Consumers want online retailers to be more interactive and offer more personalization features according to a new a survey from IBM.

The changing economy has led to a smarter consumer who uses technology to make more informed buying decisions, exchange information with others, make purchases on-the-go and shop multiple channels.

Online retail websites experienced significant growth in November as the holiday season officially kicked off, according to a new report from comScore.

Just in time for the shopping craziness that is Black Friday, Google’s made it easier for companies to get coupons to consumers who are on the move.  Google Local Business Center users can now make their coupons accessible to people through mobile devices.

Yes, assuming that shoppers don’t lose the use of their fingers due to standing outside in the cold since 3 AM – or having them crushed during a stampede – getting discounts through their cell phones will be a relatively simple matter.

Ebates, a site that many big-name brands offer rebates and coupons through, released its online retail report for August, finding that online sales through the site grew 57% during the month, compared to the same time period a year ago.

The categories that showed the biggest growth were: department stores, baby % kids, books & magazines, apparel & shoes, and health & beauty. In fact, only one category covered by Ebates showed decline – home décor.

Online shoppers are loosening the grips on their wallets, but continuing to be cautious about where and how they spend their cash. To secure their business, online retailers need to persuade consumers that they’re offering the best product at the best price.