e-commerce

Amazon has reached another settlement over state taxes, this time with Texas.

Reuters reports that the giant e-tailer will start collecting sales tax in Texas come July 1, as part of a settlement that requires Amazon to bring 2,500 jobs and $200 million in capital investment to the state over the next four years.

In exchange for the jobs and money, Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs is dropping the state's demand for $269 million to cover sales taxes from 2005 to 2009, Reuters reports.

Amazon struck a deal with the state of Nevada earlier in the week whereby … Read more

The talk of e-commerce coming to Facebook has been discussed for years. But so far, it hasn't become a hot area. Still, some companies think that will change.

Reuters today published interviews with a host of startups, including BeachMint, Fab.com, and others, that believe Facebook is the next great e-commerce platform. The companies reason that with Facebook's more than 845 million active users -- dwarfing popular e-commerce sites, like Amazon and eBay -- they can take advantage and generate boatloads of cash.

It's something that Facebook's investors seem excited about. Millennium Technology Value Partners, which … Read more

The Kim Kardashian-backed venture called ShoeDazzle gets a makeover today. This online customer-focused shoe boutique for women is debuting a new CEO, changing its payment structure, and venturing into clothing as well as shoes.

"We are taking this business to a whole other level," said ShoeDazzle's new CEO, Bill Strauss, who joined the company after being CEO of Provide Commerce. "We want to increase our 'share of closet.'"

For those who haven't heard of this e-commerce site, it's backed by the powerful Silicon Valley venture firm Andreessen Horowitz, which threw down a $40 … Read more

U.S. apparel retailer J.Crew this morning expanded its international distribution from 29 to 107 countries, spanning an astounding 41 currencies.

That's quite a jump in a single day for the retailer, known for clothing everyone from Michelle Obama to, well, me. Businesses -- even digital ones -- just don't scale that quickly.

But there's a secret to how J.Crew did it: a partnership, and a whole lotta tech.

With a platform provided by New York-based FiftyOne, J.Crew is bringing its modern prep style to Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East and South America. That … Read more

Can e-readers help independent writers and publishers? Amazon thinks so. The e-commerce giant announced today that not only did it top 100,000 titles in its Kindle Lending Library but also that more Amazon customers are reading independently published books.

"After a year of marketing 'Whispers from the Ashes' in book clubs, genealogical magazines, and local newspapers with steady, but slow results, I joined the KDP Select program," author Patricia Hester said in a statement. "The results have been absolutely amazing - I have now accomplished every author's dreams: worldwide interest, fan enthusiasm, and wonderful sales.&… Read more

Despite retailer GameStop's initial enthusiasm about opening a storefront in Facebook, it looks like it's Game Over for the effort--and perhaps for such Facebook stores in general.

Bloomberg published a story this week that chronicles the closings, during the past year, of Facebook stores opened by GameStop, the Gap, Nordstrom, and others.

When GameStop cut the virtual ribbon on its Facebook storefront last April, the company's vice president of e-commerce seemed to think the move was a no-brainer.

"Social commerce on Facebook is a natural complement to our trusted store and online networks," Kelly Mulroney … Read more

Just over a week ago, industry sources revealed that Amazon might expand its current member-based instant video plan and launch a standalone, subscription-based video streaming service, much like Netflix's.

Today, Reuters reports that Amazon has moved one step closer toward launching this service and is on the verge of announcing a Web video deal with Viacom. The deal could be revealed this week, according to Reuters.

If the deal goes through, the partnership could stiffen competition with Netflix, which is being hit from all sides. Just this week, news broke that HBO is investing $10 million in Australia's Quickflix, … Read more

Amazon's fourth quarter sales missed projections, but earnings were ahead. The big wild card was Kindle device sales, which tripled over the holidays.

The e-commerce giant reported earnings of $177 million in the fourth quarter, or 38 cents a share, on revenue of $17.43 billion, up 35 percent from a year ago. Wall Street was expecting earnings of 17 cents a share on revenue of $18.25 billion.

Also: Amazon's Q4: The Kindle Fire effect vs. more investment

How was Wall Street so mixed up? First, the Kindle Fire went on sale and analysts weren't sure … Read more

Try going to any part of online retailer Mertado's Web site and you'll be redirected to one page with this message:

"Today, we're pleased to announce that we are continuing this journey by becoming a part of the Groupon family."

As of today, Groupon has acquired Mertado, an online social-shopping company that used Facebook as its distribution platform and sold product deals matched to users' lifestyles, such as housewares, electronics, and food.

"Our mission at Mertado has always been to expose a selection of high quality, unique, lifestyle-oriented products to consumers wherever they spend … Read more