Marketing

Solving Choice Paralysis Through Conversational Marketing
June 25, 2019 at 11:53 am

Regardless of industry, consumers today are faced with a tremendous number choices when shopping — more commonly becoming known as choice overload. Choice overload is what happens when we're faced with more possibilities than we can clearly or easily comprehend, clouding purchase judgement and often leading to overall frustration. When consumers find they're running into too…

Survey Shows Personalization Benefits, With AI-Based Personalization on the Rise
June 13, 2019 at 11:33 am

When it comes to delivering top-notch customer experiences, one size doesn’t fit all. And what motivates one shopper to convert may be completely off-base for another. This isn’t news to retail marketers. They’ve long acknowledged the importance of treating customers like the individuals they are, and delivering cohesive, personalized experiences across touchpoints. It’s important, though,…

How to Prepare for the Next Generation of Shoppers
June 12, 2019 at 12:06 pm

All retailers want to be the brand their customers can’t live without. But truthfully, customer expectations are a moving target and it’s tough to be on top of every trend, every preference and every new channel that customers are prioritizing. The best way to meet and exceed customer expectations is to anticipate what’s coming next.…

6 Ways to Elevate Your Brand in a Niche Marketplace
June 5, 2019 at 1:10 pm

Thriving in a niche market may appear challenging on the surface, but when you really dig into marketing strategies, it becomes clear that maybe niche is better for your brand. Ever hear of the "1,000 true fans” concept by Kevin Kelly? It runs along niche marketing lines. The crux of Kelly's argument is this: all…

How Barnes & Noble College Engages its Gen Z Customer Through a Mobile App
June 3, 2019 at 1:17 pm

In episode 198 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan speaks with Ken Wincko, vice president of marketing at Barnes & Noble College, a national college and university bookstore operator with over 1,400 physical and virtual stores. They discuss how Barnes & Noble College's mobile app is helping to improve its Gen Z customers’…

Consumer and Retailer Marketing Opinions Towards One Another Don’t Add Up
June 3, 2019 at 11:44 am

There's pressure for brands to compete on customer experience (CX) in nearly every industry. Retail marketers, in particular, are pressured to meet growing expectations from today’s empowered customer for an experience tailored to their preferences at every stage of their specific journey. For retailers, this change may seem daunting, as companies must update their business…

Nordstrom Cuts Direct Mail Program, Loses Sales
May 23, 2019 at 12:55 pm

On Tuesday, Nordstrom cut its forecast for full-year sales and profit after reporting weaker-than-expected first-quarter results that were hurt, in part, by stopping its use of direct mail to promote its new loyalty program. According to Yahoo Finance, co-president Erik Nordstrom said on a post-earnings conference call that the company stopped sending rewards "notes" to its…

Williams-Sonoma Accused of Deceptive Made in USA Statements
May 22, 2019 at 1:08 pm

Truthinadvertising.org (TINA.org) filed a complaint Tuesday to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Williams-Sonoma Inc. over deceptive Made in USA marketing statements, according to a press release. The complaint alleges that hundreds of statements found in Williams-Sonoma brands’ marketing materials are deceptive in nature, claiming products are made or crafted in the USA "despite the…

David vs. Goliath: How DTC Brands Can Defeat Omnichannel Giants
May 15, 2019 at 11:18 am

The retail landscape is becoming more and more competitive, and shoppers’ inboxes are becoming spammier and spammier. Despite all the noise, however, we’re finding a handful of brands that are successfully rising above the marketing fray. As masters of digital, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands are defying the status quo and creating a new retail world order.…