News

The Silver Lining of Recent Data Breaches
Retailers have always experienced a tension between investing to grow and investing to improve security. Not surprisingly, we’ve seen vulnerabilities arise when marketing and sales initiatives have trumped less sexy initiatives around security. In 2013, 61 million people had their personal data stolen from Target. One year later, 56 million credit and debit card numbers were exposed in Home Depot’s breach.
Survey: Consumers like new ‘shoppable media’ trend
Not only is a picture worth 1,000 words, but it may be worth $1,000.

A new survey from Adobe shows that consumers have a very positive response to “shoppable media” – online images and videos that serve as direct transactional tools.

Never mind that $50 membership fee on Jet.com

Jet is abandoning its fee model less than three months after it launched in order to broaden its appeal to shoppers.

The online marketplace startup announced Wednesday that it will get rid of its $50 annual membership fee.
Shoptalk takes shape, new event focused on next-gen commerce

A new event for retailers and consumer package goods executives is taking shape called Shoptalk and the successful entrepreneurs behind its creation have big plans and funding to make it happen.
The world’s most valuable brands are …

For the third consecutive year, Apple and Google came out on top in a ranking of the 100 most valuable brands in the world.
Study: Out-of-stocks — in store and online — a growing problem

Consumers are experiencing frequent out-of-stocks, and retailers will be out of luck if they don’t do something about it.

According to a new survey from GT Nexus and YouGov, 75% of U.S. adults have suffered from an unavailable product in-store in the last 12 months.
Kurt Salmon adds digital tech agency

Global management consultancy Kurt Salmon is acquiring digital retail technology agency Mobispoke LLC, the engine behind such technologies as smart fitting rooms, integrated mobile apps and other leading-edge, interactive shopping experience technologies.<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-
Survey: Keep e-commerce simple

Brevity is the soul of online retail.

According to a new survey of more than 300 consumers from checkout optimization provider PCA Predict, 84% of U.S. consumers stated they would abandon their e-commerce order if presented with complicated or lengthy Web forms.

Asked about their experience with retailers failing to deliver, an overwhelming 95% of U.S. consumers said that they would be unlikely to shop with a retailer again if an order failed to arrive.
Lumber Liquidators building customer engagement

Troubled retailer Lumber Liquidators is reaching out to customers in a new and unusual way.

The company, which has experienced significant financial difficulty since 60 Minutes ran a report in March alleging dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in Chinese hardwood products it sells, is launching an online “Before and After” gallery.
Rawlings has better customer experience in store

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc. is taking its store operations game up a notch. The St. Louis-based vertical sporting goods retailer will use the RetailNext store analytics platform to optimize its brick-and-mortar shopping experience at all five company-owned factory outlet stores.

The comprehensive RetailNext platform will be deployed at all Rawlings-owned factory outlets in an attempt to uncover deep customer behavioral insights that can be used to create a better in-store experience.