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Online reviews have boomed in recent years. Once just another step in the customer decision-making process, they are now a pervasive part of daily life.  

Hollister & Co. is connecting with its shoppers through two of their favorite pastimes: mobility and video games.   Through a partnership with Rovio Entertainment and TreSensa, the re-tailer debuted a mobile video game whose activation functionality func-tions as an ad that connects the brand with loyal and potential shoppers, according to AdAge.   

Charlotte Russe is taking steps to blend its online and offline experiences.    The young women’s apparel specialty chain recently added a mobile commerce platform from PredictSpring designed to deliver a next-generation app to its customers. The app delivers the three key elements most demanded by Charlotte Russe’s customer: speed, flexibility, and a smooth blend of the online and offline brand experience.  

Walmart continues to grow both its e-commerce and fashion presence.    On Friday, the discounter announced it had acquired the assets and operations of online retailer ModCloth, which specializes in eclectic and quirky apparel and accessories for 18- to 35-year-old women. The company did not reveal the purchase price.  

Toy Kingdom, a specialty toy store concept from Shinsegae, the largest retailer in South Korea, boasts a store environment that is larger than life and highly experiential.  

As shoppers demand a streamlined, more personalized shopping experience, retailers are adopting solutions that can draw customers into their stores.   This was revealed in the “ICSC Retail Technology Survey.” The report, which was conducted February 16-19, surveyed 1,022 adults 18 years of age and older.   Consumers of all ages want more access to information — and they expect retailers to respond to this demand.   

also struggle to find the right styles post-pregnancy.   Zulily hopes to ease these “fourth trimester” blues with a new digital engagement tool. Called “The Fourth Trimester Closet Concierge,” the limited-edition solution helps new moms navigate their wardrobes during pregnancy and after they’ve welcomed their new baby.  

Generation Z is called the mobile-first generation. However, their preference for shopping in physical stores presents new opportunities for retailers.   That’s according to a new report from Euclid Analytics, “Evolution of Retail, 2017 Generation Z Shopper Survey,” which found that 66% of Gen Z prefer to shop in store because they like to see, hold and try on products before buying. Also, 28% want to engage with store associates while shopping, the most of any generation.  

Pinterest’s visual search capabilities just got broader.   On Monday, March 6, the social media site expanded its visual search technology into its browser extensions — a move that enables pinners to save images found online and use them as a jump-off point for discovering similar ideas on Pinterest, the company said.   Chrome is the first extension to receive the functionality.  

For good reason, retailers in recent years have sought to understand the shopping habits and preferences of the millennial generation. The oldest millennials, born in or after 1980, are now well into their thirties – and have certainly reached maturity as consumers. It’s now time to shift the focus and look at the next generation behind these millennials to see if they differ from their digital-savvy counterparts.