Toronto, ON – 11 Jul 2012: SHOP.CA,
Canada’s largest online eCommerce marketplace, is using
analytics software from IBM’s (NYSE: IBM) Smarter
Commerce Initiative to help engage increasingly empowered online
consumers in a unique shopping experience, and build loyalty and a
sense of community.

SHOP.CA’s online marketplace features millions of products
across 26 categories and billions in multi-merchant
inventory. Its site offers Canadians one-stop access to
national and international brands, free shipping, free returns and
no cross-border fees. Also hosting a powerful loyalty program,
SHOP.CA Rewards dollars ^TM are offered for both
purchases and online activities that generate a purchase, such as
sharing a link to a favorite product with a friend, or posting
written or video reviews to social media sites like Facebook and
Twitter.  

“With SHOP.CA, shopping will be forever changed in
Canada,” says Don Tapscott, author and world leading business
strategist. “It’s going to make shopping
‘social’. People will become deeply engaged in a
community. They’ll learn from each other. They’ll
be able to collaborate, and because of the loyalty programs,
they’re going to want to come back.”  

SHOP.CA selected IBM’s technology as the eCommerce engine
to power its consumer storefront, multi-merchant product catalog
and SHOP.CA Rewards program. IBM will also provide analytics on how
site visitors behave and interact, as well as track their searching
and buying histories. This data will give SHOP.CA insight on how,
when and where to reach shoppers with content and offers
personalized to their tastes and preferences via mobile or social
vehicles. 

 “We want to push the envelope of what’s
possible online and through a mobile device, and significantly
advance the state of smarter commerce,” says Trevor Newell,
SHOP.CA president and founder. 

IBM has defined Smarter Commerce, a new, unfolding market
estimated at $20 billion for software alone, driven by
Web, social and mobile technologies which put more power in the
hands of customers. Today, 70 per cent of a consumer’s first
interaction on a product or service takes place online, and 64 per
cent of consumers make a first purchase because of a digital
experience.  

A recent IBM® survey of more than 2,000 Canadians showed
friends and family are by far the most trusted influencers on
purchasing decisions, but that retailers are also gaining trust
among shoppers here. The same research also identified a
growing movement among consumers to use social media to build
communities with others who share their interests and tastes, and
who consume the same. These strangers then help the consumer
make more relevant discoveries and satisfying purchases.  

 “In the era of mobile and social networks, consumers
are becoming more connected, and more demanding in their
expectations of how they interact with retailers,” says Jamie
Spiller, IBM’s smarter commerce lead. “By applying the
principles of Smarter Commerce, SHOP.CA is creating a rich online
experience that’s personalized, timely, and relevant, and spans the
entire commerce lifecycle of buying, marketing, selling and
service.”  

Under the terms of the agreement, IBM is providing SHOP. CA with
Coremetrics® Web Analytics delivered through the cloud and
IBM® WebSphere® Commerce Professional.
 

About SHOP.CA

SHOP.CA is committed to
becoming Canada’s leader in online shopping by striving to
provide a unique Canadian experience that combines an authoritative
selection of products, unparalleled service and a social loyalty
program that rewards members on every purchase. Launched in June
2012, SHOP.CA offers Canadian
online shoppers a compelling alternative to current shopping
options.

About IBM

To learn more about Smarter Commerce, please click
here

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