eCommerce

CLEVELAND — Greeting card maker American Greetings announced last week that its board has formed a committee of independent directors to consider an offer to privatize the company, reported the Associated Press.

According to AP, CEO Zev Weiss and his brother, president and COO Jeffrey Weiss, along with other investors and executives, submitted a proposal to the board on Sept. 25. The group wants to buy all of the company's common stock that it doesn't already own for $17.18 per share, valuing American Greetings at approximately $581 million.

Burlington, Mass. -- E-commerce solution-provider Demandware said Monday that Pacific Sunwear of California has launched Demandware’s Multichannel Commerce Solution, powered by the Demandware Commerce platform, across its web, mobile and tablet channels as well as its brick-and-mortar stores.

Pacific Sunwear replaced its legacy platform with the new cloud-based platform.

By John H. Douglas, [email protected]

LOS ANGELES — With the holiday shopping season approaching, one group has released a guide to goods produced domestically.

The Made in USA Foundation announced the latest edition of the "All-American Holiday Gift Guide," which shows readers how to buy American-made Christmas and Hannukah gifts, ornaments and cards, with sections on toys, jewelry, games and other items for men, women and children. Co-published with Made in USA Certified, the 115-page guide also includes food-related items, such as chocolates, blenders and stoves.

Facebook investors are still a disgruntled lot, but Walmart couldn’t be happier with its experience with the social network.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us announced that it is extending its free layaway program through Dec. 16, due to significant positive response by consumers. The free offer was originally slated to end on Oct. 31. The chain was the first retailer to offer free layaway, starting in September. Since then, other companies have also stepped up with enhanced layaway programs, including Walmart and Kmart.

NEW YORK -- Consignment chain Second Time Around (STA) announced it is opening three more stores in Manhattan this October, all on the city’s Upper East Side.   

The new locations will bring the company to 36 stores nationwide, with the figure expected to grow to 40 by year end.

SEATTLE — Another day, another toy list, this time from Amazon.com. The company has launched its 2012 holiday toy list and corresponding web page, where customers can discover hundreds of this year’s most popular and top rated toys, books, video games, electronics, movies, sporting goods and more.