Data & Analytics

Retailers are certainly attuned to the importance of mobile technology in today’s store environment. Customers who live mobile-enabled, “constantly connected” lifestyles expect the seamless mobile-physical overlap that exists in other parts of their lives to also be readily available when they enter a store.

However, when designing an in-store mobile experience, retailers typically focus their efforts squarely on the software side of the equation.

This year more than ever, holiday shoppers are coming to retailers across a variety of channels and touchpoints. Retailers need to provide a consistent and personalized experience for customers wherever they are.

Target Corp. is doing a little shopping of its own with a new sourcing solution that gives its buyers an online shopping-like experience.

Comcast has unveiled a futuristic-looking, tech-savvy store prototype aimed at enhancing the cable giant’s brand reputation and service experience. Focused on the customer, the new Studio Xfinity in Chicago aims to entertain, engage and inform shoppers with hands-on experiences.

Comcast partnered with ESI Design, New York City, on the 9,000-sq.-ft. store, which is also serving as a showcase for the company to debut and test new service initiatives.

Between buyer’s remorse, relaxed return policies and the substantial increase in online purchases (which come with an average return rate of 12%-15%), 3.5 billion items are returned to retailers each year. This adds up to around $260 billion of merchandise.

It’s almost September, which can only mean one thing: The annual blizzard of holiday sales forecasts is about to begin, and this year eMarketer is one of the first out of the gate.

Louisville, Ky. -- Appriss Inc., a provider of data, risk assessment and analytic solutions for government, health information and consumer industries, has acquired The Retail Equation, Irvine, California, a provider of predictive analytics for retail businesses. The Retail Equation will become the retail division of Appriss and will operate as a separate company within the Appriss corporate structure.

Facebook and Twitter don’t have the power to move mountains (not yet anyway), but one thing is certain: Retailers are not only listening to the conversations going on out there about their brands, but, increasingly and when it makes brand-sense, acting on them. At least the smart ones are.

Consider Topshop. The global fashion retailer came under fire for using ultra-thin mannequins in its stores.