Customer Retention

Empowered by the proliferation of smartphones and the digitization of everything, today’s shoppers are more aware and informed than ever. The upshot? Engaging with customers and understanding their evolving preferences is no easy feat. Gone are the days when brands could “buy” a customer’s repeat business. Now, you need to earn it. But how? A…

How many times have you found yourself walking into Target for a new toothbrush and exiting with backup cleaning supplies (for next year), new toys for your dog, and a state-of-the-art popcorn maker? America’s favorite department store recently announced its new loyalty program, called "Target Circle," where customers now receive special discounts based on data…

We’ve seen our fair share of shocking headlines recently: tenuous IPOs, the “retailpocalypse,” and a fickle market have served to reset the way we size up subscription businesses. Recurring revenue models have their pitfalls, and 2019 certainly taught the industry a few lessons. In 2020, retention is set to be a top priority for companies…

Customer loyalty is the holy grail for retailers. How to achieve that loyalty (and more importantly, sustain it) can be elusive. However, new research shows that a key driver lies within the unassuming power of traditional store credit cards marketed in untraditional ways, especially with millennial customers, who represent the largest generation in the U.S.…

The holiday season is upon us, and retailers are engaging with customers across all generations by various means. The landscape for retailers has never been more competitive, and consumers have more options than ever before. Meanwhile, the financial stakes for reaching those customers during the holiday season are high. Consider that 20 percent to 30…

Gift cards are an enormous opportunity for restaurants and retailers. According to Persistence Market Research, the international gift card market is predicted to grow from $318 billion in 2017 to $506 billion by 2025. Gift cards are a great way for restaurants and retailers to promote their brands, acquire new customers and/or get existing customers…

We live in a world where customer expectations are constantly changing. And for businesses, keeping up with customers can be a daunting task. “Connected Customer” is a relatively new term used to describe those customers that interact with brands through digital means such as websites, apps, voice assistants (e.g., Alexa), etc. An overwhelmingly large percentage…

Black Friday is synonymous with excited queues of shoppers stretching around the block, eager to get their hands on a bargain before Christmas. It has traditionally been about the excitement of the moment rather than a means for retailers to build long-term customer relationships. However, with e-commerce there's an opportunity to get to know customers…

Direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) retailers are officially gearing up for the most profitable time of the year. D-to-C has historically referred to just digitally native brands, but it now applies to every brand that's directly marketing to consumers to drive online revenue. While creative gift-giving campaigns geared toward customer acquisition tend to take center stage, D-to-C retailers…

Marketers are still learning to connect with Gen Z, so we tend to default to how we approach millennials. However, these millennial strategies will likely miss the mark with the emerging Gen Z cohort. These digital natives are constantly connected to their mobile device and use it for almost all brand interactions. The majority of…