent from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, with consumers looking to load up various devices once they got them as gifts. The stats were less robust for Amazon, where visits in the same time frame increased just 24 percent, largely aimed at its Kindle devices.

Some Last-Minute Online Shoppers Can Still Put Gifts Under the Tree

There are a number of ways to still get deliveries sent to your home if you don’t feel like fighting the crowds at the mall.

News Byte

Facebook Tests Pinterest-Like Feature With Retailers

Facebook is currently testing a new layout with a handful of retailers, letting users “Like,” “Want” and “Add” product photos to a favorite list. Dubbed “Collections,” the feature is strongly similar to Pinterest’s user interface and feel, as both are focused heavily on buyable items with large potential for a move into e-commerce. Retailers in the test include such recognizable fashion brands as Nordstrom, Old Navy and Macy’s.

Mobile Thursday? Smartphone Shopping Is Still Tiny, But It’s This Year’s Big Online Buzzword.

This year’s questionable anecdotal meme: Apple iPads go well with pumpkin pie.

Voices

Amazon and the Non-Level Retail Playing Field

Amazon’s non-retail revenue streams pose a serious threat to retail-only competitors.

Macy’s Using Shopkick Mobile Rewards App Nationwide

A less expensive installation solution allows Shopkick to place its transmitters in existing retail speaker systems.

News Byte

Target Taps Shopkick for a Mobile Rewards Program

Another big-name retail partnership for Palo Alto-based Shopkick, which enables consumers to earn gift cards for visiting stores and scanning products with their mobile phones. As of today, Target becomes Shopkick’s largest customer, following rollouts by retailers including American Eagle Outfitters, Best Buy, Crate & Barrel and Macy’s.

Video Meme: Hallelujah for Flash Mobs!

Meebo Foursquarifies the Web with Check-ins