eCommerce

SIMON SAID
Simon turned to the Internet for its latest development. The shopping center owner creates centers that offer destination shopping and a place for socialization, and now it’s redefining the way the company connects with its millions of shoppers on a daily basis. Simon SAID is a lifestyle-focused digital platform that delivers editorial content on fashion, beauty, design, culture and food. The platform taps influencers, bloggers and retail partners to create original content, which features products from numerous brands sold at Simon centers.
Why low gas prices are not helping retailers
Gasoline prices will remain low in 2016, but that doesn’t mean retailers can count on a big windfall from the extra cash left in shoppers’ wallets and there are three key reasons why.

The limited benefit of low gasoline prices to retailers — especially food and mass retailers — is the result of three key factors shaping household spending behavior:

Two key roles filled at eBags as Q4 sales set record

Online accessories retailer eBags continues to build out its senior leadership team with the newest hire filling the roles of CFO and COO.
Holiday Recap: Top Five Customer-Engaging Omnichannel Campaigns

As we wrap up another holiday season, it’s time to review some of the most innovative and successful omnichannel promotions launched by retailers.

Some of these promotions were brand new, some were updated versions of established favorites. And some directly drove purchases while others built brand awareness and general holiday goodwill. But all five of the selected campaigns engaged customers in ways that should help boost loyalty long after holiday cheer fades.

Harry & David
Retail Forecast 2016

How will retailers fare in 2016? Very well, according to experienced market watchers.

“We expect core retail sales to grow 5.3% in 2016,” says Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics for Moody’s Analytics, a research firm based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (Core retail sales exclude volatile revenues from auto sales and gas stations.) That is notably faster than the 4.2% rate anticipated when 2015 sales are finally tallied. The 2015 experience was, again, slightly better than the 3.9% growth of 2014.
TOP 10 WOMEN IN TECH

Female executives take leading roles in retail IT arena

If a “leader” is someone who knows how to take charge, achieve goals and inspire others along the way — even in the most trying of circumstances — then the women featured in this special section are leaders in every sense of the word. They have toiled and proved their mettle — and smarts — in a field that traditionally has not been all that female-friendly: technology.
Tourneau gets with the times

For luxury watch retailer Tourneau, brick-and-mortar historically took precedence over online operations.

The New York-based retailer is known for having long-tenured associates with deep knowledge. This emphasis on the in-store experience often left digital commerce overlooked among the company’s strategic priorities.

However, recognizing that the modern consumer now expects a seamlessly blended experience that crosses the physical and digital channels, Tourneau is entering the omnichannel world with help from Demandware.
Lowe’s knows there’s no place like home

On the heels of adding new security features to its Iris connected home device, Lowe’s is further expanding its presence in the connected home market.
Amazon reports happy holiday for sellers

Some of the details are vague, but businesses and individuals selling items via Amazon.com experienced a generally successful holiday season.

According to figures released by Amazon, more than 23 million items were ordered worldwide from sellers on Amazon on Cyber Monday, a more than 40% increase year-over-year. Use of the Amazon Sponsored Products targeted advertising service by sellers grew more than 100%year-over-year worldwide. Clicks on Sponsored Products in the U.S. grew by more than 200% from the previous holiday season.
Online retailers have happy New Year

All was not quiet on New Year’s Day for online retailers and their customers.

According to Verizon Retail Index data, broadband traffic attributed to e-commerce shopping activity reached new heights over the New Year’s holiday weekend (Jan. 1-3). E-commerce traffic posted highs of 28%, 32% and 36% respectively above average daily levels on those three days – a similar pattern to the prior year. Notably, Sunday posted the highest activity of the season to date which is consistent with a trend identified by Verizon during the 2014 season.