Digital Marketing

The fast-growing beauty category represented 17% of QVC’s global sales in 2015, but the retailer wants more.    To grab a bigger share of the category, the digital retailer will launch the Beauty iQ network, a multi-platform beauty shopping experience designed to engage beauty lovers. The program, which is set to launch on Oct. 31, will be viewable in over 40 million homes in the U.S. via distributors, including DirecTV, U-verse, Dish and Roku.   

While many retailers still struggle with how to leverage the Black Friday sales frenzy, REI has other plans in mind.   For the second year, REI will remain closed on both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. “Instead of feeding the Black Friday frenzy, we're closing our 149 stores and giving our 12,287 employees a paid day off,” REI’s website reported.   

Target Corp. is letting the cat out of the bag early with regards to its next limited edition apparel collection.   The retailer announced its limited-edition spring collaboration will be with popular designer Victoria Beckham. The collection will be available April 9, 2017, at all Target stores and Target.com, the collection. In addition, select pieces from the collection will be available for sale internationally via Victoriabeckham.com.  

NYX Professional Makeup is set to launch its first flagship in Manhattan on Friday, Oct. 28.    Located in the heart of Union Square, the new NYX is the company's 20th domestic store and will combine digital technology with a hands-on educational environment.    In keeping with its heritage as a digital brand, NYX stores feature a series of innovative technologies, including an in-store Beauty Bar, an interactive makeup station featuring custom video tutorials.  

Who hasn’t wanted to buy “looks” featured on their favorite television show? Now, it’s a reality.   A new TV talk show series, created through a partnership between Wayfair and A+E Networks, will allow viewers to purchase all featured items on Wayfair.com.   The show, called The Way Home, uses a combination of home décor and DIY how-to’s, room makeovers and everyday solutions for better living — and everything displayed is for sale.  

As brick-and-mortar stores race to transform themselves amid the increasing importance and influence of e-commerce, many retailers are looking to in-store digital media displays to attract and engage potential customers.      What’s more, new startups are bringing down the high cost of traffic-counting technology; making mobile marketing offers as painless as possible; and looking to virtual reality to create experiences that wow, immerse and educate consumers. Take a look at these:   

As the holiday shopping season “unofficially” gets underway, millennials are expected to lead the charge.   This early movement is also putting the season on pace to have the highest e-commerce sales revenue yet, according to the “2016 Holiday Initiative Summary Report,” from Criteo. The study reveals consumer holiday shopping behaviors, the role and impact of digital advertising, and e-commerce trends that retailers are urged to leverage in the upcoming months.   

Walmart is making a bold move in the competitive on-demand digital content marketplace.   Leveraging its free, premium video streaming service called Vudu, the retail behemoth now features “Vudu Movies on Us,” a program that offers customers the ability to watch “thousands of movie and TV titles for free, and on-demand, with limited commercials,” according to a company statement.