Retail Stores

eBay and the United States Postal Service have a long relationship thanks to the importance of shipping to online sellers. In fact, eBay with its 120 million active users (globally) is one of the U.S. Postal Service's largest package mailers. The Postmaster General was warmly welcomed by eBay sellers when he appeared on stage at the 2005 eBay Live conference. But it's only now, in 2013, that the USPS is opening a store on eBay.

The estimated 4.3 million women who are proud to call themselves mommy bloggers offer a bevy of benefits to brands and retailers. Chief among them is that they're not only tapped into the audience most marketers covet — millions and millions of moms — but their opinions hold great sway with this demographic. Yet some marketers and business owners, and their public relations representatives, aren't just dismissive of mommy bloggers, they're downright unprofessional.

The 2013 back-to-school season is lackluster at best for retailers. Based on my work with millennials and my agency's research, here are eight reasons why the season is such a disaster:

Apple's physical retail stores are a thing of beauty, fusing wood, metal and glass into a rather sleek setup that feels clean and futuristic, a bit like the brand's products. While we've seen many Apple retail stores being erected in the past all over the world, not many actually get to see what goes on behind closed doors, like how everything is set up, when products are delivered, and how Apple staff are prepped for the influx of customers walking in to check out and play around with the shiny new products. 

JustFab, known for its engaging and personalized online shopping experience, today announced the opening of a 3,000 square-foot flagship store in Los Angeles. JustFab is the first fashion subscription e-commerce company to open a retail store. Launched in 2010 as a web-only fashion brand offering women's footwear, JustFab has since expanded into multiple international markets and new product categories. Now, with over 33 million members worldwide through a portfolio of lifestyle fashion brands including JustFab, FabKids, ShoeDazzle and Fabletics, co-CEOs Adam Goldenberg and Don Ressler are taking the company into traditional retail, upending the typical growth strategy most brands follow.

Last year, Best Buy's stock price was at its lowest point in nine years. Sales were plummeting while former CEO Brian Dunn was covered in a shroud of shame due to his unethical relationship with a female employee. However, the summer of 2013 brought about some good news for the struggling electronics chain. Best Buy posted its first profit in a year, with earnings skyrocketing to

Nothing drives sales like the advice of an expert. And there's no better way for retailers to ensure their customers get the right advice at the right time than by turning their own sales associates into experts on the products they sell. Knowledgeable retail associates not only have higher job satisfaction, but also ultimately help increase sales and customer loyalty.

"So, there's this glasses company that will send you four … no, five frames so you can try them on at home," a friend told me recently. If we were on a trivia show I would have slammed down my buzzer and announced, "Warby Parker!" But this wasn't a game and I actually didn't feel all that cool when I replied, "Yes, I got my glasses from that company more than a year ago." Instead, it felt like I bumped up against the wall of my tech bubble. Ah, life.

I came across an interesting report last week from marketing communications firm JWT called Retail Rebooted. The report focuses on key trends taking place within the retail industry today. I was most interested in the report’s "20-Plus Things to Watch in Retail" section, which offers a relatively quick rundown of developments in retail, from innovative business models to shifting consumer behaviors to the latest technology launches. In today’s blog post (part one of a two-part series), I’ll recap 10 of these 20-plus things, such as 3-D printing, alternative brand currencies, and click-and-collect shopping.

With the rise of e-commerce, many retailers are underestimating the role of their bricks and mortar estates. Indeed, Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland recently said that "online has replaced Marble Arch as our flagship store" - a bold claim that others would be foolish to take to heart as the way forward. The store still holds significant value for retailers. The issue is