Amazon received 238 proposals from 54 North American states, districts and territories hoping to host its proposed second headquarters (HQ2). Some offered the usual or exactly what Amazon was looking for — tax credits, workforce, infrastructure and more. Others, in the vein of young romantics making elaborate “prom-posals” to their beaus, offered what it never could have expected, from a giant cactus to $350,000 worth of sandwiches. What’s more, it seems a few of the strangest suggestions might actually work… Read More...

From gold bars to luxury cars, unattended retail is tapping into goods with price points many multiples greater than soda and snacks. But does the distribution justify the expense? For October’s Unattended Retail Tracker™, Kelly Knight, owner of Beverly Hills Caviar — and designer of a specialized vending machine for luxury items like caviar — explains how selling big-ticket goods supports her eCommerce business. Plus, the latest trends and nine new additions to the provider directory, all inside the latest Tracker.  Read More...

With the number of global online shoppers set to increase by 50 percent between 2013 and 2018, the number of markets open to online merchants is also expanding rapidly. It’s important for those merchants to embrace the opportunity by making sure their marketplaces are open, accessible and available to consumers worldwide. In fact, market-readiness could simply mean the implementation of a few key online features.  Read More...