Omnichannel

Entering 2015 it is a good time for retailers to reflect on the changing state of digital advertising and how the most effective ads are increasingly shaped by smart optimization technologies.

One essential fact is driving this broad industry trend – consumers are becoming ever more reliant on their smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. This growing dependence on mobile devices has even ushered in a new term for “nomophobia,” which is the fear of having no mobile contact.

New York -- It appears there is a disconnect between consumer attitudes and behaviors with regards to their digital interactions. In a survey by IBM, 43% of consumers said they prefer to shop online, but only 29% actually made their last purchase online. In some product categories such as youth apparel or home décor, there is a nearly 20-point gap between the percentage of people that say they enjoy shopping online and the percentage of people who actually made their last purchase online in those categories.

The digital innovations keep coming at Nieman Marcus, where the luxury retailer has introduce a new concept called the MemoryMirror.

London - Mothercare plc intends to create faster and more convenient omnichannel fulfillment options to its customers using supply chain commerce solutions from Manhattan Associates. The Manhattan solutions will enable Mothercare to make store stock available for online sales and support more efficient customer processes to speed up delivery options through express click and collect services and ship from store.

Two technology trends stood out above all others at this week’s NRF Annual Convention. First, retailers are becoming aware that omnichannel inventory transparency is the back-end platform supporting the front-end seamless customer experience they have been building the past few years. Being able to see all inventory across all channels in real time is the key to enabling omnichannel processes such as shipping and fulfilling from store, centrally managing orders from multiple sales channels, providing “endless aisle” access to full inventory.

Entering 2015, it is a good time for retailers to reflect on the changing state of digital advertising and how the most effective ads are increasingly shaped by smart optimization technologies. One essential fact is driving this broad industry trend: consumers are becoming ever more reliant on their smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. This growing dependence on mobile devices has even ushered in a new term for “nomophobia,” which is the fear of having no mobile contact.

New York -- Neiman Marcus is testing interactive mirror technology at its store in Walnut Creek, Calif., that enables shoppers to see how they look in different outfits at the same time. The luxury retailer is set to pilot the technology in two additional locations, including its store in San Francisco.

Strong e-commerce growth and omnichannel contributed to a healthy holiday shopping sales season at Belk.

The nation’s largest family owned and operated fashion department store company reported a 5.2% increase in sales for the nine-week period ending Jan. 3. Same store sales for the same period increased by 4.8%.