Social Media

Neiman Marcus is entering the social shopping fray by launching its first ever user-generated content contest on Instagram.

The retailer has said previously it understands the influence user-generated content can have on purchase decisions. That’s why they integrate it into key points in the user journey. Neiman Marcus says it is aiming to create powerful, socialized shopping experiences, online and in-store. 

New York - While the digital age has encouraged more consumers to shop and browse products on the Web, physical stores are still primary destinations for shoppers, according to an annual survey by PwC's.

Wakefield, Mass. — More than 80% of retailers plan to increase their customer experience spending in 2015, according to a survey conducted by Econsultancy for SDL, a provider of global customer experience. The report also reveals that while North American retailer brands appreciate the need for technology integration, with 97% citing integration of customer experience technology as “important” or “essential” to their growth, only 40% describe their relevant systems as integrated and cross-functional.

Selling toilet paper is a tricky proposition, but a clever campaign from Procter & Gamble looks to drive sales by leveraging the popularity of firefighters to engage with consumers via social media.

The Charmin Relief Project encourages consumers to nominate their local firehouses online or via social media for the chance to receive a year’s supply of toilet paper. Since firehouses serve as a home-away-from-home for many firefighters, Charmin wants to make sure these heroes are fully stocked with one of the most basic comforts of home: toilet paper.

By Jim Crawford

In the 1990s, when the Internet and e-commerce created a tangible link between modes of shopping that had previously been isolated (stores and catalogs), retailers struggled with how to understand, measure, and connect with shoppers in multiple ways.

It was out of this confusion that the concept of “multichannel” was heralded as retail’s saving grace, and soon, retailers were all abuzz with cross-channel shoppers.

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — More than 80% of retailers plan to increase their customer experience spending in 2015, according to a new survey from SDL, a provider of global customer experience, and Econsultancy.

Findings from the online survey, called The Retailer’s Imperative: A Strategic Approach to Customer Experience, reveal that North American retailers are past the stage of debating the importance of customer experience management and are now trying to master it.

It may be hard to believe (considering its financial troubles), but Sears was the most popular U.S. department store on Facebook during the 2014 holiday shopping season, according to a new study. 

The data also show that Walmart.com was the most popular mass merchant store site.

Customers who are fans of the wildly popular video game Evolve will love GameStop’s new promotions, both online and in-store.

The video game retailer will be conducting consumer engagement quizzes in-store and online that allow fans to identify the best Evolve hunters or monsters based on their personal play style. Fans who share their results on social media will be eligible to win GameStop gift cards.

Customers can pre-order Evolve and sign up for the promotions in-store or online.