Customer Retention

The holidays are on a fast-and-furious pace to smash head-on into our collective shopping carts. And there’s no better time for your bottom line than the holidays to hit the “sale” button and get people to take your inventory off your hands. Am I right? But what about the mind-set of your current, loyal shoppers?…

As the holiday season heats up competition among retailers, it’s tempting to entice shoppers with discounts and deals. However, with so many companies seeking the same ends, marketers must work to drive customer loyalty through engagement and experience. Smart marketers use loyalty programs not just as discount hubs, but as long-term opportunities to communicate with shoppers and…

Growth is the No. 1 priority for retail CEOs. Growth is good; profitable growth is even better. However, profitable growth is becoming harder to achieve, thanks to two powerful forces in e-commerce squeezing profit margins for brands: competitive pricing and rising customer acquisition costs. To combat shrinking margins, smart companies are moving beyond simply improving…

Birchbox, known for being one of the first online subscription services, is taking its pioneering spirit to Facebook Live. The beauty subscription service broadcasts videos via Facebook Live to show consumers product demonstrations, product highlights, and transformations (e.g., haircuts). Viewers get answers to questions in real time as well as information about the company’s subscription box. Each…

In a struggling retail industry, Ulta Beauty is a bright spot. The cosmetics and beauty products retail chain reported sales increased 21 percent last year, profits were up 24.5 percent and it opened 100 new stores. That positive momentum has continued in 2016, with sales up 23 percent year to date, net income up 29…

Brand authenticity and reputation are more critical than ever in today’s digital economy. While customer experience has always been a factor in the retail equation, the shift to consumer-centric planning has transformed retail’s business model and separated the successful retailers from the rest of the pack.

As increasing returns inspire U.S. companies to spend over $2 billion a year on loyalty programs, competition to keep members engaged

Traditional retailers are struggling. In the spring of 2016 alone, we saw Sports Authority declare bankruptcy, Aeropostale lose 93 percent of its share price before declaring insolvency, and sales at Kohl's drop. Even as recently as August 11, Macy’s announced it will close another 100 stores. There's little doubt that competition from online retailers has…

Traditional retailers are struggling. In the spring of 2016 alone, we saw Sports Authority declare bankruptcy, Aeropostale lose 93 percent of its share price before declaring insolvency, and sales at Kohl’s drop. Even as recently as August 11, Macy’s announced it will close another 100 stores. There’s little doubt that competition from online retailers has […]

With Amazon Prime Day, the second such self-created “shopping holiday,” over for another year, it’s a good time to turn our attention to another big sales opportunity for retailers: Black Friday. Over the years, Black Friday has gained the reputation of a major in-store and online shopping bonanza that every retailer has to participate in…