Street Fight Daily: Starbucks’ Delivery Plans, Groupon Eyes Partners in Asia

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A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology…

300px-Starbucks_Corporation_Logo_2011.svg_Strong Brew: Starbucks CEO Promises to Compete on Mobile Payments, Reveals On-demand Delivery Plans (Pando)
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says that the company will “have a major role to play” in the future of the payments category should not be dismissed as ivory tower bluster. He also said that the company plans to offer on-demand delivery of food and beverages across the US in the next year.

For Apple Pay to Thrive, Small Businesses Must Adopt (Street Fight)
Jason Richelson: For a mobile wallet to really impact consumer behavior, its acceptance has to be ubiquitous — not just in the Targets and Macy’s of this world, but in our local bodegas, mom-and-pop shops, independent coffee shops and food trucks. You might think these businesses are a less important slice of the pie than the big-box retailers, but you’d be wrong.

Groupon Hires Advisers to Find Partners for Asia Businesses (Bloomberg)
Chicago-based Groupon Inc. is seeking partners for its operations in Asia, after projecting fourth-quarter results that trailed analysts’ estimates. The company said it hired advisers to evaluate financial and strategic options that could unlock shareholder value, citing the growth opportunities for South Korea’s Ticket Monster and the rest of its Asian operations.

Selling to SMBs: ‘Layering the Question’ to Get the Answers You Need (Street Fight)
Geoff Michener: Sales reps should always want as much additional information about the decision-making process as they can get, because they can use that information to show value to other customers. By asking the client questions, you can obtain information about the client’s pain points, which will help you to highlight relevant benefits offered by your company.

Why Online Retailers Continue To Open Brick-And-Mortar Stores (TechCrunch)
Mike Kercheval: In an age when new technology and the growth of pure online-only retailers have industry analysts questioning the future of brick-and-mortar stores, what are online retailers doing to grow their businesses and gain market share? Why, opening up physical storefronts of course.

AOL’s Cross-Device Solution Aims To Cure The Advertiser’s Attribution Headache (AdExchanger)
Chad Gallagher, director of mobile at AOL Platforms, has been trying to convince brands of this for quite some time, and it’s one reason that AOL introduced One, a platform that incorporates device-linking and geo-targeting capabilities through AOL’s video platform Adapt.TV and its ad management platform AdLearn Open Platform.

Small Businesses Assess Their Apple Pay Options (New York TImes)
With the introduction of Apple Pay, many small-business owners are weighing whether they should take the necessary steps to accept the new form of payment. There is no added fee from Apple on top of the credit card fees merchants already pay, but businesses will need to buy N.F.C. payment terminals.

The Potential Of Beacon Technology (TechCrunch)
Navneet Loiwal: Beacons are a unique and sophisticated tool in the world of merchandising and advertising. However, if we take a step back and think about exactly how beacons are reaching retail locations, there is reason for concern rather than excitement.

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