Retail Stores

This holiday season, Bon-Ton has come out of the woodwork to try and wrest away customers from competitor J.C. Penney. Since 2011, when the company hired Brendan L. Hoffman as its new CEO, Bon-Ton has been doing its best to draw in younger customers, cut down on excess inventory and improve its e-commerce business — quite often using strategies perfected by Macy's. So far, the company seems pretty optimistic that it's going to succeed following an improved third quarter.

"Omnichannel" has become a buzzword in retail for good reason. New technologies and better data bring the longtime dream of a unified cross-channel shopping experience within reach. In practice, however, most retailers still fall far short of achieving this vision, according to a new eMarketer report, The State of Omnichannel Retail: Retailers Playing Catch-Up with Consumers. Nearly all retailers aspire to creating an omnichannel experience for their customers. 

Samsung may have something new in store for its battle with Apple: a new take on the retail store itself. Former Apple Store designer Tim Gudgel is a new Samsung employee according to The Information, as the company is reportedly considering "a deeper investment in U.S. retail." Samsung currently takes a different approach than that of Apple when it comes to product retailing. Instead of costly dedicated stores, Samsung has pop-up areas in shopping malls and dedicated areas in Best Buy locations. The hiring of Gudgel signals a possible change in that strategy. 

While Beyonce's new fast-selling self-titled album is sure to be on many Christmas wish lists, there's at least one major retailer that's opting not to sell the album: Target. "At Target we focus on offering our guests a wide assortment of physical CDs, and when a new album is available digitally before it is available physically, it impacts demand and sales projections," Target Spokesperson Erica Julkowski tells Billboard. 

Christmas 2013 shaped up as the biggest challenge ever for everyone working anywhere within the retail supply chain and logistics world. The number of gifts bought from retailers — both online and in brick-and-mortar stores — will probably hit an all-time record. Yet, because of a quirk in the calendar this year, the holiday shopping season in the U.S. is as short as it possibly can be — 26 days, down nearly a week from 32 days last year.

The holiday shopping season is here. And I'm not just talking about those obnoxious pre-Thanksgiving Christmas decorations. I'm talking about your customers, who are flocking to the visual web (see Pinterest and Instagram) to prep holiday season wish lists and find gift inspiration. Have you made your list of how to best optimize your digital efforts for those customers, but not yet checked it twice? Don't worry, there's still time! Here are three ways retailers can visually ensure their products are at the top of consumers’ wish lists during this holiday season:

Old brands don't die, they just retire to Vermont. The Vermont Country Store, that is, which bills itself as the "Purveyors of the Practical and Hard-to-Find." About 15 million U.S. households are hearing the thunk of its catalog hitting their mailboxes this Christmas, its pages packed with generations of venerable products from Jubliee kitchen wax and Lifebuoy soap to Turkish Taffy to Postum — even Fuller Brush products. A trip through its print or web pages is a trip down memory lane. Just check the comments section.

High-end fashion brands have been replacing decades-old clientelling methodologies (e.g., black books and handwritten index cards) with iPads and customer management systems that provide employees access to customer information on-the-go. Mobile technology enables store associates to both offer the right product or service to consumers at the right time and to transfer customer ownership into a centralized database instead of storing it in the employee's head. In high-end retail environments, where a one-on-one shopping experience is the norm, arming individual sales associates with mobile devices can help increase sales.

Sears plans to spin off its Lands’ End unit, which has stayed profitable amid losses by the department store chain. The move will give investors a piece of a profitable clothing brand amid almost nine years of market-lagging returns for the department store chain's shares. The distribution is subject to the approval of the board and other conditions, Sears said Friday in a statement. 

Endless lines. Pushy crowds. Hearing "The 12 Days of Christmas" for the umpteenth time in a matter of hours. Spend a little time shopping this holiday season and odds are good you'll want a good stiff drink. Not that you need to abandon your basket to grab one. More clothing retailers are branching out into the cocktail scene, offering consumers the opportunity to pause mid-shopping trip for a drink and small plates of food. Saks, Urban Outfitters and Brooks Brothers are among the brands that have recently announced plans to build out bar and restaurant spaces in stores.