Data & Analytics

Move over Cyber Monday, Cyber Week is the new buzz term.    Cyber Week, comprised of Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 23 through Cyber Monday, Nov. 28, is attracting more shoppers as they “grow more and more comfortable shopping on their phones and tablets, opening up the timetable for brands to reach them during the holiday shopping season," said Tony Zito, CEO, Rakuten Marketing.  

Wallets are definitely getting lighter this holiday season, especially as more shoppers use mobile wallets.   Nearly one quarter of consumers (24.2%) currently use mobile wallets, and 48.5% plan to make a gift purchase with their digital wallet this holiday season. Further, more than two thirds (69.6%) of wallet users indicated they would use their mobile wallets even more if more merchants allowed them to pay that way.  

Connect with retail professionals involved in the planning/design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants at Chain Store Age’s annual SPECS show, March 12 -14, 2017, Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Florida.    

It seems that cybercriminals never sleep no matter where you are in the world. The Information Commissioners Office released data showing that cyberattacks and breaches nearly doubled from 2015 to 2016 in the U.K.   

If you’re concerned about employee engagement and reducing your staff turn-over numbers, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there’s a startup offering solutions to meet your workers engagement goals and encourage your associates to stay onboard and thrive with your team. Other companies in the spotlight this month are innovating around point-of-purchase mobile marketing, using in-store scents to stand out, real-time store promotional display monitoring and creating meaningful and memorable customer experiences.  

Consumers now have a new gifting option when ordering from 1-800-Flowers — digital gift cards.   Armed with the CashStar Commerce platform, the retailer now allows customers to select, purchase and personalize digital gift cards across its nine brands: 1-800-Flowers.com, Harry & David, The Popcorn Factory, Cheryl’s, Fannie Mae, 1-800-Baskets.com, Wolferman’s, FruitBouquets.com, and Stock Yards.   

Ashley Furniture associates can now help shoppers throughout their shopping experience, without ever leaving their side.   Through a partnership with Mad Mobile, Ashley Furniture is launching a retail platform that will enable retail store associates use mobile devices to access available merchandise, customer data, and delivery information.     

One of the nation’s top mall operators is expanding an innovative concept is designed to solve the top pain point of online shopping: returns.    Macerich is expanding its Happy Returns service to three additional malls: Fashion Outlets of Chicago, The Shops at North Bridge, and Tysons Corner Center. The service builds on the success of the mall operator’s first Return Bar, at Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, Calif.  

When it comes to customer satisfaction surveys, a convenience store is at the top of the class.    That’s according to a study by Interaction Metrics which finds that retailers are wasting customers’ time — and their own — by conducting critically flawed satisfaction surveys.  

Incorporating digital components into the physical store is the next frontier for retailers. You see, customers’ expectations have grown while their attention spans have shrunk. Some reports have even found that goldfish (yes, you read that right, goldfish) have a longer attention span than humans.