Social Media

Domino’s customers can now place their orders without ever talking to a human.   Starting Sept. 15, Domino’s customers with a “pizza profile” on the chain’s website can place orders via bot-based Facebook Messenger. The pizza chain's in-house team, which created zero-click ordering via Amazon Echo and Apple Watch, also developed Domino's new ordering bot.  

How do industry observers rate retail social customer care? #EpicFail.   The term social customer care refers to the quick and personalized customer service brands are expected to provide through social media once a customer engages with them to resolve an issue. To date, 92.5% of brands are failing to meet customers' social customer care expectations, according to the “Social Customer Care Report,” from Rational Interaction.  

Inspired by Pokemon Go!, Bloomingdale’s found a way to run with the idea of scavenger hunts.   The department store retailer ran an in-store scavenger hunt based on Snapchat and geofilters, according to an article in Luxury Daily.  

Despite an increase in digitally-influenced retail spending, a gap still remains between retailers and digital shoppers.

Digital interactions influence 56 cents of every dollar spent in retail stores, totaling $2.1 trillion by the end of the year – up from 14 cents of every dollar in 2013, according to Deloitte's new study, “The New Digital Divide: The Future of Digital Influence in Retail.”

When mobile shoppers care enough to send the very best, they trade Hallmark cards in favor of digital gift cards.  

Apparel retailer Nasty Girl, one of the hottest apparel merchants on the Internet just a few years back, is looking for a possible buyer, Women’s Wear Daily reported.  

Thirsty for meaningful brand interactions, consumers are turning to social media more regularly.
 
While it’s still largely used for socializing and product discovery, social media is increasingly influencing consumer purchasing decisions, according to “Shopping’s Social Influence,” a new report from digital advertising and analytics firm Adlucent.
 

Cabela’s is known for transforming mere customers into raving fans. To elevate these efforts, a new optimization solution will help associates further improve in-store customer engagement efforts, from both tactical and strategic levels.  

If any retail CEO is going to endorse a candidate in this year’s presidential race, Howard Schultz would certainly rank at the top of the list.  

Vera Bradley in entering the New York City market, opening a digitally-savvy flagship in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.      Scheduled to open in September, the two-level, 2,700-sq.-ft. store will carry the complete Vera Bradley collection, ranging from handbags and travel items to eyewear and jewelry, and debut the brand's newly redesigned logo and store concept.