Personalization

It’s difficult to go even one day without coming across a news article that highlights how virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual assistants like Amazon.com's Alexa will transform not just our shopping experiences but our lives. However, Bill Gates’ famous aphorism, “We always overestimate the change that will…

Imagine this: A shopper walks into an apparel store looking to find the perfect pair of jeans and top for a night on the town. Instead of the shopper stressing over finding the right ensemble without any help, a store associate opens up the customer’s shopping profile on an enterprise mobile device and identifies a…

With reports swirling about the uncertain future of the retail industry, retailers are working to stand out in a highly competitive market, deciphering what customers really want from the brands they interact with, and delivering those things in a timely manner. While determining what consumers want may seem daunting to retailers, according to a recent…

With brick-and-mortar retailers struggling from online competition, every point of differentiation helps. Data makes that possible.

Personalization is one of the most used buzzwords in e-commerce right now, and the reason for that is simple: it works and people enjoy it. We’re now living in a world where every email knows our name, even if they’re coming from complete strangers. Every video we watch on YouTube comes with an ad based…

The first ever coupon is believed to have been distributed in 1888 by Coca-Cola — a ticket for a “free cup of Coke” to help promote the drink. It's estimated that by 1913, one in nine Americans had redeemed at least one of the 8.5 million tickets distributed through mail, magazine inserts, sales representatives and company…

In an age where technology evolves as quickly as customer expectations rise, it's increasingly difficult for brands and retailers to remain competitive while adapting to new trends and demands. It’s no longer enough for brands to merely be “present” across multiple channels, no matter how many social platforms they dabble on. In order to reach…

Smart brands are looking for new ways to beat their competition and succeed in this changing retail industry. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSI) is leveraging its best competitive advantage — its network of stores — to give customers an enhanced shopping experience across its portfolio of brands (Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm). Williams-Sonoma, Inc. recently introduced…

A personalized experience is no longer an added feature of an e-commerce website — it’s a deciding factor in whether connected consumers do business with a brand. Many e-commerce businesses are failing at digital innovation because they’re not optimizing their channels to meet individual customer preferences. With recent data from the Boston Consulting Group revealing…

At a time when many retailers are closing stores, Indochino is opening doors to new showrooms. Total Retail's Taylor Knight got an inside look at the newly opened Indochino showroom at the King of Prussia Mall just outside of Philadelphia. Indochino's East Coast District Manager BJ McCahill explains how the menswear retailer has brought customization…