Target

‘Black Thursday’ Shopping: The Uninvited Guest at Thanksgiving?
October 30, 2014

It's hard to believe we're less than a month away from Thanksgiving. Over the last few years, retailers have opened their stores earlier and earlier on Black Friday in order to cash in on the holiday shopping frenzy. So much so that Black Friday doorbuster sales have crept — uninvited — into our Thanksgiving dinners. Big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart and Toys"R"Us have gone on record as to how opening on Thanksgiving has increased their sales drastically. But honestly, how in the world did 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving turn into the new midnight for Black Friday sales?

More Retailers Turn Videos Into Direct Sales Channels
October 30, 2014

Buying products from inside a video isn't a new concept — YouTube introduced a click-to-buy feature in January 2009 — but more online retailers are experimenting with interactive video sales as the interfaces improve and touchscreens become ubiquitous. Shoppable video is growing up. But without compelling statistics to back up its efficacy, it still has a ways to go. In the past year, 39 department stores produced and released at least one shoppable video, including Sears, Kohl's and Mr. Porter, according to business intelligence service L2. 

Data Breaches Shine Light on Secure Contactless Technology
October 29, 2014

Staples is the latest in a long line of retailers to suffer a data breach. Many retailers are wondering if they're next. Some companies are looking to implement technology to hopefully avoid an attack on their customers’ data. Near-field communication (NFC) technology is at the top of the list, bringing real-time engagement to customers with smartphones and other enabled devices within a short range. When used for payments, no personal information is "handed over" through the system, making NFC technology a very secure method of wireless communication.

Report: Rite Aid Dumps Apple Pay Days After Launch
October 24, 2014

After accepting Apple Pay at all of its stores on Oct. 20 — Apple Pay's launch day — Rite Aid apparently stopped its support for the technology yesterday, according to a report yesterday in Mac Rumors.

Why Target, J.C. Penney and Gap's New CEOs Have to Learn to Be Merchants
October 24, 2014

I believe that merchants are very important to a retail organization. They shape the future of their company with innovative and creative ideas. They're always on the lookout for new fashion trends. They visit stores and designers to learn and see the future. Fashion leadership starts at the top and then permeates the whole store organization. Whether it's a color, new look or new allocation of space, it's the merchant who will decide. Some of retail's top merchants I admire include Mike Gould, Roger Farah, Mickey Drexler and Karen Katz.

Sears to Close 100+ Stores, Lay Off 5,500
October 23, 2014

In what can't be qualified as surprising news, Sears Holdings Corp announced this morning that it will close more than 100 stores across the country and lay off upwards of 5,500 employees. At least 46 Kmart stores, 30 Sears department stores and 31 Sears Auto Centers are scheduled to close before the end of January. This is just the latest in a series of moves that Sears has made as it fights to keep its head above water.

Target to Offer Free Shipping for Online Orders Through Holidays
October 22, 2014

Two months into the job, Target's new chief executive has already given the go-ahead to one of the retailer's key holiday strategies: free shipping. Starting Wednesday, Target will offer free shipping on any online purchase — no matter the size — through Dec. 20. In doing so, Target is taking an aggressive stance early on in the holiday season. Typically, retailers require a minimum purchase amount before shipping becomes free. "We've spent time as a team to see how we can differentiate ourselves," Brian Cornell, who began as CEO in August, said in an interview Tuesday. 

Target's Next-Gen Mobile Shopping Experience
October 7, 2014

Target has announced the release of a slew of enhancements to its mobile shopping offerings that promise to take location-based shopping to new heights when they go live later this month. Target has partnered with the startup Curbside to offer curbside pickup at 10 San Francisco Bay area stores. Guests simply place an order for store pickup through the Curbside app and collect their purchase in person at a convenient Curbside-branded trailer or tent near

Tips to Improve Your Affiliate Marketing Program
October 7, 2014

It's no mystery why affiliate marketing has historically had a reputation as a channel full of fraud and off-brand promotion. However, shady affiliate practices are now taking a backseat as retailers with properly managed affiliate programs are starting to shift to practices that focus on and drive incremental revenue and brand relevance.

The Vendor's Guide to Trade Shows ... From a Retailer
October 2, 2014

I'm at the Shop.org Annual Summit in Seattle and having a great time catching up with old friends and colleagues, meeting new contacts, and learning about new digital marketing strategies and technologies. Also, as usual, as I walk through the exhibit hall I'm being greeted by smiling vendors, eager to share with me information about their latest and greatest shiny new objects. For the most part, I actually enjoy talking with vendors and learning about their wares. But I have noticed many folks — retailers, probably — with their badges turned the other way or tucked into their jackets, and I know why: they don’t want to be singled out and aggressively sold to by vendors.