News

How brick-and-mortar retailers can build shopper loyalty
Retailers understand that loyal customers are the most profitable shoppers. While these consumers make buying decisions that are increasingly influenced by online channels, the vast majority of retail business in the United States is conducted in the physical store, and this isn’t changing with the Millennial generation.
Survey: What’s driving wearable growth?
Consumer interest in wearables is booming for reasons that retailers should find encouraging.

New research from Mintel reveals that the U.S. wearable technology market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with estimated sales increasing 186% from 2014-2015, reaching $7 billion in 2015.

And despite just one in 10 consumers owning a fitness tracker (12%) or smartwatch (7%), 16% of consumers said they planned to purchase a fitness tracker or smartwatch in the final three months of 2015.

Star World, Huntington Park, California

Welcome to Star World, a new retail format that combines brick-and-mortar and e-commerce — with Latino sensitivity.

The 30,000-sq.-ft. store combines a streamlined environment with a high-tech business model that digitally extends its aisles into the warehouses of its suppliers via interactive in-store kiosks. Shoppers can make purchases via the kiosks, which connect directly to vendors.
Retail marketers find less is more with coupons

Some major retailers sharply reduced their use of printed free standing inserts (FSIs) last year but the total dollar value of FSIs still grew to a record $515 billion.

The value of free standing insert (FSI) coupons increased 3.7% in 2015 to $515 billion, according to Kantar Media. However, the number of FSI pages distributed fell 8.1% as marketers cut back on pages that didn’t include a coupon. The number of coupons circulated increased nominally versus the prior year, and combined with higher face value led to growth in dollars circulated.
Survey: Omnichannel drives retailer tech priorities

The need to provide a seamless customer experience is having a big impact on the types of solutions retailers are trying to implement.

According the new Retail Industry Insight benchmark report conducted by Retail Systems Research for SPS Commerce Inc., e-commerce and stores have switched places as the top growth driver for retail IT purchases. Retailers rank growing e-commerce sales as their top priority (75%) followed by improving the in-store experience (53%).
Report: Consumers say goodbye to Google Glass

Retailers have one less form factor to consider in their wearable connected device strategies. According to Gizmodo, Google is officially ending all support for its Google Glass connected eyewear device in the consumer market. This ends plans to relaunch Google Glass among consumers in partnership with Luxottica Group that were announced in April 2015, although Google is still promoting Google Glass as a workplace tool. [Gizmodo]
What’s driving wearable growth?

Consumer interest in wearables is booming for reasons that retailers should find encouraging.

New research from Mintel reveals that the U.S. wearable technology market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with estimated sales increasing 186% from 2014-2015, reaching $7 billion in 2015.

And despite just one in 10 consumers owning a fitness tracker (12%) or smartwatch (7%), 16% of consumers said they planned to purchase a fitness tracker or smartwatch in the final three months of 2015.
AutoZone revs up network

AutoZone knows that driving experience and customer experience both depend on a well-built frame.

Thus AutoZone is turning to AT&T to provide the chassis for a seamless front- and back-end retail experience. AT&T will provide a suite of mobile and broadband solutions for its U.S. stores, call centers, and back-end offices that deliver voice, Internet and mobility solutions.
It’s over: Charney loses bid to return to American Apparel

It looks like the proverbial fat lady has sung for Dov Charney, the founder and ousted CEO of the troubled American Apparel.

On Monday, Judge Brendan L. Shannon of the Bankruptcy Court in Delaware approved a plan backed by a majority of the company’s bondholders. The plan would take American Apparel private and hand nearly full control to its largest lenders.
Amazon turns into a clotheshorse

Amazon.com is getting its nose out of books and consumer electronics and into a more fashionable merchandise area.

According to Re/Code, Amazon now offers more than 30 million apparel and accessory items for sale – which totals more than all the products sold at 250 Walmart supercenter stores.

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