holiday spending bux in envelope feature

Holiday Spending Forecasts Lower in Transition Year

| Mike O'Brien

With lowered holiday shopping expectations amid inflation concerns, consumers hunt for deals as early promotions lured them in but not in the hoped-for droves, and inventory remains a challenge. Retailers continue to discount and promote to clear out stock, increasingly using resale platforms like Poshmark, ThredUp and Etsy.

Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Deliv, same-day delivery, Amazon, ecommerce

Macy’s Addresses Omnichannel and Same-day Delivery

| Erin Lynch

While the fourth quarter showed a 1.6% decline in sales, Karen M. Hoguet, chief financial officer at Macy’s, said moving forward the retailer plans on making strides in its omnichannel fulfillment initiatives including buy online, pick up in-store, and same-day delivery.

Nordstrom Reports 30% Increase in Ecommerce Sales for Q4

| Daniela Forte

Nordstrom saw a 30% increase in its direct-to-customer sales, which built upon last year’s 31% increase. The direct-to-customer increase was driven by expanded merchandise selection and ongoing technology investments to enhance the customer experience.

Amazon, Amazon Prime, omnichannel retail, two-day delivery, same-day delivery

Amazon Price Hike to Have Limited Effect on Subscribers

| Erin Lynch

Amazon announced late last week during its fourth quarter conference call to investors that it was planning on raising its Amazon Prime annual subscription of $79 to potentially $99 or even $119. Even though the increase may seem steep, many experts are saying the move will not hurt business.

What Can We Learn from eBay and Amazon’s Q4? Go Mobile

| Erin Lynch

When looking at some of the more successful fourth quarter performances inside marketplaces such as such as eBay and Amazon, it appears one of the sure fire ways to boost sales is through mobile. As an example, by attracting more customers using mobile gift guides and mobile-only deals, eBay was able to double its mobile sales in 2012. Maybe it’s time your ecommerce company started getting serious about mcommerce.