In 2019, over half of shoppers say they’re conscious of the environmental practices of retailers they shop with. At the same time, they love overnight shipping and free returns, which impact the environment. Retailers, striving to please consumers and be sustainable, are caught in the middle. Here are some ways to address the dilemma.
Microsoft has added new features and functions to its Dynamics 365 platform that allow retailers to create product pages with reviews and ratings, based on its Azure cloud services platform that goes head-to-head with Amazon’s dominant AWS offering.
Today’s shoppers increasingly are digital natives, which means they prefer technology-based solutions and hold high expectations when it comes to the end-user experience. In fact, recent market research found that 86% of shoppers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
As online sales grow at double-digit rates, ecommerce returns are growing even faster, typically three to four times greater than for stores, and carry a high level of value. The opportunity is to get online returns from the store back to fulfillment centers quickly in order to maximize their value. Here’s how to make it happen.
Where do your customers spend their precious free time – and, more importantly, their money? The answer is increasingly on digital channels, especially websites and apps on mobile devices. Here is how to use this channel effectively for your retail business.