This week I wanted to see if I could find a blog that focused on social shopping and was pleased to stumble across the post from Evan Schuman in the Storefrontbacktalk blog.  I hope this article, along with other posts I suggest you read below, offer some new insight for you this week.  Feel free to follow me on Twitter at @vnoreen and share with me the blog posts that you are finding of value around conversations on ecommerce.

The Challenge of Bringing Group Shopping to the Web [Storefrontbacktalk blog]
Research tells us that people who shop in groups tend to spend more, and I would have to admit I have helped boost those statistics with my own shopping behavior. So how do online retailers mimic this shopping phenomenon to the online world?  In Evan Schuman’s post, he offers us some straightforward feedback on the challenges of group shopping online.

IMRG e-Commerce Awards for Excellence [IMRG]
Here is excellent opportunity for all retailers to get out there and be recognized for your innovation and efforts in 2009 with the E-Commerce Awards for Excellence!  IMRG in association with E Commerce Expo have opened up the submission process for all 14 awards.  The list of winners will be interesting to all, but I’m particularly interested in seeing what retailers will win the User Generated Content Innovation Award, Best Use of Rich Media Award and Best Pure-play Retailer Award.  I will be watching for the results! (Deadline for submission is September 25, 2009)

The 2009 State of Retailing Merchandising Report [Shop.Org blog]
This report, just released today (July 15) is the latest from Shop.Org conducted by Forrester. The net is that in 2009 retailers are optimizing the basics. Are you?  The blog on Shop.Org offers quick stats from the report detailing where online retailers will be focusing their money and efforts this year.  I am particularly interested in the fact that 73% will be focused on improved content – looking to augment product information with user generated content to include ratings and reviews. 

Why All Retailers Should be on Twitter [Mark Shaw’s blog]
Are you struggling with reason why your store should invest in Twitter?  I personally follow the likes of Etsy, Rue La La, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Teen, and Whole Foods on Twitter and religiously read their tweets.  Why?  Well, I love these brands and want to be part of their community. Twitter offers me a channel to engage with these brands and participate in a conversation with them.   In Mark Shaw’s blog, he offers retailers 16 practical reasons that retailers would want to harness the power of Twitter.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments and suggestions for next week’s blogroll!