It’s about time retailers drop the term omnichannel from their vocabulary. Creating an omnichannel experience is not even that difficult. What is much harder is giving your customers a reason to shop, a belief that you are looking out for and providing them with unique experiences that they appreciate.
As Amazon Prime Day 4.0 is set to run for 36 hours Monday and Tuesday, merchants are making last-minute preparations on ads, promotions, pricing and Prime eligibility. Others are looking to create their own buzz, drafting on an extended ecommerce holiday projected to grow by 40% to $3.4 billion. See what else is in store.
Marvin Ellison, who took over JC Penney after the turbulent Ron Johnson era but has overseen the business during its recent decline, has jumped ship to become the new CEO of home improvement firm Lowe’s as it tries to keep up with category leader Home Depot.
Amazon, JC Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Toys R Us and Rent the Runway are among the companies active in recent distribution and fulfillment center activities. See who is expanding and where facilities are being planned.
A record $5.03 billion was spent online this Black Friday, up 16.9% from $4.3 billion in 2016, according to data from Adobe. It’s also been a very mobile holiday thus far, with more than half of ecommerce traffic coming through smartphones or tablets for the first time, Adobe reported.
While things look dire in physical retail, investments in omnichannel are paying off for some traditional retailers. There are similarities in the playbook across a diverse group of companies, including aligning physical stores with the ecommerce channel, investing in private brands, and aggressively expanding product assortment. See how some of the leaders are staying ahead of the curve.
Looking for another avenue to boost flat store sales, JC Penney is opening 500-square-foot toy shops in all of its brick-and-mortar locations, the company announced, pitting it against the likes of Toys R Us and Amazon as well as discount retailers like Walmart and Target in the $20 billion market.
As the engine revs up for Amazon’s Prime Day 2017, a few interesting wrinkles to bear in mind.
Amazon has announced that Prime Day 2018 will be held on July 11, with Amazon itself expected to once again be the big winner by selling its own devices and gift cards and bulking up Prime memberships.