What a sad image.

Picture a shopping cart, loaded with a 40-inch HD TV, a Blu-Ray player and the entire fourth season of Weeds, just left there unattended in the middle of Best Buy. Forever. No one knows who abandoned this feast of hi-fi entertainment or why.

This tragedy occurs all the time in the world of online commerce, and retailers are always looking for ways of reducing it.

And more and more of them are using the power of video.

A new eMarketer report titled “Video E-Commerce: Innovative Models Drive Sales” shows that online video use jumped 378% in 2009 over the previous year among the top 50 U.S. online retailers.

Though customer reviews are still king, according to the report, more and more big shops are finding that videos boost conversion rates, reduce product returns, build brand identity and keep those digital shopping carts zipping through the checkout lanes.

I’m not sure if Zappos was surveyed for the report, but the consistently awesome shoe seller produces tons of video and social content to build customer loyalty and move shoes. Here’s one of many hilarious videos from the Zappos TV blog.

Have you ever been on the fence about an online purchase and had your mind changed by a video?

With the iPad finally in stores, I thought it would be fun to call my friend Mick out at iResQ, an excellent Apple repair shop based in Olathe, KS, for a test drive (test touch?) of the new device. Mick and his boss, Brian, gave me even more than that when I visited their facility yesterday. Hint: If you’re the type who likes taking expensive things apart, this video is for you.

Last week in Kansas City, a tightly knit community of artists, musicians and slightly strange regular folk hit the streets near downtown at dawn and again at dusk to spread Mardi Gras merriment from the Westside to the Jazz District. It’s a decade-plus tradition, and judging by the folks who came out and hit it hard in 19-degree weather this year, it’s not going away anytime soon.

Part one follows the morning parade. With help from others, such as Krewe de Zoo, the Top of the Bottoms Social Aide Pleasure Society’s Dirty Force Brass Knuckle Street Band and Soul Revue led marchers from 18th & Jefferson to YJ’s in the Crossroads

Part two shows the evening revelry on West 18th Street, followed by the live getdown at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, courtesy of Hearts of Darkness and Millage Gilbert. We talk to a couple of longtime Fat Tuesday fanatics and find out what this tradition means for KC.

In the third installment of our ongoing series of video profiles of cool local entrepreneurs and businesses, we decided it was time to tipple. So who better to call on than Eddie Crane, owner of The Drop on Martini Corner in Kansas City’s Union Hill District? Drink up, and leave feedback in the comments.

Direct YouTube link.

Previously featured: Scott Fitness, Indigo Wild. To suggest a profile subject, e-mail jason@lockerpartner.com or hit us up on Twitter @lockerpartner.

13 years ago, Emily Voth began selling homemade organic soaps and aromatherapy products out of a stall at the farmer’s market. Today, her Kansas City-based company, Indigo Wild, employs some 33 people.

Indigo Wild’s Zum (as in “some”) line of bath, body and home products is sold online and in 2,000 stores. You may have seen — or, more likely, smelled — Zum soaps, candles, lotions, room sprays, body rubs, etc., while cruising the aisles at your local Cosentino’s or Whole Foods.

We sure have.

In fact, we’d been fans of Indigo Wild for years without knowing much about this company, whose factory is based in the heart of midtown KC. We grabbed our FlipCam and visited Indigo Wild at 3125 Wyandotte last week and found a warehouse full of smiling faces and scintillating scents. And dogs, too. Lots of dogs. (It’s OK — the FDA approves.)

Without further ado…

Direct YouTube link.

This is the second in our ongoing series of hand-held, handmade, organic video profiles of local entrepreneurs and businesses who are making their own rules, creating rabid followings and using social media. The first was of John Scott of Scott Fitness. To suggest a company, e-mail jason@lockerpartner.com or hit us up on Twitter: @lockerpartner.

Some prefer to grunt ‘n groan at Gold’s. Others sweat it out at the Y. For around 3,600 Kansas Citians, there’s only one choice: Scott Fitness.

John Scott and his team of trainers and employees have built an impressive chain of stylish workout facilities that reaches from 2nd St. to 43rd St. in KC. There are no contracts or signup fees, classes are free, and the vast majority of the members are regular people — not bodybuilders or “meatheads,” as John has been known to call them.

Having been a member myself for nearly three years, I’d admired John’s attitude and forward-thinking approach toward business, but I’d never gotten to talk to him about it. So, a few weeks ago, I got the man to sit down and dish. He was every bit as smart, passionate and profane as I’d suspected. I also had a bit of fun with the editing. (Warning: Rated TV-MA for language. Ha!)