Omnichannel

New York -- Consumers consider social media a less important part of their customer journey – from awareness to post-sale activity – compared to two years ago, according to a survey by Capgemini, a leading provider of consulting, technology and outsourcing services.

It may only be October, but here’s a prediction: It’s going to be a high-tech holiday, and I’m not talking about the gift-giving part of it. (Although in a refrain I think will play out in countless homes over the next couple of months, my 20-year-old godson has told his family the ONLY thing he wants for Christmas is a new Apple phone.)

But the big story this year is likely to be retailers’ increased use of emerging technologies that bring the digital and brick-and-mortar worlds together.

Newell Rubbermaid is looking to expand its e-commerce business and accelerate its online revenue growth worldwide by opening a global e-commerce hub in New York. The move will create more than 30 new positions.

Foothills Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal named Jon Kubo as executive VP and chief digital officer, a newly created position, effective Oct. 6. Kubo will oversee e-commerce, digital marketing and the information technology organization to integrate digital consumer experiences across all business touch points.

Walmart has been on a building boom in Northwest Arkansas. Small-format Express stores have been open now for several years, the new convenience concept Walmart To Go opened earlier this year and the latest development is a hybrid concept that allows online grocery orders to be picked up at a dedicated drive-through facility.

Lands' End Business Outfitters has launched a new online customer shopping experience at business.landsend.com, which lets business customers do everything from see how their logo looks on a selected fabric to manage account information and accessing order history.

Dusseldorf, Germany - E-Plus Gruppe, a German telecommunications provider with 400 corporate stores, is using OneView Commerce Store to become one of the first European retailers merging its digital and physical stores via OneView’s mobile commerce framework. The key drivers for E-Plus Gruppe’s cross-channel initiatives are increasing store traffic through buy online/ship to store; order at the POS; and return at the POS.

The Wet Seal is welcoming back Jon Kubo, this time as EVP and chief digital officer, a newly created position. Kubo will oversee e-commerce, digital marketing and the information technology organization to integrate digital consumer experiences across all business touch points.

Kubo was head of e-commerce and chief information officer at Wet Seal from 2005 through 2011. The company credits him with growing its e-commerce business to its highest sales volume in history through innovative and industry-leading social and mobile customer engagement programs.