Data & Analytics

New York -- More and more consumers are browsing, creating baskets and making purchases from their smartphones, according to the latest Demandware Shopping Index.

Globally, phones accounted for 94% of the year over year increase in e-commerce traffic, 74% of the increase in basket creation and 47% of the order growth.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is reportedly bringing a sunny approach to energy at its store in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

According to the Fayetteville Observer, Target will install solar panels that can generate 432 KwH of electricity per year on the store’s roof. There is no firm launch date yet for the store’s solar panels, which will likely generate 15%-30% of its total electricity needs.   

Nike has opened a soaring, one-of-kind flagship to spotlight some of its most innovative merchandise.

The three-level 31,000-sq.-ft. store, at The Grove in Los Angeles, is one of the largest in the company’s portfolio. It features a number of elements designed to celebrate the City of Angles and to serve athletes, starting with a huge “We are LA” mural that spans all three floors and is made up of thousands of icons reflecting Nike’s heritage, local sports teams and California-centric imagery.

Chicago – More than half of retailers struggle to perform a crucial marketing task. According to a new study of nearly 200 retailers from Yes Lifecycle Marketing and Retail TouchPoints, 52% of retailers have difficulty identifying and engaging their best customers.

Vancouver – Despite a healthy increase in net revenue, net income slipped at Lululemon Athletica during the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Net income dropped 2% to $47.67 million from $48.75 million, with higher costs and expenses driving down profits.

Net revenue grew 16% to $453.01 million from $390.7 million, aided by an 11% increase in total comparable sales. This encompassed a 6% increase in same-store sales and 35% increase in direct-to-consumer sales.

Armonk, N.Y. – Although email has reached the point it is often considered a “legacy” technology, email marketing efforts still provide substantial ROI.

Today’s customers are firmly in charge of the buying process. The Internet allows them to research products and prices at the click of a button, and in most cases, they are better informed about what’s available in the marketplace than the associates in brick-and-mortar stores. And, the retail environment is more crowded – and less personalized – than ever before.

This year’s annual fall Apple event did not offer retailers anything quite as dramatic as last year’s introduction of Apple Pay and Apple Watch. However, there were still a few announcements with potential impact on the omnichannel landscape.

TV, or Not TV

Lane Bryant is taking its campaign to make women of all shapes and sizes feel beautiful across channels this fall.

The retail chain catering to women sizes 14 to 28 is launching a new marketing campaign with the tagline "Plus is Equal." The creative for the campaign was shot by renowned fashion photographer Cass Bird and will run in Vogue, Glamour, Refinery29 and PopSugar, and will be featured on the E! Network and the 67th Emmy Awards.