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

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

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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 acquires KikScore technology

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3YiL59pBCc]

KikScore announced that Google acquired its technology.

According to KikScore’s official blog:

We are excited to announce that the KikScore technology and certain assets have been acquired. As of June 28, 2012, the KikScore service will no longer be available to customers. We recommend that our customers check out the Google Trusted Store product as an alternative to the KikScore service. In fact, we wrote this post last October that describes how complimentary the KikScore and Google Trusted Store products are for small businesses. We are very proud of the more than two years that we offered the KikScore service and are so grateful to the 1700+ small business customers that we have served globally.

The buyout, as SearchEngineLand first noted, will bulk Google’s Trusted Stores program. The service helps online shoppers to identify stores with a safe and superior online shopping experience, which is possible through supervision of product shipping times and customer service. It also extends $1, 000 in purchase protection warranty.

KikScore is a similar service that also offers seals for non-online retailers and local businesses. It foremost guarantees online businesses, however, and aggregates information about management, website history, and details on customer service satisfaction.

The financial aspects of the acquisition were not revealed.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FKXPeIeKYd8]


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Google releases new Product Search, to enhance shopping experience

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As noted by Search Engine Land, Google has released a new Product Search page — that actually looks pretty good. The main part of the website is dominated by an oversized image that lists promoted products. Besides the promoted products, the search functionality looks fairly familiar and lists prices and stores to buy from.

The new Product Search is taking the place of Google’s recently released Boutique. Google will be closing Boutique October 12th, and will redirect it to the new Product Search. Google also has implemented a new dress search category (seen after the break) that lets you to select color, price, and brand.

Looks stylish, Google.


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