SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - July 14, 2010) - Mercent™, a leading provider of on-demand marketing solutions for retailers, today announced results of its Q210 Mercent eCommerce Performance Index™ (MEPI) -- a quarterly report that measures year-over-year (YOY) aggregate same-seller gross merchandise value (GMV) across online sales channels supported by the Mercent Retail™ channel management platform.
According to the Q210 MEPI, same-seller GMV for retailers selling online through Mercent Retail increased by 45% relative to the same period in 2009. Same-seller GMV for merchants participating in Amazon's "Selling on Amazon" program through Mercent Retail also increased in the second quarter, up approximately 52%. Google Product Search was a standout among online retail advertising programs, contributing same seller year-over-year growth of 117% for Mercent's portfolio of merchants. This is the first quarter for which Mercent has reported sales growth metrics for Google Product Search.
The quarterly increase in same-seller GMV across all Mercent-supported channels is attributed to the continued appeal of online channels that provide attractive and competitive buying options for online shoppers; relatively stronger online retail sales during the months of March and April helping to offset moderately decreasing sales growth in May and June; the contribution of high-growth ecommerce channels including Amazon.com and Google; and exceptionally soft comparable growth metrics from the second quarter of 2009. This quarter's results marked the fifth consecutive growth quarter for Mercent retailers, with Q2 2009 the quarter of lowest reported growth since the company first initiated the Mercent eCommerce Performance Index in Q4 2008.
According to Eric Best, CEO of Mercent, "The retail industry came off of a strong first quarter where the US eCommerce market reached solid double-digit growth rates. The second quarter demonstrated slightly stronger overall results for Mercent clients, masking a moderate slowing growth trend in May and June. Online commerce is still clearly a critical growth opportunity for retailers dealing with an improving but still unpredictable offline sales environment."
Other Q210 MEPI highlights:
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Same-seller gross merchandise value (GMV) on Amazon was slightly impacted by overall macroeconomic pressures after Mother's Day; however Amazon continues to significantly outpace the eCommerce market as a whole.
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Mercent initiated coverage on Google same-seller gross merchandise value (GMV) in Q2 2010 seeing average second quarter and year-to-date growth of 117% and 110% respectively. Mercent expects Google to gain market share, particularly as the channel appropriates transactions from competitive ecommerce and online retail advertising channels, particularly those lacking innovation in a highly competitive and dynamic online environment.
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During the first half of 2010, monthly year-over-year same-seller gross merchandise value (GMV) across all online sales channels showed the largest percentage gains in March and April 2010. Mercent attribute softer growth during in May and June to an overall tempering of the retail shopping climate.
Best continued, "Amazon and Google are both vying to deliver the highest transaction volume and sales growth for retailers selling through Mercent Retail. Mercent's client base selling through both programs experienced sales growth significantly outpacing eCommerce analyst expectations and industry forecasts. We expect these channels to continue to outperform as we enter the 'back-to-school' shopping season and the Q4 holiday."
Mercent eCommerce Performance Index™ Methodology:
The methodology for the Mercent eCommerce Performance Index comparison matches all prior studies and reports retail transactions driven through Mercent's network of online shopping and advertising channels, including comparison shopping engines (CSEs), third-party seller marketplaces, and affiliate programs. To ensure continuity and to eliminate artifact associated with new customer ramp, the Mercent eCommerce Performance Index only references retailers live on the Mercent Retail platform prior to and during the entire reported term. Information regarding Mercent Retail shopping feed management technology, Mercent Performance marketing services, and the complete list of online marketing channels in the Mercent Shopping Network are available at www.mercent.com.
About Mercent
Mercent is a leading provider of online channel marketing technology and services for retailers. Through its award-winning Mercent Retail™ SAAS technology and Mercent Performance™ professional services, Mercent helps the world's most successful online merchants including 1-800-Flowers, Bass Pro Shops, Brookstone, GUESS?, L'Occitane USA, Redcats Group, and REI optimize online shopping channel marketing campaigns to drive customer acquisition, revenues, profits, and inventory velocity. Mercent is the single point of integration with a vast online advertising network that includes transactional marketplaces such as Amazon.com and eBay; comparison shopping engines (CSEs) such as Shopping.com and NextTag; affiliate marketing programs such as LinkShare and the Google Affiliate Network; and other product advertising channels including Microsoft Bing Shopping and Google Product Listing Ads (PLA). The company is a 'Selling on Amazon.com' Certified System Integrator, Buy.com Gold Certified Partner, eBay Certified Provider and certified Google Product Search Partner. Founded by a seasoned team of Amazon.com veterans, Mercent is a venture-funded company based in Seattle, WA. For more information, visit www.mercent.com.
Contact Information:
Mercent PR Contact:
Kristine Szarkowitz
(Tel: ) 206. 310.5323