Technology
June 5, 2015 at 2:58 pm
When Deborah Nicodemus took over as CEO of online luxury retailer Moda Operandi, she quickly realized that she would need to rebuild the company’s technology from the ground up. "Our mission is to elevate online shopping so that it’s a luxury experience," she says, "but there were a lot of frailties within the site." Moda’s…
May 22, 2015 at 3:10 pm
The Internet of Things (IoT) is coming to retail, so get ready. Digital devices (i.e., Things) are poised to revolutionize everything from inventory management to hypertargeted marketing. IoT-enabled smart shelving will lend a whole new meaning to the term “shelf life,” bringing retail shelves to life by allowing the dynamic changing of prices and the…
May 22, 2015 at 3:08 pm
With the runway being held in bigger venues, live tweeted and relentlessly shared online, fashion has created a new inner sanctum — the backstage — and Dior is using virtual reality to give more people a pass for that too. Fashion, especially luxury heritage brands, live for exclusivity. With a population of celebrities, models and celebrity…
May 20, 2015 at 5:20 pm
In a move at the limits of commercial technology, beauty business L’Oreal USA is pushing to 3-D print skin. The work has huge implications. Most obviously, it will enable L’Oreal to lab test the safety and performance of cosmetic products on 3-D bio printed skin. The result will be much more affordable, quickly and easily…
May 20, 2015 at 3:47 pm
The Apple Watch has arrived! Will this fundamentally alter the future of wearables? Will this be the catalyst that doubles Apple’s stock price? Will this be the gadget that finally makes mobile wearable devices mainstream? It’s still too early to know for sure, but the launch of the Apple Watch does bring into sharper focus…
May 19, 2015 at 4:39 pm
This webinar shows how to set up a successful trigger-based email marketing campaign to generate more revenue and greater profit.
May 19, 2015 at 3:29 pm
The USPS is testing a new feature to engage consumers through mobile devices and make snail-mail marketing more attractive to retail marketers. The revelation came from Postmaster General Megan Brennan in a keynote speech at the National Postal Forum on Monday. The project, known as real mail notification, is being piloted in Northern Virginia and…
May 14, 2015 at 2:11 pm
For more than two decades, Amazon.com has dominated the e-commerce industry by doing two things better than anyone else. On the one hand, its website and mobile apps are extremely easy to use and packed with useful information. Amazon’s display of suggested products, reviews and promotions all drive sales and customer loyalty. Consumers know that…
May 13, 2015 at 3:56 pm
With 66 percent of people admitting to having their mobile device on them at all times, it’s clear that consumers and brands alike are in the midst of a digital revolution. Notably, 34 percent of people agree that they immediately reach for their smartphone or tablet when they research a product. With digital adoption continuing…
May 11, 2015 at 5:01 pm
One out of every three apparel purchases made online is returned. Businesses with those return rates would never be able to survive in other sectors. Imagine if one out of every three restaurant customers sent their food back? Or one out of every three travelers canceled their flight tickets? The 33 percent return rate would be untenable. However, online retail is a different beast than brick-and-mortar, especially when it comes to apparel. Online shoppers are unable to try on items, figure out the right size, touch and feel the product, and only have a limited ability to see intricate details. Sizing and fit top the list of reasons why consumers make returns. By integrating tools to help shoppers make smarter fit decisions, online retailers can dramatically reduce their return rates.
