eCommerce

San Francisco - Instacart  is expanding a program that lets some contract workers become part-time employees. The online grocery delivery service is now offering its contractor in-store shoppers in Houston and Austin, Texas, the option of applying for new employee roles with expanded responsibilities.

Fast-growing grocery delivery service Instacart is expanding a program that lets some contract workers become part-time employees.

The online grocery delivery service is now offering its contractor in-store shoppers in Houston and Austin, Texas, the option of applying for new employee roles with expanded responsibilities.

San Jose, Calif. – eBay Inc. is not wasting any time in moving on now that its long-anticipated split with PayPal Inc. is official. According to MarketWatch, eBay has acquired online consignment apparel retailer Twice, and will not maintain the Twice brand.

Northeast grocery chain A&P may not have been able to make a go of it, but other retailers are already looking to capitalize on the failed supermarket's real estate holdings. 

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Yahoo Inc. has initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to spin off its remaining holdings in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. into a new public company called Aabaco Holdings Inc. Yahoo initially announced its plans to spin off its Alibaba stake in January 2015.

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. is not playing around when it comes to digital retail or its Nook e-reader. The retailer has named Frederic D. Argir as VP and chief digital officer overseeing the e-commerce and Nook businesses, which are part of the retail division.

Argir joins Barnes & Noble from Toys ‘R Us Inc., where he also served as chief digital officer. Barnes & Noble also said that Mahesh Veerina, president of the Nook consumer business, will leave the company on Feb. 1, 2016.

Beijing – Pop star Taylor Swift has selected a Chinese e-commerce partner – and it isn’t Alibaba. Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com will be the first authorized seller of Taylor Swift merchandise in China.

The new JD.com store will be the official online source of Taylor Swift items, including a new fashion line the music superstar designed specifically for the Chinese market.

Francesca's is adding a retail industry veteran to its board.

The retailer has appointed Martyn Redgrave as a member of the board of directors. The appointment is effective immediately. Redgrave will serve on the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee.