For years, registries were limited to weddings and showers. Now, retailers are fully immersed in “celebration” registries, a trend featured in a recent article on The Detroit News’ website. Registries are on the rise for all celebrations in life, including graduations, anniversaries and birthdays. It’s an example of really innovative thinking that’s increasing market share.
Retail sales blossomed in May thanks to good weather and holiday promotions, according to a recent report by a research firm highlighted in an article on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s website. Traditionally May is a good month, driven by the sale of summer fashions. But retailers need to keep an eye on the economic news coming out of Europe.
With constant, instant access to information, many consumers get bored and overstimulated. A recent conference highlighted ways to fight through the information clutter. Here are four tips compiled on marketing blog Cooler Insights: Let consumers discover your brand; embrace “fan culture”; invest in “everyday life” consumer technology; and create a service experience that goes beyond the product.
In an effort to focus on customers’ needs, a major department store will eliminate commission-based salary for certain employees. The move reflects a trend in the industry. When salespeople try to secure additional business, it can be irritating to the customer and other salespeople. More retailers are focused on giving their salespeople customer service training and paying them an hourly wage.
A major jewelry retailer doubled its sales between 2009 and 2010 by tapping into consumers’ desires to find values and their eagerness to document their life’s moments. When people buy or receive jewelry, after all, it’s more than just the item, an article on Stores.com notes. Other retailers could learn from this jewelry company as there is a huge groundswell of interest in this area of value-seeking.
Technology and online-shopping experiences are changing the way consumers shop at grocery stores. A new study from the Food Marketing Institute suggests four ways grocery shopping is changing, including value-seeking, technology integration, online shopping and format changes. Consumers are looking for the “wow factor” and retailers have to deliver it.
Retailers must step up their mobile-marketing efforts as mobile device usage grows and consumers expect more from merchants, according to a new study cited on Mobile Commerce Press’ website. As consumers’ use of smartphones and tablets grows, retailers have to participate in this channel. Mobile is only going to become more important and more mainstream.
While many consumers are using their smartphones to shop or browse sites, they don’t want the same technology to track their physical location or transmit other personal data. Retailers can’t overstep their bounds with all sorts of marketing blitzes. There’s a fine line between enticing customers with deals and earning their loyalty versus annoying them and losing their business.
Is your company prepared to go “SoLoMo?” The buzzword, a combination of social commerce with mobile and location technology, is catching the attention of digital experts. Retailers need to ask themselves if they’re ready for the next big thing. The mobile handheld device is becoming more sophisticated and retailers need to take advantage of that sooner rather than later.
High-end retailers continue to do well in the U.S., but many are setting their sights abroad as emerging foreign markets offer more opportunities for growth. This presents an opportunity for technology companies to help these high-end retailers with multi-language, multi-currency and multi-store Enterprise Resource Planning systems in emerging markets.
The next big thing in fashion won’t be something you wear. That was the message at Innovation Summit, a recent conference organized by fashion marketers, according to an article on the San Francisco Chronicle’s website. Here’s a breakdown of the emerging tech trends affecting the fashion runway: RFID technology, in-store hangouts, digital window shopping and digital marketing.
