News

Retail Outlook: Experts Predict What to Expect in 2016
New technologies, new products, new consumer preferences — change always threatens to disrupt the status quo, and the retail landscape is no different. The trick is to determine which trends are passing fads and which have real staying power.

To help, we asked six experts from the Daymon Worldwide family of companies (Interactions is a subsidiary of Daymon Worldwide) to share their predictions for trends that will have the biggest impact on the U.S. retail environment in 2016.

Improved Transparency and Distribution
How can retailers improve the store experience?
Retailers looking to make their in-store customer experience more appealing can take a few basic technology-enabled steps.

Which retailer knows its customers best?

When it comes to understanding what consumers want, one retailer stands tall above the rest.

According to a new study of 1,000 consumers from beacon marketing platform provider Swirl Networks Inc., Amazon.com holds a clear lead in knowing its customers. Fifty-six percent of consumers say that Amazon demonstrates an understanding of their individual preferences and needs on a regular basis.
Survey: Holiday shoppers are in a hurry

Retailers looking to provide a positive customer experience this holiday season should realize time is of the essence.

According to a new survey of 1,267 U.S. consumers from LoyaltyOne Consulting, 94% of respondents said they expect retailers to take extra measures to keep checkout lines moving during the holiday rush. When asked why they avoided stores completely during the holiday season, 36% of shoppers said their primary reason is waiting too long at the checkout.
Lowe’s app helps customers believe
Belk begins new ownership era

The 127-year old family owned Belk department store chain is family owned no more, although one of the founder’s descendants remains in place as CEO.

The private equity firm Sycamore Partners completed its previously announced acquisition of the 296 unit Belk chain on Dec. 10, thus beginning a new chapter for what had been the nation’s oldest privately held department store retailer.
First Look: Target Wonderland

Target merges physical and digital retailing in its holiday pop-up, Target Wonderland, located in Manhattan. The 16,000-sq.-ft. space has ten larger-than-life displays, including a jumbo Etch-a-Sketch, a Christmas tree made from green-foam Hulk Hands and the "S.S. Free Shipping” LEGO pirate ship which is part of Target’s holiday advertising campaign.
What drives online consumer technology purchases?

What kinds of searches, ads and content are consumers interacting with before and after a tech purchase?
Study: What drives online consumer technology purchases?

What kinds of searches, ads and content are consumers interacting with before and after a tech purchase?

Purch, a digital content and commerce company, and comScore examined more than 3,000 qualifying purchases during a 90-day period to track key influences and behaviors of U.S consumers before, during and after a technology purchase. Purchases tracked include popular products such as mobile devices, tablets and wearables from top online retailers and brands.
Dollarama achieves major retail milestone

While same-store sales at Dollar General and Dollar Tree have decelerated of late, that is not the case with Canada’s largest dollar store operator which recently opened its 1,000th location.