Digital Marketing

For millennial shoppers, Victoria’s Secret is tops, followed by Sephora and Nike.   That’s according to a report from Conde Nast Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which surveyed the popularity of brands among millennial shoppers, reported Bloomberg.   

One way for U.S retail companies to win in 2017 is to look beyond their domestic borders for growth. As retail executives implement this year’s business plans, they should consider embracing cross-border e-commerce in China to grow now, and in the future.   China is the world’s largest and fastest-growing e-commerce market. Cross-border e-commerce is experiencing explosive growth due to Chinese consumers’ desire for lower prices and higher-quality products.   

Michaels and Pinterest are merging crafts and digital promotions to get artisans’ creative juices flowing.   The two companies are teaming up to sell a kit that can inspire newbies or the most experienced crafter to create one of the most trending projects on Pinterest. The co-branded Make It Kits were developed using Pinterest insights and trends, along with Michaels’ product expertise and e-commerce capabilities, according to Michaels.  

Think of it as an Airbnb for temporary spaces.    Appear Here, a British-based online marketplace for short-term retail space, has launched in the United States, with its initial expansion starting in New York City.  

Native advertising is significantly spurring in-store traffic — at a more cost-efficient rate — compared to traditional display advertising.  

As more shoppers embrace digital solutions, apparel retailers must merge online and offline experiences to drive e-commerce sales.   This was according to “Apparel Trend Report: Reconciling the Tech with the Tactile,” a report from Criteo that highlights the latest shopping trends in the apparel and accessories retail category. The report offers insight into shifting shopper behavior and actionable intelligence for retailers and brands as they seek to fully capitalize on the apparel e-commerce ecosystem.  

There is clearly a “generation gap” when it comes to how — and where — different customer segments choose to shop.   This was according to a recent study from Dealspotr, a crowdsourcing platform for savings. The firm launched an online survey among respondents across age groups, including Generation Z (20 and under), Millennial (21 to 35), Generation X (36 to 52), and Baby Boomers (53 and above), and monitored their visits to fashion-related areas across the Dealspotr website.  

Lord & Taylor has entered into a partnership with make-up icon Bobbi Brown.   The department store retailer appointed Brown as creative consultant, and has launched an in-store shop concept, justBobbi, at select Lord & Taylor locations, including its Manhattan flagship, and online. The initiative is the first Brown has entered into since her recent departure from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, which she founded in 1991.  

British online fast-fashion retailer Missguided makes the leap to physical retail with a high-concept, high-impact store at Westfield Stratford City mall in London.   Featuring an “on-air” television studio concept, the 20,000-sq.-ft. space delivers a dynamic live stream of real-time content, fashion and inspiration in a bold environment. It reflects the desire of its young, Snapchat-obsessed core audience for the new by offering a constantly changing space that includes plenty of shareable moments.    

The retail industry is ramping up its efforts against House Republicans’ proposed border-tax proposal.      The National Retail Federation has launched the next phase of a television and digital ad campaign against the tax, which is included in the House Republican tax reform plan.   The campaign features three small retailers who tell their own stories and convey their fears that the BAT would put them out of business.