Girls In Tech

Just in time for this week’s Black Friday madness, Novelo.com, a Startup Chile participant, and a TechStars 2011 public vote finalist, has launched an international Facebook virtual mall – the first in Latin America.

The mall includes clothing, shoes, perfumes and gifts, furniture and décor, rare books and CDs, jewelry and electronics, as well as handicraft from all over the world and band merchandise. In addition to purchasing products, you can also contract services at the mall through Facebook, such as gym classes, language courses and even fishing lessons or automobile services.

The site also includes U.S. based shops. Michelle Cullum, blogger military wife and mother of three grown sons, for example, is able to sell her Renaissance Chick series – books that focus on lifestyle topics specifically tailored for women.

Bands also now have a new outlet to sell their band merch and albums.

“For the first time, consumers have an  complete 24/7 online shopping mall without the traditional real world inconveniences and with a series of benefits that were, up until now, limited to social networks, ” told us Michelle Veronese, CEO of Brazil-based Novelo. “Visitors to the mall are able to browse a list of various categories, all linked to differing stores within the mall.”

When clicking on a product, the visitor sees its details and is able to make an immediate purchase, according to each store’s selling and shipping rules. Visitors can also access the store itself and view other products on sale.

Because it works within Facebook, Novelo Social Shopping relies on all of the social features offered by the social network. One such feature is the option of sharing the consumption experience with friends.  Users can “Like” products in the mall, bookmark items, tweet about what they are purchasing or recommend stores to friends. Each action, when shared, triggers a word of mouth effect that helps advertise products and generates organic publicity for the stores.

Payment functions within Facebook through systems integrated with the mall, and can be used with PayPal, bank deposits, PagSeguro, MoIP and DineroMail.

Novelo has 9,000 monthly active users and 32,000 active products on sale, including in Latin American countries such as Chile, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. U.S. and UK based stores are also rapidly growing on the site.

Visit Novelo on Facebook now and try out their mall!

Tags: brazil, e-commerce, facebook shopping, social shopping, Techstars
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It’s hard to believe that less than a decade ago “twitter” was just a word used to describe the sound from a bird. “Thefacebook” was a website project created by a Harvard sophomore.  We all know what happened next.  Twitter, now with more than 200 million global users and Facebook, a social media giant with more than 800 million global addicts… er… users are at the heart of the social commerce boom.

What exactly is social commerce?  Social commerce is the fusion of two of the decade’s biggest digital trends – “social media” and “e-commerce”.   According to Moontoast, a Boston-based distributor of social commerce solutions, today’s brands have a lot to gain with this new way of purchasing and selling products and services.  In its e-book, “The Social Commerce Opportunity: How Brands Can Take Advantage of the Next Evolution Commerce”, brands who supplement their social media strategy with social commerce will not only “increase revenue, but also increase community growth”.

If you’re a business, off the bat you should ensure you have an online presence.  Furthermore, if you’re looking to rapidly increase brand recognition, best believe that social media must be a component of your marketing arsenal.  Moontoast’s e-book touts some very compelling stats by Nielsen and Gartner illustrating how much time Americans spend on the Web and how much companies are expected to generate in revenue from the Web via social presence and mobile applications, respectively.

“The Social Commerce Opportunity” e-book outlines the following opportunities unique to social:

• Brands can reach engaged audiences than ever before.
• Brands can present offers better than ever before through a digital “word of mouth” phenomenon presented by social.
• Social drives adoption through confidence via repetition, user experience and trusted payment methods.

Building on this, it’s also important to note that today’s savvy, digital consumers also use the Web as a resource for savings.  In its Times & Trends Special Report, “The Downturn Shopper:  Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride”, market research firm, SymphonyIRI, reported that the Web is rapidly becoming an integral component of what it calls the downturn shopper’s money saving strategies, pointing to a steady rise in shoppers using the Internet to research products and gather coupons.

The lesson here is this: social media is here and it’s here to stay.  People are spending lots of time on Web and even more on social media.  Many are already relying on social media to learn about products and deals, and it won’t be long before social media becomes the driving force for a majority of online purchases.  The folks at Moontoast say it best, “Social Commerce will not only help brands monetize social media efforts, but it will fit in seamlessly with social media strategies and offer new ways to reward people through exciting offers and a better user experience.”  Get with it.  Get social.

Tags: branding, e-commerce, facebook, Gartner, Moontoast, nielsen, Pamela Njissang, Social Commerce, social media, SymphonyIRI, twitter, word of mouth marketing
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Brands with a clear social media strategy are continuing to use Facebook to drive customer loyalty and connect with their base.

Swarovski Elements is kicking off the holiday season with daily giveaways for their Facebook fans. From December 1 to December 7, Swarovski Elements will give away 50 Swarovski Crystallized products every single day via their Facebook fan page.

With a potential customer base of over 500 million users, e-commerce marketers have come to see Facebook not only as a place for socialization and building brand loyalty, but also as a platform to drive sales.

Swarovski Elements has also dipped a toe into F-commerce, launching the Swarovski Elements store on their Facebook fan page. Fans can browse through Swarovski-enhanced pieces from brands like Victoria’s Secret, Talbots, and Henri Bendel and then click through to the online store to complete their purchase.

Embracing e-commerce on the Facebook platform is allowing Swarovski Elements to go beyond collecting fans to igniting consumerism.

For entrepreneurs who want to sell on Facebook, there are several options, including startups like Payvment, Big Commerce, or a custom solution.

Tags: e-commerce, facebook, social media
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There is a space that exists between ambition and success, the dull and delicious, static and  fresh – a demure gap of inspiration that can catalyze global movements, or remain entirely  invisible.

That space is called the AHA. A flash instant, in which our entire perspectives are shifted,  swirled and flipped inside out – revealing a new playing field of ideas and opportunities.

Shauna Mei harnessed her AHA moment a long time ago and launched AHAlife this past Monday. Curious minds all over the world will soon be kowtowing in gratitude.

AHAlife.com is a discovery platform of innovative lifestyle products built for savvy, socially conscious consumers. The AHAlife experience is unerringly reflective of how we are growing as a society. As our lives become more and more cramped with shiny new things, we naturally begin searching for ways to filter and curate. We yearn to cut out the noise, so that we can save time and focus on what’s most important, interesting, inspiring. Which is exactly what AHAlife does for the consumer palette.

Their mantra, “1 product. 24 hours. 100% inspiring,” leverages urgency, scarcity and crowd-sourcing to break the heavy mold of e-commerce by creating a shopping process where the only sales pitch is one we make to ourselves. Because the real ‘aha’ behind AHAlife is their growing network of curators who suggest fiercely inspired products from all over the world.  And though that list of curators includes the likes of Diane Von Furstenberg, Tim Gunn and Vivienne Tam, anyone can submit products for consideration. The platform gives us the chance to be influential tastemakers, ultimately guiding ourselves to become a new generation of more sophisticated, conscious and self-generated consumers. You could say AHAlife is a tastemaker of tastemakers. And it is precisely this move that will be the source of their viral success.

Hey Shauna. You always said you loved when people make everyday objects beautiful. Well – look what you have done to the entire industries of e-commerce and media. You. Go. Girl.

There is a force that sits quietly, waiting to be noticed. A bolt of lightning willing the Earth to obtain a charge.

That force is called the AHA. It stops time, allowing us to discover and recognize a piece of life at its fullest. And it is that AHA that pulls our everyday ordinary into a state of infinite beauty.

*

For more information, sign up to become a member at www.ahalife.com

Tags: aha, aha moment, AHAlife, e-commerce, editorial, fashion, New York, ny, nyc, shauna mei, shopping, social media
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Looking forward to the New Year?  So are retailers – As value, convenience, and selection will remain top-of-mind as the New Year approaches, retailers begin to look back on 2009, with an eye for growth in 2010.  With that, Mike Kraus, Retail Advisor for AllBusiness.com, has the following predictions for retail trends in 2010.:

The Continued Rise of E-commerce – As consumers continue to be in value mode, they’ll continue to shop online for the best price.  But price is only part of the equation.  Convenience and selection will also help drive consumers to e-commerce.

The Sameness of Retail…Urgency to Retrench and Retool - As retailers continue to offer uninspired store experiences, and merchandise that is out of step with consumers, we’ll continue to see slow growth in the retail sector.

Social Media Becomes Key Driver in Retail Marketing – Instantaneous outreach to loyal customers will take hold and exponentially expand through Twitter, Facebook, and more.  This not only allows retailers to stay in touch, but it allows them to stay up to speed and get involved in an increasingly open and honest dialogue with customers.

Crash-up Retailing – the economic expansion gave rise to the over-development of shopping centers, districts and streets, leaving every shopping area no different from the next.  Crash-up retailers, those that combine more than just goods for sale, things such as gallery space, a cafe or coffee bar, a community meeting space, or a performance space are going to drive visits to their locations, simply because they’re offering something more – a place to experience versus a place to just sell.

Do you agree or disagree with these trends?  Comments?

(Source:  Mike Kraus,  Allbusiness.com.)

Tags: e-commerce, retail, social media, Trends
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With the rise of e-commerce, shopping has lost most of its social charms. But a new website called FriendShopper.com is combating the lonely shopper blues by connecting friends in a real-time, centralized environment, featuring easy ways to share content and interact similar to in-person shopping.

FriendShopper.com isn’t so much a social network as it is a web-based social platform; it is the first site to offer the social perks of shopping in real-time on the web. With FriendShopper, users can manipulate integrated social tools like instant messaging and content sharing in a highly targeted, custom-built environment meant to simulate the live shopping experience.

“The goal of FriendShopper is to bring back the fun and interactivity that was always part of the shopping experience, before e-commerce was born,” said FriendShopper founder and CEO Josh Bochner. “While some call themselves ‘social shopping’ websites by aspiring to create a mash-up of social networking and shopping, we believe that shopping is, at its essence, a social experience. We’ve targeted that experience and re-created it for the web.”

A web-based chat function, docked on the right side of the page, simulates the interaction friends might have in real life while checking out products. Friends can offer opinions and enjoy the shopping experience together, just as they would at a mall or department store. The dialogue feature allows users to converse and share with multiple friends simultaneously.

To get started using the tool, shoppers simply drag-and-drop the FriendShopper bookmarklet into the browser toolbar, surf any online storefront and click the bookmarklet button whenever they find an item they would like to save or share with friends. FriendShopper will add the item to the user’s “My Items” page, and clicking on the “Add to Chat” button allows him or her to instantaneously share that item with a friend. Notifications and thumbnail images appear anytime a friend shares an item with the user.

FriendShopper’s search functionality empowers shoppers with the option to search retailers or specific products by keyword without leaving the website. Just as items can be bookmarked and shared, shoppers can add their favorite stores to their FriendShopper profile using the bookmarklet.

Create folders and move items into them with a simple-to-navigate folder explorer view. Shoppers can customize item names and pictures to find them easily later. To sign up for a free account with FriendShopper and start shopping, visit www.FriendShopper.com.

Tags: e-commerce, FriendShopper.com, girls in tech, Shopping Online, Social Network for Shopping, women in tech
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After March’s Women in Business Development event, I was chatting with some other attendees about the brilliant women who just spoke on the panel, when I was approached by a very friendly woman wearing exquisite jewelry. Since I have always been a sucker for turquoise, I was immediately drawn to her lacquered turquoise and shining silver necklace and earrings. She went on to tell me that she’s the co-founder of WooMeOver.com, a social networking site for jewelry designers and enthusiasts. I was shocked that I hadn’t heard about the site as it enables designers to monetize their craft online not through just a personal website, but through yet another social network, where you build sort of a fan base for your products along with a portfolio, get feedback straight from the source as well as requests to custom make items for new and old clients.

I am, after all, quite a jewelry enthusiast myself, but have yet to grow a collection of my own that’s not from the dollar store or Forever 21. I’ve always agreed with the original Diva herself, Holly Golightly, that diamonds are tacky for anyone under 50, but scanning through the delicious designs from amazingly talented designers on WooMeOver and their ‘Bling Blog’, I may want to start my real rock collection a bit before I’m half a century old!

If you’re a jewelry designer, or aspiring designer, this network would be an amazing place to build up your clientele, network with other designers and get daily inspiration from the bold colors, immense creativity and unbelievable designs.

WooMeOver.com is still in beta, but if you’re interested, check out the home page and you can register to be a part of the community and scan the artistic images, learn about the designers and even build your personal collection!

Tags: Allison Bethurem, e-commerce, girls in tech, Jewlrey, San Francisco, start-up, technology, WooMeOver
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Even in today’s not-so-hot economy, I love shopping online. And it has only gotten better in the last year or so. With the convergence of sound design, video, interactivity, and 3D animation, some brands have really created some amazing e-commerce sites. 

Here are some of my favorites…

1. This site recently launched for Hoop emulates a real-life shopping experience where you see an article of clothing on the rack, drag it over to your want pile, and keep on shopping. See screenshot and go to play. 

2. I absolutely adore this site for Loopt. It’s one of the best out there because it’s so very clever. Each person is wearing a t-shirt, does a little dance, and represents a beat in a sound loop. While watching you will see their entire catalog of t-shirts.   Explore the loops or make your own. 

3. This is another fun one, check out Beams. I love being able to see the full catalog in one view. There’s a real sense of exploration and discovery designed in a very new and fun interactive way.

4. The sound design on this e-commerce site for Holden is beautiful. I love the emotional energy between the people, sounds, colors, and fabric. Be sure to check out a video or two. The videos really allow the user to examine the quality and detail of the products. In all, I think this site is a great example on how to connect with people on a deeper level online. Go! 

Tags: e-commerce, experience, flash, shopping
Posted in Los Angeles | 1 Comment »