Omnichannel

CVS has developed an omnichannel strategy for this holiday season that focuses on targeting customers online, on mobile and in stores.

Consumers can follow @CVS_Extra on Twitter to learn about upcoming promotions and ways to win a variety of gift items through special contests. Additional holiday savings and tips can be found on the CVS Facebook page.

As the retail industry enters the home stretch of the holiday season, it’s a fitting time to think about not just the gifts your customers are giving their loved ones, but gifts you can give your customers. Not gifts in the form of cash or merchandise (though surely your customers would gladly accept them), but gifts in the form of omnichannel features and services. Consider giving the following three omnichannel gifts to your customers for the holidays and beyond, if you haven’t already.  

By Fabrizio Brasca, JDA Software  

Belk Inc. has renewed its agreement with eBay Enterprise to manage multi-site customer support.

Belk first partnered with eBay Enterprise in 2008 with the launch of Belk.com. Since then, Belk has increased its online business significantly and eBay Enterprise has continued to support that growth by providing customer sales and service solutions through various contact channels.

Gap has appointed a new CEO. Art Peck, currently president of the company’s growth, innovation and digital division, will succeed Glenn Murphy as the company’s next executive chief, effective Feb. 1, 2015.

The company said that after seven years in his role, Murphy made the personal decision to leave the company at the end of the fiscal year. Under Murphy’s stewardship, the company acquired new brands and globalized its business by expanding store locations from 10 to 50 countries, including China.

Amazon.com is rolling out a new haggling feature on its website as the company looks to further cement its low-price reputation among consumers.

The new “Make an Offer” feature allows sellers to accept or reject bids on more than 150,000 items across the categories of Sports and Entertainment Collectibles, Collectible Coins and Fine Art.

By James Han, Tyco Retail Solutions  

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports Inc. met Wall Street expectations with a 33% year-over-year decline in profits during the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income fell to $17.9 million from $26.8 million, with an increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses driving the reduction.