How Consumer Demands and Technology Are Evolving Customer Experience

| Alan Finlay

Technology is shifting how merchants interact with customers more rapidly than ever before. Trends like the Internet of Things (IoT), connected devices and new approaches to knowledge management mean that merchants have a lot on their plates when it comes to evolving consumer expectations. Here is how retailers can win in the ever-changing retail environment.

Promotional Excellence: Run Effective Campaigns

| Shikha Jain

Consumers are becoming increasingly jaded when it comes to promotions. With discounts and deals around every corner, retailers are struggling to make their offers stand out. Here are five best practices for successfully applying your promotions so that everyone sees the benefits.

Promotional Excellence: Planning the Perfect Campaign

| Shikha Jain

When it comes to promotions, without the right planning it can kill profits and attract segments that will damage your brand image. Even some of the best companies can flop if they fail to plan their promotions properly. Here are six basic questions you need to ask in order to plan a solid campaign.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Reports 15% Ecommerce Growth in Q1

| Daniela Forte

Dick’s Sporting Goods saw a strong first quarter in ecommerce, reporting a 15% increase in online sales. The company said ecommerce represented about 13% of total net sales, up from 11% in the first quarter of 2018.

Stein Mart Looks to Amazon Lockers, Other Initiatives to Boost Sales

| Mike O'Brien

Stein Mart has become the latest retailer to partner with Amazon, betting that increased traffic to the ecommerce giant’s lockers in the back of its stores for order pickup and returns will translate to sales for the struggling discount chain. The lockers will be located in about 200 of Stein Mart’s 283 stores by early June.

Fulfillment Helps Target Drive 42% Q1 Ecommerce Growth

| Daniela Forte

Target reported ecommerce sales growth of 42% in the first quarter, with positive guest response to same-day digital fulfillment services. The quarter marked Target’s eighth consecutive quarter of comparable sales increases. CEO Brian Cornell said the retailer’s comparable sales growth of 4.8% was a bit ahead of expectations.

Direct-to-Consumer Omnichannel Personalization Without the Creep Factor

| Mark Smith

For most companies, customer experience is the new battlefield and the so-called “creep factor” is a concerning issue. In 2018, 24% of customers believed that ads they were shown were relevant, and three-fourths of those believed they were “creepy.” As companies move their personalized targeting to all channels, not just ads, it is even more important to ensure they don’t cross the creepy line.

Don’t Make These 3 Branding Sacrifices with Your Packaging

| Pete Galbiati

More retailers are shipping products directly to consumers. Packages often arrive in standard shipping boxes or other utilitarian protective materials, but why? Companies are missing opportunities to increase sales when they fail to see packaging as a shippable billboard.