TECHNOLOGY

NRF: Consumers will remember Dad this year
Anyone who is a dad, or sells products dads like, may be in for a happy Father’s Day.

According to a new survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insight and Analytics, consumers say they will spend more than ever on Father’s Day in 2016 (Sunday, June 19). Shoppers are expected to spend an average $125.92 for the holiday, up 9% from the prior year’s $115.57. Total spending is expected to reach $14.3 billion, the highest in the survey’s 13-year history but still below the 2016 Mother’s Day total of $21.4 billion.
Sephora extends shopping capability
Sephora is taking the next step in social commerce.

According to Mobile Commerce Daily, the specialty beauty chain is enabling customers to make purchases from products featured on its Snapchat feed via the ShopStyle mobile app.

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Merchandise with Meaning

Image Courtesy: news.nike.com
Seven Customers Retailers Should Know

Retailers are fighting to engage customers and keep them from going elsewhere. And smart retail marketers know that nurturing existing customers to increase lifetime value is the fastest, highest-ROI route to near-term revenue growth.
Signet Jewelers fires back on ‘diamond swapping’ controversy

Signet Jewelers Ltd., whose store banners include Kay Jewelers and Zales, issued a strong rebuttal against charges that its stores swapped customers’ gems for lesser-quality stones while they were in for service. The controversy started with an article by BuzzFeed about a Maryland woman who said her engagement ring — purchased at a Kay Jewelers store — had its diamond swapped out for a lower-quality manmade stone while in for service. The story quickly went viral on social media.
Survey: What social platform influences back-to-school shoppers?

The current school year is just ending, but consumers are already looking ahead to the fall.

According to a new survey of 300 U.S. adults who plan on leading their families’ back-to-school shopping efforts from social engagement firm CrowdTap, blogs and social media conversations rival traditional advertising formats (e.g. magazine circulars and TV ads) when it comes to what drives back-to-school purchases.
French retailer opens start-up competition with U.S. tech accelerator

Galeries Lafayette Group is the latest retail entity to launch its own tech accelerator program.

The French specialty retail conglomerate, which operates the Galeries Lafayette, BHV Marais, Royal Quartz, Louis Pion and Didier Guérin banners, is partnering with Silicon Valley-based technology accelerator and venture fund Plug and Play in the effort. The three-month program aims to develop an integrated platform to assist startups focused on the fashion and retail sectors. It will include access to venture capitalists, mentors, and Fortune 500 companies.
The award for best online customer service goes to…

When it comes to providing online customer service, Land’s End is the one to beat.

StellaService, an independent company that measures the customer service performance of online businesses, recognized Lands' End with the 2016 StellaService Elite Award for exceptional customer service.

StellaService cited Lands' End for excelling in phone, chat and email, with a phone response time of less than 45 seconds.
Guess what Walmart is bringing back?

Walmart is reviving a familiar icon to be the symbol of its low-price marketing.

The discounter announced it is bringing back its yellow smiley image, which has been in hibernation for some 10 years. The image can already be seen in some digital advertising and will expand to television ads and select in-store signage next week.
Wayfair puts targeting on display

Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair Inc. is rolling out an in-house-developed display advertising platform that will deliver tailored messages and collect customer data.

Known as Magellan, the platform was built in-house by Wayfair’s engineering, data science, and marketing teams. Magellan leverages enhanced bidding models that allow the flexibility to continually enhance targeting capabilities over time. This targeting also lets third-party Wayfair Media Solutions users extend the reach of their advertising programs.