Omnichannel

The State of Omnichannel Retail in 2017
January 11, 2017 at 5:03 pm

Over the last few years, retail has changed drastically. Some argue that it's the year of mobile (every year), others say brick-and-mortar shops are done — but pop-up shops are trendy. And while the ever-popular click-baity headline of how "email is dead" continues to pop-up on our news feeds, digital and e-commerce sales say otherwise.…

Instacart Shoppers Say Policy Change Led to Pay Cuts
January 11, 2017 at 12:21 pm

Instacart is struggling a bit. Ever since the company chose to overhaul its tipping practices last fall, the relationship between Instacart and the people it uses to deliver groceries has been a bit rocky. The Consumerist reports the company has cut delivery personnel's pay by way of decreasing delivery rates, preventing them from picking up orders and,…

3 Alternatives for Attributing Offline Sales
January 11, 2017 at 10:24 am

Implementing any sales attribution system is difficult, to say the least. With digital and mobile channels dominating the purchase path of today’s consumer, many attribution approaches rely heavily on online data. Consumer packaged goods companies, in particular, struggle to attribute offline sales to their digital and other marketing efforts. The retail purchase data they need…

What Millennials Want
January 11, 2017 at 9:42 am

Retailers tend to treat millennial shoppers with a kind of anthropological obsession. This generation, which at first glance, seems to defy conventional consumerist behavior, is varyingly described as whimsical, idealist, flashy, hip and self-obsessed. It seems like part of the reason for this “exotic” characterization is that the rise of millennials has also coincided with…

What the Holiday Season Means for 2017
January 11, 2017 at 9:31 am

As consumer demand increases, whether it's for a specific product or expedited shipping, smart retailers are rethinking their approach and looking to find ways to optimize their fulfillment operations. Partnering with new providers can enable new capabilities (e.g., same-day delivery or in-store pick up) and break through traditional organizational boundaries that separate digital channels and…

Generic is the New Brand Name: Tapping Influencers to Boost In-House Brands
January 9, 2017 at 10:13 am

While stores like Trader Joe’s have crafted entire business models (and built cult followings) on store brands, generic products from retailers like Sephora have to compete against high-end national brands. In-house products may offer wider variety and lower price points, but because they’re often situated in the rear of the store and the bottom of…

The Value of Allocation Accuracy
January 9, 2017 at 10:06 am

It’s among the most frustrating parts of retailing: You built a strong assortment plan. Great product mix. Good margin. Customer response is better than you had hoped for. You're ready for an outstanding selling season. Yet the allocation process drops the ball. Too many large dresses in store A while the racks are empty in…

Retailers Generate Record-Setting Online Holiday Sales
January 6, 2017 at 11:36 am

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, online sales hit $91.7 billion, up 11 percent from $82.5 billion a year ago, according to a report by Adobe Insights. The 2016 holiday season also broke a major e-commerce record: Cyber Monday became the biggest online shopping day in U.S. history, generating $3.45 billion in online sales, up 12…

3 New Challenges Arising in Omnichannel Marketing
January 6, 2017 at 10:22 am

The buyer’s journey is no longer a straight, narrow road. Whether the purchase is large or small, consumers have more choices than ever in terms of when, where and how to buy. Omnichannel marketing is the only way brands can be sure to catch the right consumers at the right times. Even if interest first…