Google Commerce

Google Offers Keeps Momentum in 2012: Five New Cities Launch Today

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

2011 was quite a year for Google Offers. In only six months (since we first launched in Portland) we introduced amazing deals from beloved local business in 33 cities in the U.S., launched national deals and released our first mobile app.

Well, good news deal lovers! We’re keeping up the momentum and 2012 is going to be just as exciting. As of today, Google Offers is available in five new cities including: Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Tampa.

Here are the details about our debut deals in these terrific locations:

Charlotte: $11 for a beer tasting, growler bottle, souvenir glass & soft pretzel at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery ($22 value)
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself—this is the force behind
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Born of the belief that every town should have fresh local beer,
the talented brewers churn out premium all-natural lagers and ales weekly. After tasting such fresh beer, your happy hours are sure to be even happier—$11 gets you a beer tasting, growler bottle, souvenir glass and a soft pretzel at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery ($22 value).

Kansas City: $5 for $10 of food and drink at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque Restaurant
Some say Washington and Jefferson, others claim Adams and Franklin, but Kansas City’s vote for favorite founding fathers goes to Charlie and Arthur Bryant, veterans of the KC barbecue revolution. Cast your ballot at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, where $5 gets you $10 toward their iconic menu.

Milwaukee: $5 for $12 toward burgers, brews & more at Sobelman’s Pub & Grill
In a city where the state domesticated animal is the dairy cow, residents have an innate ability to seek out great cheeseburgers. Follow your instinct to Sobelman’s Pub & Grill, where our first Milwaukee Google Offer is: $5 for $12 toward award-winning burgers and more. Lines often stretch out the door at the original West Saint Paul joint, so luckily you can also use this Google Offer to get mouth-watering burgers at the new Sobelman's Eastside Grill and Sobelman’s @Marquette.

San Antonio: $10 for $20 of fine sandwiches, pasta, steaks & more at Liberty Bar
Though “beauty and charm” was not likely the mantra of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica, they’ve given their stamp of approval to Liberty Bar’s current residence in their old convent. Salmon-colored paint or not, you’re headed for a “quintessentially San Antonio spot” where $10 gets you $20 of “excellent, eclectic eats,” according to Zagat.

Tampa: $5 for $10 of Greek cuisine at Louis Pappas Market Cafe
With a menu full of secret family recipes and cafes with friendly and quick service, it’s no surprise that the Louis Pappas Market Cafe family restaurants have seen over eighty years of success in Florida. For $5, today’s Google Offers gets you $10 towards delicious Greek cuisine at any of the cafe’s four locations: Palma Ceia, Citrus Park, Lakeland and Clearwater. Be sure to try the popular “Greek-a-dilla”—a crispy flat bread full of meat, melted feta and cheddar jack cheeses, served with tzatziki.

Check out www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers in your city to be among the first to know about the latest and greatest national and local deals, relevant to you.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Google Offers to feature a week of Zagat’s top-rated eateries in Washington, D.C.

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Since the launch of Google Offers in Washington, D.C. this past September, we’ve partnered with a diverse list of restaurants all over the city, putting their unique fare in the hands (and mouths) of local foodies. We’re kicking off 2012 by showcasing several of the top Zagat rated restaurants in the D.C. community. Our goal is to continue to connect D.C. residents with local staples and foster the discovery of hidden gems.

Starting January 23, if you’re a Google Offers subscriber in Washington, D.C., we’ll send you an email featuring a special deal for a Zagat rated restaurant. If you’re not a subscriber to Google Offers in Washington, D.C. make sure you sign up so you won’t miss out on these fantastic offers. Here’s a sneak peak:

Kaz Sushi Bistro: Zagat calls Chef Kazuhiro Okochi’s hotspot “one of DC’s most inventive and approachable sushi restaurants.” Using only the freshest ingredients (and most cutting edge techniques), Chef Okochi prepares unique cuisine that keeps foodies coming back for more. See for yourself: $15 gets you $30 of refined Japanese fare.
Kushi: Named Washington Post Editors’ Pick, this Japanese gastropub features authentic cuisine in a casual, modern atmosphere. Step outside of your comfort zone for Japanese delicacies like wood grilled eringi mushrooms and miso marinated black cod: $30 gets you $60 toward Japanese fare.
Marvin: Featured by Zagat as a “place to see and be seen,” Marvin combines Southern-fried cooking with a continental twist. Sample soul food inspired by Marvin Gaye, the Prince of Soul himself: $80 gets you a five-course prix fixe meal—including beer and wine flight. Plus, expect a surprise if you attend the exclusive Google Offers event on February 23!
Nage: Dive into a gourmet meal at Nage, where surf-inspired food is prepared using classic French technique. And see what Zagat, Food Network Magazine and The Washington Post are raving about for yourself: $20 gets you $40 of upscale bistro fare at this centrally-located hidden gem.
Zaytinya: Called DC’s “Most Popular Restaurant” by Zagat, Zaytinya has earned accolades everywhere from The Washington Post to the Washingtonian to the James Beard Foundation. Taste Mediterranean like a true gourmet with superstar chef José Andrés’ modern mezze: it’s $45 for the Chef’s Winter Tasting menu at this Gallery Place hotspot. Plus, for every Google Offer purchased, Zaytinya and José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup will donate $20 to World Central Kitchen to help end hunger.

The Google Offers D.C. team has worked hand in hand with these restaurants to bring you these great deals. We hope you enjoy this week of offers for top Zagat rated restaurants and take full advantage of the incredible food scene that our nation’s capital has to offer.

To subscribe to Google Offers in Washington, D.C. and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. And check out our free Google Offers app for Android to find and buy great deals on the go.

Posted by Guli Zhu, Business Analyst, Google Offers

Google is going 'Big' at NRF 2012

2012-01-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

In just a few days, we’ll be in New York to take part in the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & EXPO-- A.k.a: Retail’s BIG Show. We’re excited to be at the show again this year and look forward to showcasing Google’s Commerce products including Google Wallet, Google Offers, Google Shopper, Google Catalogs, Google Product Search, Google Trusted Stores, Google Commerce Search, Offer Extensions, Product Listing Ads and more.

Come visit us on the EXPO floor at booth number 2375, between January 16-17, to meet with the Google team and learn how our tools can help you attract new customers, connect with shoppers in new ways and drive growth for your business.

We hope to see you next week at the show.

Posted by Keren Michelson, Google Wallet Marketing

Together Google Offers and NYC Bakery, Fat Witch, deliver a sweet deal

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Located in New York's Chelsea Market, Fat Witch Bakery has been wowing customers and critics for more than 20 years with its all-natural brownies. Owner Patricia Helding worked as a Wall Street trader before launching her celebrated line of "witches.” Since then, Helding's bakery has grown to become a local, and national, favorite having been profiled on Oprah's "Favorite Things," the Food Network, and Good Morning America in recent years.

Patricia Helding, Owner, Fat Witch Bakery

Since opening the bakery in 1991, Patricia has never implemented a traditional paid advertising campaign because the “brownies speak for themselves.” However, with hopes to expand her brick and mortar business this year, Patricia has been looking for new ways to drive increased awareness for her brand as well as attract new customers. So, when the Google Offers sales team approached Patricia about running an deal, she jumped at the chance.

“I’m a big Google fan to begin with, so it was a natural move to run a Google Offer. And Google has a huge reach. Everyone in the world uses Google. I like that people from all over can walk into the store and use a Google Offer to experience our brownies,” said Helding.

Together, Patricia and the Google team crafted an offer that accurately matched the Fat Witch brand and business model. In July 2011, the bakery ran its Google Offer: $20 worth of brownies, gifts and more for only $10.

In addition to the increased brand exposure Fat Witch garnered on the Google Offers site, the deal was also promoted on Google’s social media channels and sent to subscribers in New York City via email. "All I had to do was cover the cost of baking,” recalled Helding.

Popular “witches” include the classic chocolate Fat Witch and the Blonde Baby -- think chocolate chip cookie in a brownie form -- (pictured)

And the results were so sweet! In just 24 hours more than 400 Fat Witch offers were sold and traffic into the bakery increased by 10%. “Our number one reason for running a Google Offer was to attract new customers, as well as reward our loyal customers with a great deal,” said Helding. “I would say the majority of people who came into the store to redeem the offer were new to Fat Witch and had never tried our brownies before. We also saw a lot of people come in for our “witching hour” from 5-8pm where brownies are half off.”

Helding is eager to keep growing her business. “Absolutely I'd do another offer with Google. I think it's a great concept. We don't lose money and the offer drove store traffic and really got our brand out there.”

If you’re a merchant and are interested in running a Google Offer, please visit google.com/offers/business.

Posted by Yoshiko Ono, Account Manager, Google Offers

Let’s play some games!

2011-12-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

I’m a huge gamer at heart. And because of this, I love working with Google In-App Payments and helping developers make money from their awesome games. Many of us will be spending the holidays at home enjoying family time and some rest and relaxation. What better way to rest and unwind than with some awesome games that you can play in the browser instantly? Below are some of my favorite games that showcase how developers are utilizing the web platform and creating immersive, monetizable games.

Bastion
Bastion is a story-driven action RPG with beautiful 2D visuals. You control ‘the kid’ (protagonist) with your keyboard and mouse, navigating him around the world to collect pieces and rebuild the bastion. The action is intense and rewarding, and the RPG elements addictive. If you haven’t already purchased the full game, check out the first area for free before buying the full game.

Cordy
Cordy is an adorable puzzle platformer. The goal is to complete a level as quickly as possible while collecting all of the items and enough energy to charge/unlock the exit. It’s gorgeous, fast-paced, and fun to play. Try it for free and you can upgrade to the full version in-game.

Fieldrunners
I’ve been addicted to Fieldrunners (and tower defense games in general) for years, and now it’s available in the browser. Personally, playing in the browser totally fixes my fat finger issues with tower placement. For those of you that have never tried tower defense games, the goal is to prevent enemies from reaching their goal by building a maze of towers that damage them.

GT Academy
Motorsports has always been one of my hobbies, and GT Academy is great because it’s a browser-based racing sim. You can progress through your career achieving better licenses and unlocking faster cars. Once you’ve honed your keyboard driving skills, challenge other players in online multiplayer.

Dragons of Atlantis
I honestly can’t define why this game is so addictive, but I keep going back over and over. Dragons of Atlantis is an empire game where you build your cities, develop your armies, establish alliances, and raid other empires. If you haven’t tried this game, run through the tutorial and you’ll be thoroughly hooked.

Angry Birds
It’s the classic Angry Birds that everyone loves, but with new holiday-themed levels to challenge you. Check out the latest HTML5 Angry Birds.

In addition to the games highlighted here, there are more great games to be found in Chrome Web Store and on Google+. After your holiday feast, have some fun and take a look at what you can now do within your browser.

Posted by Peng Ying, Developer Advocate

Commerce API World Tour

2011-12-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months, the Google Commerce Developer team has been very busy spreading the word about Google’s In-App Payments and Shopping APIs for Search and Content. In addition to meeting developers at events in the United States, we had the opportunity to engage with developer communities around the world.

We started our world tour in Japan at Google Developer Day, Tokyo. We continued globetrotting to Australia for GDD Sydney, then to Spain for Google DevFest, Barcelona and finished in Germany with events at the Berlin GTUG and GDD Berlin.

Peng Ying and Mihai Ionescu presented distribution and monetization strategies for web applications to developers in Tokyo, Sydney and Berlin while Danny Hermes spoke about using the Google Shopping APIs in Barcelona.

We love meeting and talking to developers, and we’re looking forward to continuing to connect with developer communities worldwide. With the recent international expansion of In-App Payments, we’ll be hosting a hangout on Google+ tomorrow December 20th at 11AM PST to answer monetization questions.

For future events, keep an eye on this blog, our social media channels and the Google Developers events page, or join a Google Technology User Group.

Posted by Mihai Ionescu, Commerce Developer Advocate

In-App Payments Expands its Borders

2011-12-15T13:45:00.000-08:00

(Cross-posted on the Official Google Code and Chromium Blogs)

Since Google In-App Payments launched in July for developers in the United States, we’ve received great feedback on how easy it is to integrate as well as how simple it is for consumers to use. While the API has been off to a strong start, there’s been a growing demand for availability outside of the United States.

So starting today, we are opening developer enrollment for Google In-App Payments to 17 additional countries. In addition to the United States, developers from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom can now use the Google In-App Payments API to incorporate an in-context payment experience into applications on the Chrome Web Store and their own sites.

Developers using In-App Payments are seeing strong conversions and revenue streams thanks to these key features:

Ease of use: the short payment process for consumers takes place right in the developer’s app or site.
Large existing user base: there are millions of Google Wallet online users in over 140 countries.
Low fees: developers pay just 5% on all transactions.

You can get started accepting payments in your web apps by following the tutorial and get answers to any questions in the forum. We look forward to expanding to even more countries in the future, as well as continuously working to improve the Google In-App Payments experience.

Posted by Pali Bhat, Group Product Manager

Trends from the biggest shopping days of the year

2011-12-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

(Cross-posted on the Google Retail Blog)

With the biggest shopping weekend of the year behind us here in the U.S., we decided to take a step back, crunch the numbers and look at how people shopped during the extravaganza that spans Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Using Insights for Search and data from Google’s annual consumer intentions shopping study, conducted with our research partner OTX, we identified two stand-out trends this year. One, shoppers are searching more for deals online than ever before and they’re heavily relying on their mobile device as an on-the-go, personal shopping assistant. Here’s what we learned from the data:

It’s all about saving money and time
The search trends clearly showed consumers are more aware of and interested in special deals available over the holiday shopping weekend. Searches for [black friday deals] were up by 30% from last year, and searches for [cyber monday sales] and [cyber monday coupons] grew 15% year over year. Further, on Black Friday, half of the top 20 rising searches on Google involved retailers or deals.

Closing out the long weekend, [cyber monday deals 2011] made the top five growing search term on Cyber Monday. In addition, searches for [black midnight] jumped by over 30% over last year, indicating shoppers were planning to hit the stores when retailers opened their doors at 12am on Black Friday.

Most interesting to us was the growth in queries indicating that shoppers were using the web to plan out their trips to the store. Searches for [black friday store map] were conducted more than twice as often this year as in 2010, and searches for [black friday store hours] were up over 40% for the same time period.

Mobile matters
More and more shoppers are reaching for their phones to compare prices, look for store locations and inventory and find deals. In fact, searches for [mobile coupons] were up 90% over last year’s volume and mobile search volume for retail-related searches on Black Friday this year was up 200% over Black Friday last year.

According to our study, 55% of participants said they will use their smartphone’s location features on some or most shopping trips, while 47% will use a smartphone to compare prices and 42% will use their phone to search for the nearest store.

They might not fit in your pocket, but tablets are a rising device for getting some serious shopping done: 47% of study participants said they use their tablets to search for coupons or rebates and 44% use them to make purchases.

What’s hot this holiday season
It’s always fun to take a look at the most popular product searches just after Thanksgiving and try to predict what this year’s Tickle Me Elmo will be.

While netbooks emerged as a popular product last holiday season, this year’s data shows tablets overtaking netbooks in search popularity.

Also, the most popular products searched for on Google Product Search over the long weekend was the Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer. Other top products in their categories include:

Kitchen Appliance: Keurig Special Edition B60 coffee maker
Board game: Angry Birds Knock on Wood game
Video game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Doll: Lalaloopsy Silly Hair doll - Jewel Sparkles
Digital camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i digital SLR Camera

Finally, our survey found that 43% of consumers embraced the craziness of the Black Friday weekend and as of Cyber Monday, had finished the majority of their holiday shopping. But don’t panic if you’re part of the 57% majority. If last year’s trends hold true for 2011, we’ll see a big spike in shopping traffic in mid-December, when procrastinators like myself rush to get their shopping done.

Posted by Sameer Samat, VP of Product Management, Google

Google Offers Now Live in Columbus, OH

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you live in the Columbus, OH area and are looking for something fun to do with the family this holiday season, then today’s inaugural Google Offer is for you: $5 for one admission to the Wildlights holiday light display (up to $14 value) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

For the past 24 years, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been spreading holiday cheer with its annual Wildlights holiday light display and festival. From the millions of holiday LED lights, to the Magical Tabernacle Forest Chorus, the Wildlights event is a holiday tradition for locals. This year’s festival features live music and a new attraction called ‘Global Celebrations’, which is a newly designed eight-minute music and light show on Conservation Lake. Today’s Google Offer for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also includes general admission to see the zoo’s 700+ wildlife species and exhibits.

To subscribe to Google Offers in these cities and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. You can also find and buy great deals with the free Google Offers app for Android.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Five tips for stress-free holiday shopping

2011-11-28T09:40:00.001-08:00

(Cross-posted on the Official Google Blog)

Today, on Cyber Monday—the biggest online shopping day of the year—digi-savvy shoppers will take to the web to get ahead on their holiday shopping. You’ve managed to avoid the Black Friday crowds, but are your online shopping skills up to snuff? Just in the nick of time, here are five tips on how to use Google tools to save time and money this holiday shopping season.

Tip #1. Avoid the lines and parking nightmares—shop from your couch with Google Catalogs
Today we’re announcing a version of Google Catalogs for Android tablets, available for free in Android Market. Now shoppers can browse Google Catalogs on both iOS and Android tablets. With over 125 of your favorite brands and 400 issues across a myriad of categories, Google Catalogs puts all your favorite print catalogs right at your fingertips. You’ll find pages of gift and decorating ideas and get a head start on your holiday shopping list.

Browse Pottery Barn’s Christmas 2011 catalog on Google Catalogs - now available for Android tablets.

Tip #2. Let Google Product Search do your research for you
With so many brands, models and features to choose from, sometimes finding the perfect gift—especially when it comes to electronics and gadgets—can be overwhelming. Google Product Search gives you detailed product information, reviews and price comparisons for all the gifts on your list.

We recently launched a new comparison feature for electronics that lets you quickly see how a particular product stacks up against other similar models and brands. For example, on the Nikon D3100 product page, you can now see—at a glance—feature comparisons between the D3100 and other Nikon models as well as cameras from other brands. Read more about other recent Product Search updates on the Google Commerce blog.

A quick comparison shows the differences in resolution and other camera features.

Tip #3. Bring Google Shopper along as your mobile shopping assistant
Have you ever found yourself standing in a store, trying to decide between, say, two blenders, and wishing you could consult an expert? Google Shopper can help. Wherever you are, this free mobile app for Android and iPhone lets you scan a barcode or search by voice or text to get detailed product information, read reviews and compare prices online and at local stores. You can also use Google Shopper to see if a product is in stock nearby.

Research, share and find products near you with Google Shopper.

Tip #4. Take advantage of holiday savings with Google Offers
Before you hit main street for a shopping extravaganza, check out Google Offers for great deals and save 50% or more on local places to eat, shop and play. Google Offers has teamed up with a number of great retailers this holiday season, making it easy to save while you shop. You can also find and buy great deals from Google Offers with the free Android app.

Tip #5. Simplify your online and offline shopping experience with Google Wallet
Save time and money by shopping with Google Wallet — a smart, virtual wallet that stores your payment cards, offers and more on your phone and online. When you shop with merchants that accept Google Wallet online just use your Google Wallet username and password to complete your purchase—there’s no need to pull out your credit card or enter your shipping address with every transaction. If you’re at the register at stores like American Eagle, Macy’s, Gap, Inc or any of our other merchant partners, take a minute to try the Google Wallet app, available on Nexus S 4G for Sprint, to tap, pay and save.

I hope these tips and Google tools help to make your shopping experience a little easier (and fun!) this Cyber Monday, and throughout the holiday season.

Posted by Stephanie Tilenius, Vice President of Commerce

Make smart holiday shopping decisions with Google Product Search

2011-11-23T08:49:00.001-08:00

Just in time for the holidays, we’ve made a number of improvements to Google Product Search that make it easier for you to find the products you want and feel confident in your purchases.

‘Best match’ for specific products

Sometimes you may visit Google Product Search with a specific product in mind. With our new ‘Best match” feature, we highlight the product we think you’re looking for even faster. When you search PowerShot SD1400, for example, you’ll see a ‘Best match’ product at the top of the page.

‘Popular products’ appearing for more searches

Let’s say you’re in the market for a netbook this year, but you’re just starting your research. When you search for a general term like ‘netbook,’ you’ll see a list of products ranked in order of popularity, which can help you quickly focus your search on a few models. We’ll also give suggestions on how you can refine your search, in this case by brand and operating system. Over the past few months, we’ve added popularity ranking to more search results pages, like wireless routers, heart rate monitors, vacuum cleaners, toddler car seats, and many more.

More rich information to help you with your research

When you click on a product that catches your eye, you’ll be taken to a product page containing product spec, reviews, prices, and local availability. We’ve updated the ‘Product Features’ section of the product page (ex: Samsung Chromebook) to help you interpret detailed product specs. You’ll also see a product info bar at the top of the page that contains basic information about the product you’re viewing and remains in place as you scroll down the page.

Additionally, the product page now also displays the date that the product first appeared on Google Product Search, so it’s easy to tell if you’re viewing a newer or older product model. Of course, our pages still let you read reviews, compare prices, and find items in stock nearby.

Improving the apparel shopping experience

Back in September, we introduced the first of our efforts to improve the apparel shopping experience on Google Product Search, incorporating the most popular features from Boutiques.com. We’ve now expanded this experience to include shoes (ex: platform pumps), displaying larger product images and giving you more ways to refine your search by brand, color, style, and other criteria.

As with dresses, when you click on a particular shoe, the product page displays visually similar styles giving you more products to browse and consider as you shop.

Browse for gift ideas on the new curated Mobile Product Search homepage

This holiday season, many of us will be using our smartphones to research products when we’re out and about. With the mobile version of Google Product Search, you can get instant access to detailed product information, reviews, and prices wherever you are.

If you find yourself with some extra time on your hands in line at the mall or simply need more gift ideas, get inspired by browsing the new curated homepage for Mobile Product Search. To access the page, open the Google Search app and select the ‘Shopping’ tab. We update this page regularly, so check back frequently for seasonal gift ideas, fashion trends, and more.

Posted by Andrew Poon, Senior Product Manager, Google Shopping team

Google Offers Adds Six More U.S. Cities to its Rapidly Growing Roster

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

What do Detroit, Indianapolis, Ft. Worth, Long Beach, Sacramento and St. Louis have in common? You guessed it! As of today, they are the newest cities to provide awesome personalized deals to local city dwellers and visitors via Google Offers.

Now for the good stuff. Here are the details behind the first deals in our new cities:

Detroit: $6 for one ticket to North American International Auto Show (up to $12 value)
If you call your car your “baby” and love all things on four wheels, consider the third week in
January 2012 your new favorite holiday. Stay ahead of the road-riding curve and check out the
latest and greatest developments in automotive technology, design and engineering at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

Indianapolis: $4 for $9 of Cajun cuisine at Papa Roux
Serving up a delicious Cajun menu, Papa Roux is a local gem offering over 10 different varieties of po-boy (think pulled pork, grilled onion, roast chicken) served on fresh French bread delivered daily. Today’s Google Offer is good for both Papa Roux locations at Eastside and City Market, so you can get an authentic taste of Nola without leaving Indy.

Ft. Worth: $5 for one adult ticket to ‘Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome’ at the Kimbell Art Museum ($14 value)
We may not remember a lot from 8th grade art class, but wherever paintings have bold contrasts of light and dark, Caravaggio’s dramatic “chiaroscuro” technique comes rushing to mind. See the major influence this great artist made on the 17th-century Roman art scene at the second largest North American display of the Italian artist’s work, Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome, which features more than 50 paintings and places the master’s influential works next to pieces by some of the artists he inspired.

Long Beach: $2 for $12 of comfort food & drinks at At Last Cafe
It’s easy to see why At Last Cafe is beloved by locals. This quaint neighborhood eatery elevates the art of homestyle cooking while keeping prices low. The renowned chef, John McLaughlin, brings a passion for comfort food infused with fresh, local ingredients to the kitchen. In fact, many dishes feature fruit from his very own backyard.

Sacramento: $5 for $15 of burgers, sandwiches, salads and more at Hamburger Patties
The days of ‘50s diners may be long gone, but you can still get a great burger, fries and shake in Sacramento at Hamburger Patties. With 18 different burger offerings, 16 sandwiches, weekend brunch, a separate menu for vegetarians and mighty meal choices for kids, Hamburger Patties is a go-to spot for River City residents.

St. Louis: $12 for $25 of Italian fare and drinks at Zia’s “On the Hill”
Founded by two brothers, this neighborhood favorite features homemade Italian fare, plus a long list of red, white and sparkling wines. Sample such delicious plates as the Portabella Asparagi—jumbo ravioli stuffed with Portobello mushrooms and dusted with fontinella cheese $11.50). No matter what dish you decide, rest assured you’re feasting on fare fit for any Italian zia.

To subscribe to Google Offers in these cities and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. You can also find and buy great deals with the free Google Offers app for Android.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Google Offers brings more deals to the Big Apple

2011-11-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

The world’s holiday shopping capital now has more holiday cheer.

Since we introduced a larger selection of personalized deals in San Francisco a few weeks ago, we’ve received great feedback from our merchant partners and also from our customers--who are enjoying access to our expanded collection of 30+ daily deals for foodies, adventure seekers, families and more. There’s no doubt that people love getting personalized offers and merchants benefit from connecting with the right customers.

That’s why we’re happy to announce that we’re expanding deals from our partners to Google Offers subscribers in New York City. Starting today, New Yorkers can also find a greater selection of offers and receive multiple deals that match their personal interests all in one place, and accessible through the web, in email, or on their mobile device.

Today we’re also expanding our roster of partners to include CityLikes, Dealster, Eversave, and Weforia. We’ve also enhanced the Google Offers site design to make our expanded inventory of offers more easily discoverable and personalized to subscribers interests.

With the new Google Offers site design, even more deals from our partners are visible on each page.

In the coming months, we’ll continue to roll out our growing inventory of deals to more markets where Google Offers is available.

You can subscribe to receive deals that match your interests and learn more about Google Offers at www.google.com/offers. Also, you can always find deals from Google Offers on the go with the Google Offers app on Android.

If you’re a deal provider and are interested in working with Google Offers, please contact us via this form.

Posted by Abhishek Rajgarhia, Software Engineer, Google Offers

Simplifying payments on the mobile web with Google Wallet

2011-11-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

Earlier today we announced that Google Checkout is transitioning to Google Wallet. And now, we’re expanding the Google Wallet online service with a new and easy integration option for merchants. This solution is first available and optimized for the mobile web, where shoppers often abandon their carts when faced with lengthy checkout forms. With this solution, online merchants can retain control over their payment processing and provide a more streamlined experience for shoppers, without additional fees.

Customers can pay using cards saved in their online Google Wallet on m.fandango.com

Starting today, we’re rolling out this new service on the mobile websites of Fandango and MovieTickets.com. When consumers visit these sites from an Android phone, BlackBerry or iPhone, they will have the option to make a purchase using Google Wallet, without the need to fill out multiple forms or leave the merchant’s site.

At this time, we’re offering this new service to select merchants in the U.S. If you’re a merchant and interested in learning more, please request contact from a Google representative here.

Posted by Divya Agarwalla, Product Manager, Google Wallet

Building one wallet: Google Checkout is transitioning to Google Wallet

2011-11-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

As you know, we’re big fans of keeping your shopping experience easy -- especially now that the holiday shopping season is here. Today, we’re starting to take all the great functionality and ease-of-use you’ve come to know with Google Checkout and merge it with Google Wallet to create a single wallet, whether you’re buying online or in-store. We’re also starting to integrate Google Wallet as the payment method on Android Market, YouTube, Google+ Games and many other Google sites.

For consumers: save time with Google Wallet online
For all you busy holiday shoppers, Google Wallet provides a simple and safe way to make online purchases. When you shop with merchants that accept Google Wallet or Google Checkout, just use your Google Wallet username and password to complete your purchase -- there’s no need to pull out your credit card or enter your shipping address with every transaction. Starting tomorrow, if you add a Citi MasterCard to the Google Wallet mobile app, it will also be available for use when you shop with Google Wallet online.

If you’re a current user of Google Checkout you can automatically transition your account to Google Wallet the next time you sign in or make a purchase online. All users can now access online purchase history and payment information at wallet.google.com/manage.

For merchants: no changes necessary
We're committed to upgrading our payment solutions for merchants while ensuring they’re able to process payments without interruption during the holidays -- so shoppers using Google Wallet will be able to make purchases seamlessly on merchant sites that accept Google Checkout. Early next year, we will work closely with our merchant partners to switch to the Google Wallet logo and share details on new and upcoming features.

If you have questions about this transition, please visit our Help Center to learn more. If you are looking for more information, you can visit google.com/wallet.

Posted by Ben Lee, Product Manager, Google Wallet

Google Wallet now accepted at more than 65 Bay Area Gap Inc. stores

2011-11-16T09:02:00.001-08:00

Good news Bay Area shoppers! We’re excited to announce that Gap, Inc. is our newest SingleTap merchant. Now shoppers can use Google Wallet to tap, pay and save at over 65 Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores and Gap Outlet stores across the Bay Area. For additional details, check out what our friends at Gap Inc. have to say:

http://www.gapinc.com/content/gapinc/html/blog/2011/11/gap_inc_introduces.html

Posted by Robyn Katzman, Strategic Partner Development Manager, Google Wallet

Google Offers Now Available in Phoenix, Orlando and Salt Lake City

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today we’re keeping the Google Offers momentum going with expansion into three new markets: Phoenix, Orlando and Salt Lake City. Check out our debut deals in these fantastic cities:

Phoenix: Up to 65% off at the Phoenix Zoo
Experience the sights and sounds of the Borneo rainforests or take an adventure in the lively tropics of South America with our first deal in Phoenix: $6 for one admission to the Phoenix Zoo (up to $18 value). The non-profit Phoenix Zoo features more than 1,300 exotic animals and exciting exhibits like the new Orang-Hutan: "People of the Forest,” where you can get up close and personal with a family of Bornean orangutans.

Orlando: 80% off at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Celebrate 15 years of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice with today’s Google Offer: $1 for $5 of ice-cold sweets. The frozen treat shop serves up more than forty flavors of Italian Ice, three flavors of soft ice cream, or you can create your own Gelati--a creamy combination of the two. Are you a fan of tropical treats? Try vanilla soft ice cream layered with Mango or Bahama Freeze Italian Ice. Today’s deal is good at any one of Jeremiah’s four locations: Maitland, Winter Park, Winter Springs and UCF.

Salt Lake City: Up to 50% off at Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum
Take a family field trip with our first Google Offer in Salt Lake City where $4.25 gets you one ticket to the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum (up to $8.50 value). Kids will enjoy exploring a 30-foot metal beehive, testing their pilot skills in a real helicopter (located on the roof) and delivering a weather report in the green screen-equipped Media Zone. With more than 140 exhibits to explore, Discovery Gateway is the perfect family activity for indoor winter fun.

To subscribe to Google Offers in these cities and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. You can also find and buy great deals with the free Google Offers app for Android, available for download in the Android Market.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Google Checkout to power donations for the 2011 CNN Heroes program

2011-11-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past five years, CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute has honored everyday people across the globe who are making extraordinary contributions to improve the lives of people in their communities. Each year Heroes are nominated by CNN viewers who are inspired by the hard work and commitment of these individuals. The 2011 Top 10 honorees were revealed recently by CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Today we’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with CNN to provide the donation functionality, through Google Checkout, for all contributions made to the causes championed by the Heroes. All donations are tax deductible. Google will cover the cost of the transaction fee to ensure that 100% of all donations go to the chosen organizations.

Explore the 2011 Top Ten Heroes’ stories in the video and show your support for their causes by donating now. You can donate as many times and to as many of the non-profit organizations as you’d like from now through December 31, 2011.

Want to learn even more about the Heroes? Read on!

Eddie Canales
Eddie Canales’ group, Gridiron Heroes, provides support to teenagers who suffered spinal cord injuries while playing football. Donate to Gridiron Heroes

Taryn Davis
Taryn Davis created the American Widow Project, which has provided support to more than 900 military widows since 2007. Donate to the American Widow Project

Sal Dimiceli
Through his newspaper column and his nonprofit, Sal Dimiceli helps about 500 people a year with food, rent and other necessities. Donate to Time Is Now

Derreck Kayongo
Derreck Kayongo's Global Soap Project recycles partially used hotel soap to save lives in impoverished countries. Donate to Global Soap Project

Diane Latiker
Surrounded by gang violence, Diane Latiker opened her Chicago home to area youth and started a program called Kids Off the Block. Donate to Kids Off the Block

Robin Lim
Since 2003, Robin Lim and her team have helped thousands of low-income women have a healthy birthing experience. Donate to Yayasan Bumi Sehat

Patrice Millet
Since being diagnosed with cancer, Patrice Millet has dedicated his life to helping Haitian kids through his youth soccer program. Donate to FONDAPS

Bruno Serato
Since 2005, Bruno Serato has been serving free pasta dinners to children, many of whom are poor and live in motels. Donate to Caterina's Club

Richard St. Denis
Since 2008, Richard St. Denis and World Access Project have provided hundreds of wheelchairs to people in rural Mexico. Donate to World Access Project

Amy Stokes
Using the Internet, Amy Stokes' nonprofit connects hundreds of South African kids with mentors from all over the world. Donate to Infinite Family

Posted by Jessica Smallman, Product Marketing, Google Commerce

Google Offers launches in five new places across the U.S.

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Whether you’re North or South, East or West, a city with great deals from Google isn’t far away! We’re excited to announce that Google Offers beta is available in five new cities. Now, people in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York can get personalized deals for the places they love to eat, shop and play. We’re kicking it off in these new locations with some awesome local merchants, including:

Atlanta:
$7 for one full access ticket to the esteemed High Museum of Art (up to an $18 value)
With more than 12,000 permanent works on display, the High Museum of Art in Midtown is
the leading arts center in the southeastern United States. Wander through the museum’s vast and varied collection, including current and upcoming exhibitions such as “Picasso to Warhol: 14 Modern Masters” and “The Art of Golf.” With Friday Jazz, poetry slams and family-friendly events, the High Museum of Art is keeping Atlanta’s hunger for an art scene alive and vibrant.

Brooklyn, New York:
$4 for one general admission ticket to the New York Aquarium (up to $14.95 value)
Explore the bizarre beauties of the deep in Alien Stingers, see penguins, seals, otters, and walruses at the Sea Cliffs exhibit, and get underwater views of the amazing wildlife that inhabits our oceans at the New York Aquarium, located just off the Coney Island boardwalk.

Chicago:
$10 for $20 of craft beer and bar fare at Goose Island’s Wrigleyville brewpub
Beer buffs credit Goose Island with helming the craft beer renaissance in the Windy City. More than 20 years later, taste the ongoing innovation in the brewery’s award-winning creations. Try the Mild Winter, a malty match made in irony, while proud Chi-towners will enjoy a nod to their numbers in the mainstay brew: 312. Pair your ale with a delicious fare from the brewpub’s extensive menu.

Houston:
$10 for $20 of Southern-style breakfast at the Zagat-rated the breakfast klub
Hungry Houstonians have been lining up for 10 years to savor the breakfast klub’s one-of-a-kind Southern specialties, including “wings and waffles,” “katfish & grits” and “buttery biskits.” With jazz and gospel melodies filling the air, colorful walls and a husband-and-wife team who love chatting with their customers, it’s no wonder the breakfast klub is Houston Press’ 2011 Readers’ Choice for “Best Breakfast Restaurant,” My Table’s Culinary Award winner for “Favorite Breakfast” and “Best of City Search Winner” for 2011.

Los Angeles:
$14 for two movie tickets & a large popcorn at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre or Chinese 6 Theatres (up to $39 value)
Since its debut in 1927, the inimitable Grauman's Chinese Theatre has been a celebrated Hollywood landmark. Boasting a spot on the Walk of Fame, this iconic theater has housed Academy Awards shows and star-studded premieres. While you’re at Grauman’s, be sure to visit the costume exhibit on display, the Hollywood Legends Collection. Check out the duds from such films as Gone with the Wind and Terminator 2 and then discover the famous hands (and feet) imprinted in the theater’s courtyard.

To subscribe to Google Offers in these cities, as well as other locations across the U.S., visit: www.google.com/offers. You can also find and buy great deals while you’re on the go with our new mobile app for Android. You can download the Google Offers app from Android Market.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Google Catalogs: More brands, more categories, more fun

2011-11-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

Since our launch in August, we’ve been hard at work to bring more great content to Google Catalogs. Today we're excited to announce that we’ve doubled our collection of catalogs to include more than 100 brands and 300 individual issues from the catalogs you love, like Williams-Sonoma, Sephora and Nordstrom.

Thanks to our ever-growing list of partners, we’ve expanded the app to include six new catalog categories for you to shop. Love gadgets or the great outdoors? Looking for that perfect holiday treat to send to a friend? Well, look no further than our newly launched catalogs and categories:

Gourmet: Dean & Deluca, Mrs. Fields, Wolferman’s, Harry & David, The Swiss Colony, La Tienda, Lobster Gram, Cushman’s, GiftTree, King Arthur Flour and Fairytale Brownies
Intimates & Loungewear: Bare Necessities, Fredericks of Hollywood, Spanx and Hanes
Athletic & Sports: Nike, Athleta, Gaiam, Champion and Tennis Express
Outdoor Adventure: REI, Moosejaw, Patagonia, Merrell, Eddie Bauer Outdoor, Sierra Trading Post and L.L. Bean Outdoor Gear
Gadgets: Sharper Image, ThinkGeek and SkyMall
Toys: One Step Ahead, Right Start, The Land of Nod, Sears and Kmart

Google Catalogs lets you create a collage of your favorite items from across many catalogs. You can even share your collages with friends and family - a visual way to show them what’s on your list this holiday season!

We’ve also added a number of great brands to our existing categories, including: Barneys, Tory Burch and Trina Turk (Fashion & Apparel); BeautyBar (Beauty); Blu Dot, FLOR, and Ballard Designs (Home); Hanna Andersson, CWDkids, and Serena & Lily (Kids); and Garnet Hill, Uncommon Goods, and Wine Enthusiast (Gifts).

In the mood to kick off your holiday shopping? Visit the App Store to download the free Google Catalogs app for iPad.

Posted by Abigail Holtz, Business Product Manager, Google Catalogs Team

Introducing our first national Google Offer with REI and a new Android app

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today we’re running our very first national Google Offer and it’s with my favorite national outdoor retailer, REI. If you enjoy hiking, biking, running, and sleeping under the stars then you’ll love our deal with REI -- the brand that’s outfitted and inspired adventurers since 1938. We’re also releasing our first Google Offers mobile app that’s now available for free in Android Market. At last, you can discover, purchase and redeem great offers even when you’re on the road.

Purchase today’s REI deal and you’ll get $25 to spend on top-notch gear for $15, so you’re ready for your next encounter in the great outdoors. This deal can be used to shop online at REI.com, or at one of their 120 stores nationwide.

Visit Google Offers today to grab this deal for the premier resource for outdoor adventures: REI

On the heels of our last update, the REI deal marks an important achievement for us in the growth of Google Offers by creating a truly national platform where businesses can connect with new customers whether they’re in San Francisco, Dallas, New York or Boston. And the sky’s the limit from here. We’re committed to growing the Google Offers platform to make it a global extension of our advertising tools for merchants, as well as the go-to spot for quality, easily accessible, and personalized deals for you.

With our new mobile app you can discover, buy and redeem your favorite deals on the go. The free app will notify you about all the great offers that match your interests. You can purchase offers in just a few clicks and even redeem paperlessly with select merchants. If you’re out and about be sure to pick up today’s offer for REI with the Google Offers app. You can download the app from Android Market.

Buy today’s deal from REI on the new Google Offers app

Check out www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers in your city to be among the first to know about the latest and greatest national and local deals, relevant to you.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Content API for Shopping: Webinar video now available on YouTube

2011-11-02T16:02:00.000-07:00

Last week, we hosted a live webinar for Google Product Search merchants, ‘Keeping your product data fresh using Google’s Content API for Shopping.’ The recorded webinar is now available on YouTube. If you’re looking for a more scalable and flexible way to update your product data on Google Product Search, we encourage you to take a look to learn more about the following topics:

The Content API for Shopping
Google Shopping data freshness policy
Using Feeds vs. using the API
Available support for the API
Implementing and using the Content API for Shopping

Posted by Danny Hermes, Developer Programs Engineer, Google Commerce Team

Try Out Google Wallet in Your City

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Google Wallet is teaming up with Sprint and Samsung on a roadshow to introduce you to Google Wallet and give you the chance to try it, in stores. Over the next three months, we’ll be visiting merchant locations in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles for half-day events to demo Google Wallet and help you pay for your purchase. You’ll not only get to see Google Wallet in action, but you’ll also get $10 towards your purchase when you tap and pay using one of the Samsung Nexus S demo phones.

We’ll be visiting different store locations in the five cities including Duane Reade, Jamba Juice, Walgreens, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Foot Locker, Fat Witch Bakery in Chelsea Market and others.

Calendar of Events:
All event times, regardless of location, are in Eastern time, and events are subject to change. We’ll be in each city during the following dates:

New York: Oct. 17 - Nov. 13
Chicago: Oct. 17 - Nov. 13
Washington, DC: Nov. 15 - Dec. 12
San Francisco: Nov. 15 - Dec. 12
Los Angeles: Dec. 14 - Jan. 12

We’re excited to give you a chance to try out Google Wallet and experience paying with a mobile phone. Take a look at our full calendar of events above (or by clicking this link), and come check out Google Wallet at a location near you.

Posted by Keren Michelson, Product Marketing, Google Wallet

Introducing more local deals, personalized to your interests

2011-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

(Cross-posted on the Official Google Blog)

There’s a universe of amazing daily deals out there, but it's hard to find them all in one place—and even harder to discover the ones that really matter to you.

We’re making improvements to Google Offers that help address this challenge. First, we’re delivering more amazing deals from a bunch of new categories including outdoor adventure sports, luxury experiences, family-friendly events, classes and more. We’re also introducing a personalization quiz to help you find just the deal you want, all in one place.

Google Offers subscribers in the San Francisco Bay Area will have access to these new deals, and the quiz is now available in all cities. We'll gradually roll out an expanded offers inventory to new cities in the months to come.

To make all this happen, we’ve partnered with the best deal providers in the industry including Dealfind, DoodleDeals, Gilt City, GolfNow, HomeRun, Juice in the City, kgbdeals, Mamapedia, Plum District, PopSugar Shop, ReachDeals, Active.com Schwaggle, TIPPR and zozi. Now, with one account you can easily purchase, manage and redeem all your offers in one place.

Visit Google Offers today to purchase this great deal from the leading luxury experience site Gilt City

Our new personalization quiz is a first step towards bringing you more relevant deals. You can tell us what categories you’re interested in and where you hang out so we can send you just the tailored offers that match your interests—all in one email. If you’re not the outdoorsy type or interested in cosmetic treatments, then we won’t send you deals for zipline adventures and laser hair removal. Don’t worry, if your interests change you can always update your preferences.

You can select what categories of deals you’d like to receive with the personalization quiz

You can subscribe to receive deals that match your interests and learn more about Google Offers at google.com/offers. If you’re a deal provider interested in partnering with Google Offers, please submit your application using this form.

Finally, thanks to The Dealmap team that recently joined Google. They definitely helped on this one and we’re looking forward to working with them to develop many new ideas in the months and years to come.

Posted by Nitin Mangtani, Group Product Manager, Google Offers

Upcoming Developer Events

2011-10-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Online commerce continues to see explosive growth rates around the world. At the same time, new technologies make the online shopping experience easier for both merchants and shoppers. Over the next month, the Google Commerce Developer Relations team will be travelling to Japan, Australia, Spain and Germany to meet with developers and talk about the latest developments in online commerce.

We'll cover various topics from monetizing web apps and games with Google In-App Payments and AdSense Media Ads, to using the Google Shopping APIs (Search and Content) to build innovative applications. If you haven’t registered yet, here is the complete list of locations and dates:

Google Developer Day, Tokyo - November 1, 2011
Google Developer Day, Sydney - November 8, 2011
Google DevFest, Barcelona - November 8, 2011
Google Developer Day, Berlin - November 19, 2011

We’re looking forward to talking to you at one of the developer events.

Posted by Mihai Ionescu, Commerce Developer Advocate