News

Former Famous Footwear exec named CMO at Crocs Inc.
Crocs Inc. has promoted one of its marketing directors to be the company's next CMO.

The company announced that Terence Reilly was promoted to senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In this new role, Reilly will continue to lead the Global Marketing team in Niwot, Colo., providing strategic direction and support to the company's regional and country marketing teams across the globe. Reilly will continue to oversee all aspects of Crocs' marketing, including the company's brand, advertising, consumer and social media campaigns.
The Force awakens the toy aisle
Star Wars merchandise is shaking up the busy fall retail season, according to a new report.

According to new research from 360pi, between Sept. 4 and 10, Star Wars-themed toys comprised nearly two in 10 of the daily top 100 best selling toys on Amazon, dethroning bestsellers Cards Against Humanity, Crayola and Exploding Kittens, and replacing traditional Lego items with Star Wars-themed versions.

Amazon heats up devices, content

Seattle — Amazon.com is heating up its selection of consumer devices and digital content. The online retailer is releasing several new Amazon Fire tablet and TV devices, and also introducing a new free digital content service called Amazon Underground.

A week after Apple announced its Apple TV live video streaming set-top box device, Amazon is introducing Apple Fire, a similar live video streaming device that will cost $99 ($50 less than the $149 starting price for Apple TV) and offer similar features such as voice-enable remote control.
Study: For majority of retailers, omnichannel is a priority

The term “omnichannel” has been bandied about so much that some feel it is simply a buzzword, but retailers are taking it seriously and working to implement omnichannel solutions and practices.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; max-height: 100000px; color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: open_sansregular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255,
Target workers OK first union in company’s history

A group of pharmacy workers within Target Corp's store in Brooklyn, N.Y., have won a vote to form a micro-union, making it the first unionized store at the retailer since its inception in 1902, according to Reuters.

A group of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians won an initial ballot, 7-2, to form the union, according to a filing on the National Labor Relations Board website and union officials, the report said.
Target is looking for a few good startups

Target Corp. has operated an innovation lab in San Francisco since 2013, but now the retailer is eyeing a more accelerated and outward-focused approach to innovation.
Champs makes sneaker releases less sneaky

Champs Sports is joining the rapidly expanding ranks of retailers with a consumer-facing mobile app. The Champs Sports app allows customers to find upcoming sneaker launches, launch dates, and locations in which the hottest sneakers can be purchased, as well as browse and buy items from the online Champs store.

A complete release calendar allows customers to keep up with future shoe launches and be the first to know about hot, new releases. Users can also select a specific sneaker release and seamlessly add it to their iCalendar or Google Calendar.
Holiday shoppers go crazy for free shipping

Online shoppers will do anything to quality for free shipping-even spend more money.

Sixty percent of holiday shoppers say they have increased their online spending in the past to qualify for free shipping, according to the 2015 Holiday Shopping Survey from Pitney Bowes.
Shoes.com sprints toward faster delivery

Vancouver-based specialty online footwear retailer Shoes.com is sprinting toward new levels of fast delivery.

Shoes.com is offering home and office delivery in two hours or less on select items on its Canadian website.

The service costs $19.95 per order and launches Thursday, Sept. 17 in Vancouver and Toronto and surrounding municipalities, with plans to expand to Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa by the end of 2015.

Shoes.com will use a network of local fulfillment centers that have access to the retailer’s technology, operations and marketing.
How Walmart built the fastest growing retail app

Walmart has figured out how to tap into its shoppers’ offline habits to drive more engagement online, according to a new report from Quartz.

Walmart has managed to do something very few retailers have accomplished: Convince millions of people its mobile app is useful enough to snag a prime spot on their phones’ home screen.

Read more about Walmart's strategy by clicking here.