News

Natick, Mass. – For fashion brand Nic & Zoe, which recently opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Boston’s Shops at Prudential Center, the high degree of customer personalization and engagement found online is a routine and expected part of business. The company is using the Retail Cloud POS solution from Springboard Retail to bring personalized sales and customer engagement in the store closer to virtual levels.  

Petaluma, Calif. – During the second week of the holiday shopping season (Dec. 1-7), smartphone and tablet shoppers were especially generous spenders. According to data compiled by e-commerce software provider MarketLive, year-over-year online revenue generated by consumers using smartphones grew 107%, or slightly more than double.  

SC Johnson chief talks transparency SC Johnson CEO Fisk Johnson said his company wants to “lay it all out there” when it comes to transparency and greater disclosure in the consumer goods industry.

Speaking at the 2014 Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) annual meeting, Johnson discussed the critical need for the industry to build trust so families can feel comfortable with and believe in the products they bring home. He also said the industry should be clear and fact-based in environmental discussions, and advocate for better regulation.

Independence, Mo. – Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. plans to open 18 new stores in fiscal 2015. As part of the plan, Natural Grocers has closed its previously announced agreement to acquire natural foods retailer Nature’s Pantry Inc. in Independence, Missouri.   The transaction closed on Dec. 7, and Natural Grocers began officially operating as a Natural Grocers store on Dec. 8. 

Michaels is partnering with a new ad agency on a $180 million marketing plan as the arts and crafts retailer looks to weave a quilt of higher sales and market share.

Zimmerman Advertising will perform a range of key functions for Michaels, working with a total marketing budget of $180 million and focusing on strategic planning, analytics, digital media planning and buying and social media.

Louisville, Ky. – Payment just got faster for Papa John’s customers with Android phones. Papa John’s International Inc. will now begin accepting Google Wallet Instant Buy as a payment method for delivery and carry-out orders placed through the Android app.   Customers can press the "Buy with Google" button at checkout to complete their order. Papa John’s also announced that for the first time, digital and mobile channels account for more than 50% of its total U.S. sales.  

By Shannon Warner, Cognizant Technology Solutions   Talk about a gap: 62% of shoppers say loyalty program membership is beneficial, but only 26% consider retailers’ programs worth joining.   

New York - Amazon is testing new features, one for the way it delivers goods, and the other a new pricing option that enables shoppers to haggle directly with third-party marketplace sellers for lower prices.    The online giant is testing bike messengers deliveries in New York City, according to various media reports.