eCommerce

Consumers will be able to more easily find and download retail e-commerce apps from the Apple App Store just as the holiday shopping season heats up.

Apple will launch a new category called “Shopping” on the App Store on Nov. 5. The category will include e-commerce apps from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target and eBay. Also included will be apps from digital coupon and deal providers such as RetailMeNot and Groupon, as well as price comparison apps such as ShopSavvy.

E-commerce and payment solutions provider First Data is in a new partnership with a financial services company led by a PayPal co-founder that is said to increase average order values by as much at 80%, and conversion rates by more than 20%.

REI has shocked the retail industry — and shoppers — with its decision to lock its doors on one of the biggest and most profitable shopping days of the year.

The retailer says it will be closed not only on Thanksgiving Day but also on Black Friday. REI.com will operate as normal on Thanksgiving. On Black Friday, REI.com will have a black takeover screen encouraging people to get outside. Customers will still be able to view product and make a purchase on Black Friday, but the order will not be processed until Saturday.

Coach says increased demand for its merchandise and fewer discounts led the luxury goods maker and retailer to report increased profit in the first quarter despite a steep 9.5% drop in same-store sales.

The company said that for the first quarter ended Sept. 26, earnings were 41 cents a share (analysts expected 40 cents). Net income fell 19% to $96.4 million. Sales dropped 0.8% to $1.03 billion in the quarter, missing analysts’ $1.04 billion projection.

Two leading retailers highlighted different aspects of their digital customer experience efforts at the recent SAP Retail Forum in Miami.

Keri Stelle, director, Target Technology Services, said Target Corp. is trying to modify its entire corporate culture to respond to changing needs of the new digital customer in a session titled, “Who is the Evolving Target Guest?”

“It’s not just about Mom anymore,” said Stelle. “Today, the entire family wields influence over the retail purchase.”

It won’t impact retailers’ bottom line as much as the new Buy Now button, but Twitter is continuing its evolution into more of a sales-oriented digital platform.

Twitter is testing a new feature called “Promoted Moments,” which builds on its Moments offering that was launched at the beginning of October. Twitter Moments allows users to click on a special tab and view a curated list of stories considered to be the “best” on Twitter.

At the recent SAP Retail Forum held in Miami, I was part of a panel discussion titled, “Creating One Experience for the Digital Consumer.” Providing a consistent, integrated online and offline experience for digital shoppers is a multifaceted task that involves many platforms.

A lot of my commentary focused on how social media in particular can prove a crucial asset in creating a unified digital customer experience. Here are three specific thoughts on social retailing pulled from the panel discussion.

New York -- Howard Hughes Corporation announced McNally Jackson Books will open a new location in 2017 at the iconic Seaport District in New York. The independent New York bookstore will set up shop in Schermerhorn Row along the cobblestoned streets of the historic district and bring a new literary experience to the Seaport with a refined and carefully curated selection of books, free interactive event programming, a café with outdoor seating and a family-friendly reading area for children to engage the growing residential community.