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Retailers: Are Your COVID-19-Related Communications Effective? Here’s How to Tell
April 1, 2020 at 12:20 pm

Along with everyone else, retailers are having a rough time with the COVID-19 outbreak. SparkPost, the world's largest email deliverability engine, looked at its data and pulled some trends related to how companies are communicating; what consumers care to see; and how this crisis is driving transparent, ongoing communication. One thing is certain, during these difficult times, organizations…

A Healthy Email Diet Makes for Happier Customers — and Retailers
March 26, 2020 at 1:15 pm

The key to a healthy diet is variety. Very few people are interested in having the same meal day-in and day-out. Similarly, your customers crave variety in the content you serve them. Since their preferences are constantly evolving, customers require fresh and different experiences to stay engaged. Delivering repetitive and similar email content won’t drive…

Soft Surroundings Sees Growth in Email, SMS Revenue Through Automation
March 16, 2020 at 3:42 pm

In episode 238 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Gail Buffington, vice president of marketing and analytics at Soft Surroundings, a women's apparel, shoes and accessories retailer. Listen in as Buffington discusses Soft Surrounding's brand history as a cataloger, its expansion into brick-and-mortar retail, and her career at the company. She shares how Soft…

Unexpected Item in Bagging Area: The Biggest Online Threats for Retailers
February 25, 2020 at 10:48 am

Online sales and direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) shopping has transformed retail and the way today’s consumers discover and purchase goods and services. Challenger D-to-C brands such as Casper, Bonobos, and Stitch Fix have forced traditional brick-and-mortar brands to up their digital presence to ensure they don’t lose market share. With the majority of shopping taking place through…

3 Key Differences Between US and UK Email Marketing
February 19, 2020 at 11:47 am

Many of the differences between the United States and the United Kingdom are obvious. From spellings (color vs. colour) to common terms (trunk vs. boot), it’s easy to see how some things are seen as identifiably American or British. With differences like these, naturally one would expect marketers to use different communication tactics with consumers.…

4 Top Email Marketing Tips for Retailers
February 12, 2020 at 12:27 pm

Consumers are still using email to receive communications from retailers; in fact, they prefer that communication challenge. And the good news is that those emails still spur engagement among shoppers of all ages. With that in mind, we decided to feature email marketing tips in our 50 Best Retail Tips of 2019 report, which is a…

3 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Email Marketing Strategy for 2020
February 10, 2020 at 12:01 pm

The apple of every retailer’s eye is a loyal customer. But is there a chance your email marketing strategy is leading customers off the path to loyalty? Beyond the products and services you offer, your marketing communication strategy can make or break your ability to generate long-term loyalty. Your strategy is critical for understanding how…

How to Create a Killer Email Welcome Series
February 7, 2020 at 12:11 pm

You know the famous line, “you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”? Well, that line should be changed to fit today’s customer attitudes. The updated version should read, “If you don’t make a good first impression, you don’t get a second chance, period.” Consumers have the power to delete and unsubscribe, eliminating…

What Retailers Should Learn From the 2019 Holiday Inbox
January 24, 2020 at 12:49 pm

With a 3.4 percent growth in holiday retail sales, early reports from the 2019 season are positive. Online and mobile shopping saw the biggest growth last year, recording a 19 percent rise in online spending, and nearly 80 percent of consumers used their phones to purchase gifts. Part of the continued shift from in-store to…

Tips to Get Your Email List Holiday Ready
December 6, 2019 at 10:48 am

Long before the first jack-o’-lantern was carved, retail marketers were busy preparing for the holiday season. While it's always the busiest shopping season of the year, 2019 is gearing up to be the biggest yet, with holiday spending projected to surpass $1 trillion, according to eMarketer. With so many dollars up for grabs, stakes are…