Consumer Analytics

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and retailers are applying this truism to their email marketing efforts.   According to a survey of 150 retail clients by email marketing technology provider Campaigner, 39% of respondents say that the first email content new subscribers see from their brand is a thank-you-for-subscribing message. This approach seems to be working, as almost 50% of respondents report that 21% or more of new subscribers engage with such welcome emails.  

Whole Foods Market, Inc. is teaming up with a well-known analytics provider to obtain a deeper understanding of its assortment and customer base.   The specialty grocery chain has selected Nielsen as its primary U.S. analytics provider for POS data, consumer insights and industry metrics. Nielsen is working with the company to collaboratively create a customized natural and organic product hierarchy that will provide a comprehensive view of Whole Foods Market's product categories, including ingredient-level attributes.

Although Amazon poses a major holiday sales threat, there are steps retailers can take to produce a merry season.   According to a new survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers by marketing platform provider Signal, 42% of respondents said Amazon will be their primary holiday gift destination. Consumers who use Amazon do so because it is easy (50%), because they are Prime members (36%), and because they like the product reviews and recommendations (29%).  

There are four main channels consumers use to initiate an online purchase, and each one results in a different experience.  

It’s been more than a year, but consumers still are not rushing to use Amazon Dash buttons.   New analysis of e-receipts from a daily panel of more than 4 million online shoppers from digital commerce research firm Slice Intelligence shows that fewer than 50% of people who bought a Dash button have actually made an order.  

Hispanic shoppers enjoy grocery shopping significantly more than the average U.S. consumer, in part, because they consider the experience a social endeavor, according to a new study from Acosta Sales & Marketing and Univision, “The Why? Behind the Buy U.S. Hispanic Shopper Study.”  

Many kids are just starting their summer vacations, but back-to-school shopping is well underway.  

Determining if an online clothing purchase will fit properly is a challenge for many women.    Launched in May 2016, e-commerce site Fovo curates apparel selections that are tailored to female shoppers’ specific body shapes.   “The way forward is personalization,” said Fovo cofounder Kiana Anvaripour in a Chain Store Age interview. We want to help women optimize the experience of shopping online for apparel so the ‘endless scroll’ doesn’t exist.”

Ralph Lauren Corp. made headlines with its June 7th announcement that it planned to close 50 stores and lay off 1,000 employees as part of a restructuring in response to lower sales.     The announcement  didn't go into specifics about the luxury brand’s plans to correct its course. But some industry insiders speculate that the background of Ralph Lauren CEO  Stefan Larsson, who took the reins of the company in September,  holds the key.   

Think online is the biggest challenge traditional retailers face? Think again.