Omnichannel

If you're a retailer, it's a no-brainer to be doing videos of the products you want consumers to buy. Many businesses today recognize that product videos are a great way to get online visibility in search engines and social media outlets, as well as engage with consumers on a level that static photos and text can't.

HMV is planning a raft of digital marketing and service initiatives as it looks to position itself as a dynamic multichannel retailer. Offering digital versions of physical products at the point of sale, a click-and-collect service, and in-store wi-fi will be introduced to improve the customer experience. A raft of mobile apps and better online integration of its PureHMV loyalty program will also launch this year.

Companies including Macy's, HSN and Adidas are building large, TV-like interactive screens to give consumers experiences like these in an ever-increasing effort to bring the convenience of online shopping to the offline world.

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe, but 2012 is here and in full swing. Hopefully you had a busy and productive holiday season and are now ready to jump into 2012 no-holds-barred. Before you get started, however, make sure to check out this guide. We’ve assembled a top-notch group of cross-channel retail experts to offer you their best advice for the year ahead. W

Multichannel clothing retailer Territory Ahead is inviting consumers to take a closer look at its new spring catalog and website. As part of an extensive brand-building effort, the company has revamped its presentation to showcase product colors, textures and details more closely and clearly than ever before.

In 2012, marketers will turn to online personalized video to stand out among their competitors and provide each consumer with a unique, interactive online shopping experience. As marketers explore the opportunities with video personalization, it’s important to understand the basics.

Stephen Burke, vice president of the mobile practice for Resource Interactive, talked last week at the NRF BIG Show in New York City with Retail Online Integration about tablet design and the opportunities the mobile device provides for retailers.

It’s every retailer’s worst fear — a consumer visits your store to buy a new flat-screen TV, consults their smartphone or tablet for a little pre-purchase price comparison to find a cheaper alternative at a nearby competitor.

Shoppers may soon see retail employees patrolling store aisles looking like Star Trek officers carrying tablet computers. More than half of retailers surveyed by RIS News are testing in-store tablets in 2012. 

It seems fitting to reflect on a year of significant change in the multichannel world, one that saw multichannel mature and take prime position on board-level agendas globally. What key changes have occurred?