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55 'Google Shopping' stories October 2011 - February 2014
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Google shutting down its BufferBox delivery service, will work to integrate it into Google Shopping products

Avatar for Chance Miller Feb 21 2014 - 1:02 pm PT
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Back in November of 2012, Google acquired the then 2-year old startup BufferBox. BufferBox was a service that provided customers with temporary lockers in certain locations to accept packages at from online retailers. At the time of the acquisition, Google said that BufferBox would “keep doing BufferBox,” but today, Google has announced that it is shutting the service down.

The BufferBox team now says it will work to “bring the learnings, technology and expertise of the team to future Google Shopping products.”

For those that are BufferBox customers, the company says it will stop accepting packages on March 31st, 2014 and that the last day to pickup packages is April 21, 2014. More details can be found on BufferBox’s FAQ page.

Since being acquired by Google, BufferBox has spread from its home Waterloo, Ontario to other cities such as San Francisco. We can only assume that Google will still continue to expand the self-serve pickup idea, but without the BufferBox branding.


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Google finally settles EU anti-trust case, agrees to give equal prominence to rival services

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Feb 5 2014 - 4:14 am PT
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Photo: npr.org

After more than three years of investigations and negotiations, Google and the European Union anti-trust authorities have finally settled the case in which the company was accused of abusing its dominant position in search.

The tl;dr version of the dispute was that Google search results were giving undue prominence to its own services – such as Tech News and Google Shopping – and freezing out rivals. Google was eventually given a deadline of 31st January last year to submit proposals on how it would resolve the problem … 
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Google Shopping launches revamped experience on desktop & mobile w/ curated holiday shopping lists

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 21 2013 - 7:49 am PT
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Google today announced some nice additions to its Google Shopping service available to users browsing for products in Google search and directly through the Google Shopping site on desktop and mobile. In addition to new curated shopping lists from some of its partners (note: These are Google’s partners buying paid product listing ads), Google Shopping also receives an updated look and feel, part of an ongoing update that Google started rolling out back in October with an updated storefront and improved local listings.

One new feature in the redesigned shopping experience pictured above is the ability create your own shortlists that are easily accessible from the top of each page while browsing:
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Just in time for the holidays: Google Shopping Paid Listing Ads in 8 more countries

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 7 2013 - 10:42 am PT
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Google just announced that it’s rolling out Google Shopping– a.k.a paid product listing ads that appear in search results– in eight new countries. Starting today, Google users in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Turkey will be begin seeing what Google says are highly relevant ads that also include “rich product information” like images and pricing.

The Product Listing Ads appear in Google Search results as ‘Sponsored’ listings for queries that include “commercial intent.” But Google notes that it will also show product listings when it has “enough relevant products to match that user’s query.”

Users in the countries mentioned above should begin seeing the ads above text ads on the right side of search results starting today.

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Google acquires Channel Intelligence for $125M to improve shopping experience

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Feb 6 2013 - 5:54 am PT
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Google just acquired marketing firm Channel Intelligence for $125 million in cash, according to a press release issued by the company’s parent company ICG Group (via BusinessInsider). The press release said the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of this year after passing the usual regulatory process.

As for what Google wants from the acquisition, Channel Intelligence said on its website that it “tracks online retail sales for a variety of verticals including computing, home improvement, appliances, consumer electronics, toys and other consumer packaged goods.” It also said that it makes “it easy for consumers to find and buy products online.” We can only speculate what Google will do with the technology, but we imagine it would play a role in the company’s ads and shopping businesses.

In an announcement on the Channel Intelligence website, the company noted it has “worked with Google for years” as a featured Google Shopping launch partner with a technology that helps to “maximize sales and Return On Ad Spend (ROAS) with Product Listing Ads (PLAs)”:

A featured Google Shopping launch partner, CI has developed a technology to help merchants maximize sales and Return On Ad Spend (ROAS) with Product Listing Ads (PLAs), which has become an increasingly important channel for merchants… CI excels at product feed optimization and product data is paramount for Google Shopping. The CI Managed Services team also employs unique Product Bidding methods to further enhance Google Shopping (PLA) performance; helping retailers generate qualified consumer visits and profitable product sales.

We are pleased to announce that Channel Intelligence (CI) has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Google!

For over ten years, we have focused on making it easy for consumers to find and buy products online and help our clients grow their business. We’ve worked with Google for years, and look forward to the great things we will be able to do together.

All CI services will continue to offer the excellent client service and great performance that our clients have come to expect over the years.

The CI Team

Google Catalogs launches on the web as part of Google Shopping

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 1 2012 - 11:59 am PT
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Google announced on the Google Commerce blog today that it is finally bringing the previously tablet-only Google Catalogs shopping experience to the web. The catalogs will now be available to browse through any web browser as part of Google Shopping, and they will feature the same collection of issues from partners such as Eddie Bauer, J.Crew, and Williams Sonoma. To visit Google Catalogs on the web, go to www.google.com/shopping/catalogs

Once you find a catalog you like, click on the issue to open the catalog viewer where you can flip through catalog pages and zoom in to see products up close. To view information about specific products, roll your mouse over the page and click the tag for the product you’re interested in. This opens a box with more information, additional views, and price. Clicking ‘View Details’ takes you directly to the retailer’s site to learn more or make a purchase.


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Google announces Trusted Stores to give you a piece of mind when shopping online

Avatar for Jake Smith Oct 3 2011 - 5:16 pm PT
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKXPeIeKYd8]

Google announced today a new pilot program called Trusted Stores. Trusted Stores will give shoppers a piece of mind when shopping online, telling them which stores ship on time, have good customer support, etc. Once awarded the Trusted Badge, credited stores can display it on their website (seen after the break).

If a company would like to participate they need to provide Google with information regarding shipping, and Google will also collect information from the store’s customers. Here’s a part we really like: if a customer decides to select free protection from Google, they will receive help from Google if a problem ever arises. Google will also offer a $1,000 lifetime protection package. Expect this to start popping up around the web a lot more.


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