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 ShopVisible proudly announces that two of our ecommerce clients were honored in Internet Retailer Hot 100 Retail Websites 2010. This prestigious accolade is designed to showcase the best and brightest in the field of online retail. Internet Retailer sorts through an enormous amount of websites, submitted by readers, editors and industry experts each year to come up with the industry's best and brightest. In ShopVisible's case, we captured two of the highly coveted spots with Case-Mate and Bambeco, two progressively innovative pioneers online.
The Internet Retailer Hot 100 celebrates how "etailers responded to the recession with a burst of creativity" and identifies ten aspects of positive online commerce making ecommerce excel in spite of the economic downturn. ShopVisible clients Case-Mate and Bambeco are making waves online by:
- (1) Connecting with customers
- (2) Going mobile
- (3) Becoming expert sources for online retail
- (4) Making navigation more useful
- (5) Personalizing the online experience for shoppers
- (6) Making tough purchases easy
- (7) Selling themselves
- (8) Creating a sense of online urgency
- (9) Connecting the site and the store
- (10) Playing the value card
Case-Mate excels online for functionality, aesthetics and online selling prowess. Their inherent SEO driven platform provided by ShopVisible enables them to focus on driving sales, integrating into selling channels and thinking creatively as their ecommerce provider manages inventory, search and back-end business processes.
Bambeco is touching upon what is desirable in the market. Their eco-friendly online presence has helped them find a niche in the green retail and luxury home and decor spaces. Innovative and perceptive web marketing has helped enable Bambeco to sell creatively and with the help of ShopVisible, sell widely in an array of channels and online shopping marketplaces.
ShopVisible is so proud of our ecommerce family of clients, staff, developers and marketers. As we grow our brand we help push our etailing clients to the top of search positioning on the web. By being seen in all places online where shoppers are looking, vendors like Case-Mate and Bambeco can flourish.
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Have you been looking for bamboo or faux wood blinds? Are you remodeling your home? Do you want to enhance your current window treatments with reasonably priced and aesthetically sound discount window fixtures?
Well look no further than ShopVisible's latest Ecommerce implementation, www.paylessdecor.com, a local expert in providing quality and affordable blinds, shades and curtains.
Payless Decor has long been selling their premium, designer and signature series window treatments but now, with the help of ShopVisible's Ecommerce solution, they are seeing better organic search results than ever before. Look at the below terms for which Payless Decor (seen recently in Ecommerce print and e-periodical, Internet Retailer) is showing up for in the realm of natural search; their free search positioning is stellar, with numerous page 1, position 1 results:
| Keyword |
Pos |
| discount roller shades |
1 |
| discount bamboo shades |
1 |
| bamboo mini blinds |
1 |
| horizontal wood blinds |
1 |
| bamboo window covering |
1 |
| discounted window shades |
1 |
| discount roller shade |
1 |
| payless decor com |
1 |
| designer bamboo |
1 |
| window bamboo |
1 |
| 1 2 premium |
1 |
| 2.5 blinds |
1 |
ShopVisible is proud to add another innovative addition to its Ecommerce family. Welcome Payless!
ShopVisible is a PCI compliant, Atlanta based Ecommerce and SEO technology firm, specializing in complex 3rd party shipping and accounting integrations.
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PCI standards
evolve but they do so often at a more languid pace than does the technology
itself. Toss in economic considerations and you've got a real Ecommerce conundrum...
Recent literature published in the PCI Knowledge-base examines security and
compliance migrations, cost reductions, and virtualization in recessionary
times. Ecommerce solution provider ShopVisible offers up
insights into its own PCI assessment process while trying to stay on top of
recent Ecommerce security news in order to provide its clients and readers a
glimpse into the rapidly blossoming arena of Ecommerce payment protection.
For many online merchants, or at least those wrestling with PCI and security
measures to protect the CDE or cardholder data environment, the strident 12
requirements of PCI coupled with serious security budgets and IT infrastructure
has created headaches and handicapped wallets...especially now. For many, as
evidenced in the PCI Knowledge-base's expert’s blog, the arduous compliance
process has become tarnished by a "checklist mentality and ineffective
implementation and enforcement." It can be argued as a best practice in
Ecommerce, or at least in an effort to pass compliance levels, that reducing
risk and documenting to assessors that effective controls are in place exudes
risk management policy, and thereby can help cut costs during the
implementation.
PCI security experts have been discussing sophisticated elements
of online commerce and their relation to development of both policy and technology.
For instance, with regards to network segmentation and scope, the PCI
Knowledge-base notes that “network segmentation is still not a requirement, for
some reason, but it’s the single action that will save you the most money in
the assessment.” In the PCI 1.2 version, segmentation is discussed and noted as
being adequate along with the appropriate network diagrams if in place. One solution
available to many merchants with the right budget is a variation of a network
monitoring tool. These can “tell you, continuously, of attempts to access specific
network resources.” They can in doing so show the assessor the positive impact
of your network segmentation policy and thereby quantify risk and help cut back
on PCI compliance costs.
Store sampling is another facet of the compliance process
and in PCI 1.2, “the goal of the sampling process is to understand the risks
posed by stores, since many security breaches originate there…” one here must
show the assessor that store policy is commensurate with Ecommerce provider
policy and high levels of consistency are maintained constantly again helping to
reduce risk and cut costs. Again, automated tools can benefit providers here in
an attempt to cut time and costs resources associated with manual configuration
management. The PCI Knowledge-base notes that “the ability to place server configuration
under change control is valuable for both PCI requirement 2, as well as requirement
10.” Automated tools will often justify a smaller sample size thus again reducing
assessment fees.
The latest post from the PCI Knowledge-base also delves into
discussion of compensating controls in the Ecommerce eco-system and states that
“while compensating controls are too often used as a PCI cost cutting technique
by merchants, they are really the heart and soul of risk management relative to
PCI…a weak process for documenting and quantifying risk usually shows up in poorly
defined compensating controls, which can cause compliance failure and additional
assessment and technology costs.”
Basically, PCI compliance is an arduous process for any
company regardless of organizational complexity, IT infrastructure and budget
size. Above are just a few methods to try and cut back costs. When selecting an
Ecommerce provider, it helps to do your due diligence and “in PCI 1.2, there is
specific mention of the need to prove due diligence as to risk ‘prior to
engaging’ service provider, and need to prove ongoing ‘monitoring’ of compliance
status.” Keep monitoring policies up to date and maintain a vigilant stance
with regards to data centers. Just because you’re PCI compliant does not mean
that a hardened data center will mandate policy to keep you compliant. Prove to
your data center, your assessor and to your clients that you care about risk. Show
them PCI is an ongoing process and one dedicated to secure online transactions.
The more safely your merchants sell, the more they will appreciate all your
hard work!
ShopVisible is an Ecommerce solution provider intent on security, integration and SEO.
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ShopVisible tries hard to keep up with the latest buzz in Ecommerce news and address relevant content for its merchant base and other interested Ecommerce enthusiasts. Recently the CEO of Macy's addressed a retail conference in Las Vegas to highlight the importance of multichannel integration, a specialty of ShopVisible's Ecommerce solution.
Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren notes that "the power of Ecommerce extends far beyond the keyboard and onto the sales floor..." The company's new web presence encourages shoppers and browsers to offer up their own relevant content in the form of reviews and recommendations. Lundgren states that he was "worried about what customers would say on product reviews. We realized that if you start getting bad reviews on a product, get rid of that product. Stop doing business with that particular product."
Hubbies Smith of the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows that "Macys.com generated $30,000 in sales the first year...in 1996. Online sales now bring in about $1 billion in annual revenue...Through August, online sales increased 13 percent from a year ago..." Lundgren concludes noting "every dollar spent online influences $5.77 spent in the store over the next 10 days."
In related Ecommerce news, Forrester expert, Sucharita Mulpuru discusses how Ecommerce is indeed the bright side of retail. In her keynote address from shop.org's Annual Summit, Mulpuru delves into the significant strides being made in the Ecommerce realm that are helping to keep the retail sector afloat during these troubling economic times.
In the eyes of one Ecommerce expert, online retailers are:
- resetting their goals: they are thinking ahead and altering standard business practices not to just emerge from the recession but in fact excel out of it...
- alternatively assessing their competitors: looking at best practices and not just ROI driving methodologies; utilizing in some cases radical transparency as a means at the disclosure of innovation
- developing their IT departments: folks are creating client enhancements and thinking ahead of the curve; they are testing in staging environments in an effort to provide solid QA in their production arenas
- sticking together: they have realized that remaining close with brand loyal patrons and building upon existing relationships with their manufacturers is critical; add value to the selling arena and promote competitive pricing models
- blogging, tweeting, faceBooking and more: Mulpuru cannot address enough the significance of social media marketing as a form of enhanced and deliverable customer generated content; the 2 way street enables brands to promote and spread word of mouth while conversely, customers and loyal brand enthusiasts can share their positive feelings about the company
- getting mobile: Mulpuru lauds the iPhone as a revolutionary device. She encourages Ecommerce merchants to develop mobile sites and focus on few click-thrus for checkout to enable seamless mobile purchasing and updating; Mulpuru notes that "email is web retailers best friend, but it's not the future..."
ShopVisible is an Atlanta based Ecommerce solution provider.
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ShopBags.com, retailer of backpacks, luggage, briefcases, and handbags, was featured this week in STORES Magazine (www.stores.org) for its success with ecommerce partner ShopVisible. In the article, ShopBags.com president Todd Andrew details his frustrations with previous ecommerce providers and explains why switching to ShopVisible has helped him achieve his goals as an online retailer. "They... could view our
business from the customer’s point of view," Andrew says. "We
got a lot of good tips and suggestions to use."
When Andrew first explored ShopVisible as a potential partner for his online business, he was impressed with the great reviews given by other ShopVisible clients. Moreso, he was drawn to ShopVisible's experience in online retailing, and the team that focused on marketing tools and strategies in addiiton to new technology.
Checkout ShopBags.com today.
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For many Ecommerce merchants processing orders and maintaining a website is an immense time-consuming step to growing a business. Grappling with PCI compliance and delving deeper into its origins, existence and proliferation are another daunting task to say the least.
Recently the NRF or National Retail Federation issued a merchant survey investigating PCI compliance and small online retailers. Out the polled group, 19% of non-compliant merchants said they had little to no understanding of this payment security process that is becoming increasingly imperative today in Ecommerce. Another 26% stated they lacked “the financial or technical resources to meet the standard, which covers a dozen broad areas from physical and network security to protecting” the CDE or cardholder data environment and maintaining commensurately structured security policies. Interestingly however, 86% of those polled claimed to feel somewhat familiar with PCI and its Ecommerce requirements.
A burgeoning problem for many merchants is that PCI standards evolve as do online threats and the emergence of security standards for making online transactions. New requirements are forced upon retailers in an effort to better protect cardholder spending money online. Analogously, PCI is implementing regulatory changes that will also affect payment processors and software providers. In summer 2010, new changes will occur that will dramatically affect both small online merchants and enterprise-size larger retailers alike.
-Pending PCI reqs.: any payment software handling cardholder data must comply with the PCI subset, Payment Application Data Security Standard…
-Pending PCI reqs.2: imposed by MasterCard, all merchants accepting credit cards online and in particular, those larger companies (level II merchants) must use 3rd party auditors to assess their PCI compliance
What does this mean? For starters, smaller merchants will be taking on increased spending in order to remain compliant. Further, larger merchants will have to be assessed by outside parties and done so in a more stringent manner than previous iterations of PCI compliance mandated.
So how can merchants, small or large, reduce the heightened cost of Ecommerce and PCI compliance? Internet Retailer and PCI KnowledgeBase advise not to store cardholder information if at all possible. Currently, under the PCI mandates, only “retailer systems, networks, servers, databases and software-that hold cardholder data fall under PCI.” Maintaining a strict and structured distance from the CDE will encourage PCI audit exclusion for Ecommerce merchants, small or large.
***Chart created from
Internet Retailer, “Don’t Look Now.” Don
Davis, Sept. 2009, p. 21***
|
PCI Level
|
Annual Transaction Volume
|
IR's no. of Merchants
|
Compliance Cost
|
|
1
|
6 million cc
|
362
|
$450,000-4,400,000
|
|
2
|
1-6 million cc
|
702
|
$77,500-470,000
|
|
3
|
20,000-1 million cc/Ecommerce payment
|
2634
|
$19,250-72,000
|
|
4
|
under 20,000 Ecommerce; under 1 million total
|
6 million
|
under $5000
|
Rates of Compliance:
1-93%
2-88%
3-57%
4-NA
ShopVisible is an Ecommerce solution based in Atlanta, GA.
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Securing Ecommerce database information is crucial for service providers and storefront hosts in an effort at preventing hacking and ensuring transparent data transfer. For Ecommerce provider ShopVisible, it is both optimal and advantageous to utilize TDE or Transparent Data Encryption. While processes such as these are blossoming continuously, it seems noteworthy to briefly hit upon past versions of the SQL server as well to better illustrate how Ecommerce protection functions have emerged and where the gaps still exist for things like PCI compliance.
SQL 2000: This version carries with it little to no encryption capability; code developers must create unique code for client applications to ensure data encryption.
SQL 2005: Here Microsoft procured a new encryption feature at the column level (or cell level) for sensitive data. In this case development applications encrypt the data at the database level, however, some degree of architectural tweaking is still needed internally to modify the process and to work with the 2005 version.
SQL 2008: This is where TDE comes into play and for companies like ShopVisible, if client database files were to become corrupted or stolen, Microsoft now has implemented new heightened levels of encryption protection in the Enterprise edition.
While the protective features of Transparent Data Encryption can become quite granular, there are several main features to highlight with regards to the ShopVisible Ecommerce platform.
-merchant files and related data stored in the database are encrypted with real time IO encryption tools thereby ensuring that in order to restore the database, the user must possess the original encryption certificate and the master key
-database level encryption occurs so the users utilize minimal resources for data retention and protection whereas in the past this was an arduously layered process
-when working with the SQL 2008 version, there is no need for recoding or reconfiguring encryption applications
-ease of implementation…
-if in your Ecommerce ecosystem, processes such as database mirroring or log shipping occur naturally, the mutual correspondence between the two databases will be encrypted each and every time log transactions are sent
Upon the enabling (or disabling) of TDE, databases are marked as being encrypted and the server will commence a background thread often deemed an “encryption scan” which will then scan and encrypt all database files. Upon completion, all database files on disk become encrypted as will log files written to disk. At the page level database encryption of files is performed then encrypting the pages before they are ever written to disk and decrypted for memory storage. Utilizing TDE will not increase the database encryption size however.
Microsoft openly states that when enabling TDE, it is imperative for the user to back up both the certificate and private key related to it. If either of these are lost and not backed up in an appropriate manner database entry will not be possible. Even in the case that TDE is no longer being used in the Ecommerce data transfer process, the encrypting certificate should be held by the developer or technical lead so that other related process can be turned on and off…
ShopVisible is an Atlanta, GA based Ecommerce solution provider intent on security, scalability and reliability.
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Last week the New York Times released an article covering eBay and the online powerhouse's reinvented take on rewarding top sellers. While in the past eBay has rewarded top selling vendors with various discounts, it now also has applied less stringent criteria for becoming a "PowerSeller." The NYT notes that eBay is now giving "top-tier status to sellers who have very little negative feedback from buyers--even if these vendors aren't among those who make the most sales on its online marketplace."
-top selling vendors now will receive a 20% discount on fees which they have to pay eBay upon sale of an item
-top selling vendors will now be able to post an e-badge on their online storefront pages to show their "PowerSelling" status
-top selling vendor products will also be rewarded an inherently beneficial SEO gift from eBay in that the "products they offer will be more likely to show up in searches that buyers make on the site."
This shift in standards and rewards for eBay's excelling merchants is temporally situated as the online marketplace tries to reverse financial downturn. Starting in October, 2009, eBay will commence the new approach at power selling. The premise is grounded in Ecommerce customer generated content and feedback with regards to reviews. As a critical element of contemporary Ecommerce, customer generated content is crucial for selling channels and marketplaces; online consumers now heavily rely on product reviews from actual customers moreso than marketing promo hype from the vendor himself.
-"In order to qualify as a top-rated seller, less than 0.5 percent of a seller's feedback can be scores of 1 or 2"
-Merchants must also have more than 100 sales totaling at least $3000.00 with eBay per year
-of eBay's 150,000 qualified online merchants (those who were deemed suitable to become a top seller), 86,000 were not able to become a PowerSeller; thus showing how sellers must not just sell well but also sell to consumers in a satisfactory manner, generating quality traffic and delivering quality goods...
Much like the ShopVisible Ecommerce solution, eBay's revamped take on heightened online commerce is intent on "quality rather than quantity," states president of eBay marketplaces, Lorrie Norrington.
ShopVisible is an Atlanta, GA based Ecommerce solution that fully integrates with eBay and numerous other online marketplaces.
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Social media marketing has become increasingly critical for online merchants in recent months. In fact, sharing links and prompting user generated content has become ubiquitous to the point of annoyance in some sites where the host does not even care whether or not a user is meaningfully suggesting a page or product. With the eruption of networks like FaceBook and Twitter, many Ecommerce merchants have jumped on the social media bandwagon without even knowing why...
This leads us to an interesting read by Sam Cece of the E-Commerce Times, entitled "The 4 Biggest Motivators for Social Media Marketing." In the piece Cece notes that "marketers are scrambling to find ways to leverage the various online communities to push their brands and make some money...[marketers] need to take a step back and take a broader look at what motivates their consumers and the various ways that social media can be leveraged to meet their marketing objectives."
Four Social Media Motivating Factors for Ecommerce Marketers:
Self-Service: Sam Cece notes that self-serving motivations function more persuasively in the brick and mortar store than in that of online retail. This entails tangible motivators such as product disocunts and coupons. Likewise, one key example here is when an online shopper is rewarded by the merchant for suggesting the vendor to friends; when the newly subscribed friend makes a purchase, the inviter will then get a bonus $10 off coupon on their next order.
Self-Expression: Typically in the realm of direct marketing, "people are motivated by cash--or saving it in the form of coupons, discounts etc. Within social media, "states Cece, "the biggest motivator is often self-expression." For example, after I created a new stunning pair of self-designed Nike 1990 Air Maxes, I promoted the link and image onto my FaceBook account. Here there was no discount prompt or promo offered for sharing the link; instead, I thought I created a cool pair of sneakers and felt like showing em' off to my pals online...
Status Achievement: A major factor that inspired online retail's growth was bargain hunting and comparison shopping. Cece says "most people like to brag, and that tendency is multiplied by the Web." By being the first to know about a site or the first to buy a newly released or discounted item, people feel special, privledged and unique. The author of the E-Commerce Times article cites an Amazon promotion in which the e-tailing giant "might reward loyal shoppers with early access to a new product release, and then encourage them to share this advanced access with their friends..." Clearly, finding the best deals, quickest shipping, and highest level of support related to customer service is crucial online and when addressing marketing aims, should be a primary element of the discourse.
Altruistic Behavior: Here we are not talking about saving the world...Instead, as the cited author shows, we are addressing that some folks online like to make a positive difference. What if you noted during the checkout process that a consumer could pay an extra dollar to benefit a respected charity? Maybe an online retailer could even opt to offer a free shipping promo it the user checked out with a recycled box or waited for less expedient shipping if the customer preferred not to use a mass shipper but rather a smaller and "greener" one...These are just ideas but when marketers discuss aims and results, they do need to delve into their motivations versus that of their online market.
ShopVisible is an Atlanta, GA. based Ecommerce solution and SEO software provider.
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When Sam Bennett decided to work with Ecommerce solution provider, ShopVisible, the decision came easily. Sam's PianoWorks has long been a staple in the Southeastern music scene, helping to engage music students, professionals and avid piano listeners alike. Their business is founded on principles of family and enthusiastic, knowledgeable assistence.
When you enter the PianoWorks store, online or in person, rest assured you will not feel pressured by pushy sales tactics or over-motivated salespeople attemtping to just push the hgihest prices products. Instead, at PianoWorks, Sam and his fmaily have develpoed a business model aimed at providing the best in product and in service.
Cindy, Don and Sam Bennett state that one of their business goals is to to assist music customers in whatever way they can, "with the
selection of a fine new, pre-owned or
restored piano, tuning and maintenance,
accessories, sheet music and method books,
instrument rental for virtually any event, the use of our
performance hall, or the restoration of your
vintage grand piano - always feel welcome to
contact us or stop
by our showroom and center for a visit.
For all things music and in particular piano-related, consult PianoWorks for kindness, industry expertise, and a wide selection of musical tools, accessories and instruments. They specialize in lessons as well so if you need to dust off the old Grand and get playing but are unsure if you still have the ability to do so...well, contact Sam Bennett and PianoWorks for all you piano lessons and rental needs as well.
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