News

Survey: U.S., U.K., Germany most desirable global e-shopping destinations
Stamford, Conn. -- The U.S., U.K. and Germany are the most desirable e-destinations for consumers to purchase goods online outside their own country. According to new global online research from Pitney Bowes Inc., Australians are the most likely to buy products online from retailers outside their own country (63%) followed by Canada and Russia (both 54%).
Outback Steakhouse introduces Click Thru seating
Tampa, Fla. -- Outback Steakhouse is introducing Click Thru Seating. With Click Thru Seating, customers visit Outback.com from any connected device to view the current wait time at their local Outback restaurant and put their name on the waitlist for now or later. Unlike a traditional reservation, late customers will not be dropped from the wait list or penalized. The service will also soon be available on the Outback mobile app.

Stylinity enables shoppable selfies

New York -- Stylinity, a new mobile app letting users share shoppable images and earn rewards for purchases they influence is now available for download on iTunes. Instead of hashtagging brands, users use their iPhones to scan price tags and attach product information to their photos, creating a shoppable link embedded in the image.
Deloitte forecasts a happy holiday, with 9% increase in spending on gifts

New York -- Shoppers plan to spend more during the upcoming holiday season with omnichannel shoppers having even higher spending expectations. According to Deloitte’s 29th annual holiday survey, total holiday spending is predicted to increase by 13% to $1,299 per household, including gifts, socializing away from home, entertaining at home, non-gift clothing for family or self, home/holiday furnishings, and any other holiday-related spending not in the other categories.
Facebook profits soar 90% in strong Q3

Menlo Park, Calif. –- Net income soared 90% to $806 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 from $425 million in the same quarter a year earlier, as part of strong overall performance by Facebook Inc. A sharp increase in operating income helped drive the net income growth.
Canada Goose launches new e-commerce site with Demandware

Toronto, Canada –- Luxury outdoor apparel brand Canada Goose is using Demandware Commerce to power its global direct-to-consumer strategy. Canada Goose’s first ecommerce site, serving consumers in Canada, went live in August.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Integrating Your Omnichannel Marketing Strategy

By Ben Kaplan, CashStar It is clear that mobile has an essential role in omnichannel retail, serving as the bridge between in-store and online with shoppers using their devices for product research both in and out of the store, to store and manage points, coupons and gift cards, and increasingly, to make purchases.
Commentary: Halloween's impact on shopping center and retail industry

By Mike Kercheval, President and CEO, International Council of Shopping Centers
Commentary: Emergence of Omnichannel Marketing

By Tracy Sloger, DataSource The role of “marketer” is not as simple as it used to be. Outbound and inbound methods are constantly evolving as traditional marketing efforts become more complex, and newer digital tactics are implemented and maintained at breathtaking speeds. Omnichannel marketing, while still a buzzword for some, is becoming more real for many.
Retail vet to lead IKEA Canada

IKEA has appointed Stefan Sjöstrand president of its Canadian organization after he has previously served as SVP, IKEA France.

With this move Sjöstrand is bringing global insights gathered from many years of working with IKEA to the Canadian market, as well as a proven track record of achieving business success through people development, according to the company.
GameStop and St. Jude “playing it forward”

GameStop has joined forces with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for another season of giving. For the second year, GameStop will participate in the annual St.
NPD identifies holiday tech trends

With technology products at the top of many wish lists this Christmas, The NPD Group’s top analyst covering the product category weighed in with a dozen expectations for the holiday season.

“The tech industry faces even more intense pricing and promotion than last year’s holiday shopping season,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. “The challenge of surpassing the impressive start to last year’s holiday season will be addressed head-on by the market’s emphasis on competitive offerings.”