Omnichannel

Welcome to CSA First Look, a showcase for new stores and formats. This inaugural edition spotlights the first physical store of  hot Internet start-up Birchbox, the 800,000 members and growing beauty subscription company. Located in Manhattan's SoHo, the  duplex-styled, 4,500-sq.-ft. store combines the hottest new products with beauty services and weekly make-up classes. Similar to the Birchbox web site, the store puts a big emphasis on expert advice and reader reviews, offered via the touchcreens and iPads located throughout the space.  

San Diego -- Certona, a provider of real-time omnichannel personalization, was selected by Steve Madden to deliver integrated, hyper-personalized experiences to its customers as they browse, share and purchase their favorite footwear and accessories.

Sears is looking to position itself as the go-to retailer for teens, and to that end has launched an exclusive fashion collection by Seventeen Magazine.

The full collection is available at 450 Sears stores nationwide as well as on Sears.com. Shop Your Way members and customers can shop the collection, enter sweepstakes and explore exclusive content from Seventeen Magazine at shopyourway.com.

New York – A majority of Americans say they have purchased clothing (69%), digital content (59%), and accessories such as handbags and shoes (54%) online, while half (49%) have purchased personal electronics such as digital music players or tablets in this fashion. However, according to a recent Harris Poll of 2,241 U.S. adults, nearly eight-in-10 respondents indicated an in-person preference for general food purchases such as groceries (78%).

Leading footwear manufacturer and retailer Wolverine World Wide plans to close 140 stores in the next 18 months as part of a strategic realignment plan focused on strengthening omnichannel capabilities.

Most of the stores to be closed operate under the company’s Stride Rite banner. Sixty of the units will close by year end with the remainder to close next year, the company said. The disclosure was made in conjunction with the release of solid financial results for the company’s second quarter ended July 14.

Rockford, Mich. -- Wolverine Worldwide said it plans to close about 140 stores, primarily under the Stride Rite banner,  over the next 18 months as part of a strategic realignment plan to accelerate growth and improve overall profitability.  About 60 stores will close by the end of the current fiscal year, with the rest to be shuttered by the end of 2015.

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. is running month-long omnichannel “Get Pop-Cultured” pop culture promotion during July. The effort promotes books, characters, movies, artists, illustrators and pop culture icons with themed events, author signings, panel discussions, contests, exclusive content, giveaways and prizes, sneak peeks and activities.

By Marie Jackson, CMO of Retail Solutions Inc.