Omnichannel

Plano, Texas -- Reporting to Joel Mussat, executive VP and chief omnichannel officer, Rent-A-Center, Ian Cohen has been charged with working cross-functionally to create a seamless approach to the consumer experience across a variety of shopping channels. His responsibilities include the design, development, and implementation of a digital-commerce solution that ensures customer demands are met.

It looks like more consumers prefer to do their back-to-school and back-to-college shopping online. According to a study from e-commerce marketing technology provider HookLogic and polling company Qriously, 35% of consumers shop for back-to-school suppliers online, while 34% shop in-store and 33% shop both channels (some totals equal more than 100% due to rounding).

New York -- As part of a strategic move towards achieving seamless inventory management in an omnichannel retail environment, eco-friendly outdoor apparel retailer and wholesaler Patagonia has extended its partnership with 7thonline to support merchandise and assortment planning for its brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce channel.

Omnichannel pricing solution provider Clear Demand and pricing intelligence leader 360pi have formed a partnership to put powerful new capabilities into the hands of retailers.

Secaucus, N.J. - Jimmy Jazz, a multichannel retailer of urban apparel and footwear with 170 physical stores in the eastern U.S., has implemented NetSuite OMX to support its e-commerce storefront. Jimmy Jazz is also taking advantage of the CRM and email marketing capabilities included in the solution for a single customer view that helps call center agents improve support effectiveness and deliver personalized email communication based on a customer’s order frequency, dollar value of purchases and products ordered.

Scarborough, Maine -- Cole Haan is opening a flagship location in the Ginza, Tokyo's premier shopping district. The 2,000-sq.-ft. store debuts the company’s global format. Cole Haan also plans to use the store as a launching point for growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Architecture firm Anderson Architects in New York led the design of the ground-floor store, in partnership with local architects Garde Co.

New York -- Google announced that it has acquired video advertising provider mDialog.

In a post on Google+, the web giant said it will work with the mDialog team to incorporate their technology and expertise into its DoubleClick online advertising platform product suite.
 

Fresh & Easy has launched a full-scale marketing campaign inviting customers to discover the company’s new image.

Since transferring to new ownership in November, the company said, it has reinvigorated the brand and its stores with the aim of being the anytime, anyway, anywhere solution for getting healthy, convenient and affordable food.