eCommerce

San Francisco - Instacart, is giving some contract workers the opportunity to become part-time employees. After a successful pilot Boston, the company is now giving its personal shoppers in some cities the option to convert from contractor to employee status.

New York -- The home and lifestyle company that domestic diva Martha Stewart launched in 1997 has been acquired in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $353 million. It’s a big comedown for a company that was valued at $2 billion on the day of its initial public offering in 1999, but whose fortunes have been on the downslide for a while now.

A notable shift is underway at crowdsourced grocery delivery company Instacart where an evolving business model means some independent contractor workers have gained part-time employee status.

After experimenting with converting independent contractors to part-time employees in Boston, the company also has made the shift in Chicago. Other cities are expected to follow given what Instacart says is a favorable impact on customer service and business results.

Big Lots is targeting Hispanic shoppers with a new Spanish language information hub for Latino customers. 

Big Lots Latino, which provides culturally relevant information including tips and ideas on home decor, beauty & health, food & recipes, and crafts, is just one additional way the company is diversifying its multicultural outreach to this rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population

Retail licensing group Sequential Brands, whose brands include Jessica Simpson, Ellen Tracy and Avia, is buying Martha Stewart's lifestyle collection, although the domestic diva will maintain creative control over product.

Fast growing Internet retailer Wayfair is debuting its latest innovative marketing campaign by way of a song.

The company has partnered with country singer-songwriter Ashley Monroe and premiered her new song, Bombshell, on Wayfair.com, as well as the makeover of the singer's writer's room.

Wayfair teamed up with both Monroe and interior designer, Brad Ramsey, on the redesign of her Nashville-based writer’s room—an inspiring and creative space featuring a variety of Wayfair products.

Barneys New York is joining other retailers in embracing social shopping.

In a little over three years as a public company, Facebook may now be worth more than Walmart.

The question is, will the social network's surge last?

According to Quartz, over the last year, Facebook’s stock has jumped roughly 30% as the broader S&P 500 has barely managed to keep its head above water. The climb has added more than $65 billion to Facebook’s market value, bringing it to more than $236 billion, just above Walmart’s $235 billion.

Wallingford, Conn. — Edible Arrangements International has named Tony DiPippa as CFO.

DiPippa replaces former CFO George Wilson, who moves over to support Edible Arrangements founder and CEO Tariq Farid in the expansion of Edible Brands and  his other ventures, including Netsolace, Broadpeak and Naranga.

New York – Barneys New York keeps expanding its use of  social media. The luxury retailer will enable customers to shop directly from a link embedded in its official Instagram account. Utilizing technology from Like2Buy, the feature will link customers to shoppable Instagram images which connect to the Barneys e-commerce site.