Omnichannel

With websites, smartphones, tablets, mobile shopping applications and in-store shopping, retailers have the opportunity to connect with consumers on several different channels. While many retailers know the key to a memorable customer experience across multiple channels is brand and data consistency, for some this may prove to be a challenge. Below are some thoughts around how every retailer can create a better experience for their customers, regardless of the channel:

Liveclicker, a provider of video commerce solutions for the web’s top brands, announced the results of the retail industry’s most comprehensive revenue analysis ever performed on e-commerce videos live during the holiday shopping season. “With the world’s most extensive collection of retail video analytics, Liveclicker’s clients are uniquely positioned to drive video commerce success,” said Justin Foster, Liveclicker’s co-founder and vice president of market development.

The Dingley Press recently created and launched Android and iOS-compatible mobile apps for Cintas Corporation’s Uniform SourceBook catalog. The apps, which are available in both the Android Market and the iTunes Store, are a first for Cintas. After creating a digital catalog for the Cintas website, the corporate uniform supplier asked Dingley to develop an application for mobile devices. Offering the catalog via a mobile app opens up a new retail channel for Cintas and allows technology savvy customers to view the brand's products in a very convenient way.

eBay announced that it's partnered with Toys“R”Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Aeropostale for a new incentive for shoppers to spend money online and in stores. When customers spend $100 using PayPal at Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us on eBay, ToysRUs.com, BabiesRUs.com, DicksSportingGoods.com, or Aeropostale.com, they will earn $10 to shop in-store.

Online art buyers have long lacked a way to accurately visualize art on their walls, forcing shoppers to purchase without the certainty of seeing how the piece will look in their own living space. To solve this problem, Zazzle, an online product customization and visualization platform, launched Realview, an easy-to-use tool that enables anyone to instantly and accurately visualize posters on their own walls.

At a time when engagement is more important than ever in retail, shoppers can still count on Brookstone to deliver entertainment, relevancy and purposeful fun in-store. Brookstone's Vice President, Chief Information Officer Bill Wood shares his brand's secrets for product innovation and merchandising magic. Tune in and learn how Brookstone blends it all into a successful retail strategy.

Ralph Lauren‘s rugby line is inviting users to create animated greeting cards in the style of its online catalog. The website’s creative feature is customizable, allowing users to share their own holiday message composed of animated images of models holding the letters.

Jessica London, a plus-size women’s fashion brand in the portfolio of Redcats USA’s OneStopPlus Group, announced that it's the first U.S. apparel brand to feature image recognition technology on its iPhone app.

Oriental Trading Company, a direct retailer of value-priced party supplies, arts, crafts, toys and novelties, has introduced new digital catalogs that busy consumers may access via their iPads.

While you’re probably in the middle of the busy holiday season right now, 2012 is closer than you think. As you begin to look forward to the year ahead, I’ve put together a list of predictions for what cross-channel retailers can expect come next year.