At the end of every good cycle, or in this case year, it’s important to look back and point out the highlights as a road map for the future. So without further delay, let’s start handing out some awards!

2007 Vision Award: Social Shopping

Yes, it’s been promised for quite some time, but the 2.0 bug is starting to make it’s way into everyday shopping experiences. The following engines have embraced this movement and are moving toward a new way of selling:

Winners: Pronto.com – Become.com – Facebook

2007: Flip Flop Award

For keeping us all on our toes with constant changes in format, title, url, and mysterious ranking system, there is only one company who can clearly claim to be leader of the pack in 2007

Winner(s): Google..Froogle…Google Base…Product Search…Google Shopping?

2007: Coolest Logo Award

This was the toughest pick of the bunch. Lots of great marketing happens when you are pulling in millions of dollars in revenue, but I have always been a fan of the flaming shopping cart. It’s simple and to the point. Running a close second, the overzealous shopper sitting at his computer screen (remember when it was an old CRT style monitor?), joyously celebrating his purchase. You know, I would have chosen the robot #1, if only Smarter used him more often!

Winner: Shopzilla (Runner Up: PriceGrabber and Smarter)

2007: Ugliest Logo Award

Listen, I usually won’t ever say anything negative, but because I respect these two companies, some gentle proding is allowed. I understand the winner is under a major renovation and far from complete, but I know a good graphic artist from MerchantAdvantage, perhaps I can pass along the number…

Winner: Become (Runner Up: SortPrice)

2007: Most Innovative Billing and Pricing Model

CPA aka Smackdown model

Winner: JellyFish

(Runner Up: SortPrice flat rate billing model)

2007: Keeping Up With the Jones’s Award

Supporting Product Level Bidding, one of many options becoming more standardized.
Winners: Shopzilla, Smarter, NexTag, Pronto (Runner Up: Shopping…because it is still being officially rolled out)

2007: What Ever Happened To Them? (aka Vanilla Ice One Hit Wonder) Award

Once upon a time they were an industry leader, and now I can’t remember the last time I heard someone ask about them..

Winner: MySimon.com

2007: 400lb Gorilla Award

Awarded to the company that through aggressive advertising, has almost as many products displayed on comparison engines as their own site. As a good friend once said, ‘If I wanted to shop there, wouldn’t I have gone to their website in the first place?’

Winner: Amazon.com

2007: Best Value, Integration and Management of Shopping Comparison Engines

Yeah, I’m biased, but I am only reporting what I hear-

Winners: Mercent, Channel Intelligence, MerchantAdvantage

So please raise a champagne glass…or coffee cup depending on what time of day you read this…to the winners! May 2008 be blessed with less broken links and more ROAS! Cheers!