Ann Taylor

Identifying the continued growth of its fast-growing e-commerce channel as a top priority for 2011, women's apparel retailer Ann Taylor has allotted $25 million of its $130 million in 2011 capital expenditure funds to information technology. In addition, the retailer is also changing its name to reflect its multi-channel status, from Ann Taylor Stores Corporation to Ann Inc.

One brand's loss is another's gain. To achieve a stronger foothold in the off-price world, women's retailer AnnTaylor Stores Corp. will take over 40 factory outlets being closed by apparel brand Liz Claiborne Inc.

Barneys New York, Gap, Coach and other big brands are collaborating with bloggers to create new and controversial forms of advertising for a more social age.

Women’s clothing retailer Ann Taylor has just launched its first Foursquare promotion. Shoppers who check in to one of the company’s eight New York City stores will receive 15 percent off their full-price purchase upon their fifth checkin and Mayors will receive 25 percent off their purchases of non-sale apparel and accessories.

The FTC informed Ann Taylor that, following an investigation, it has decided not to take action against the women's retailer over an event held earlier this year. The retailer had invited bloggers to preview the Loft division's summer 2010 collection, offering a "special gift," and promising that those posting coverage from the event would be entered into a "mystery gift-card drawing," where they could win between $50 and $500. The event and the unusual request for posts to be submitted for a prize received media scrutiny and caught the eye of the FTC. "We were concerned that bloggers who attended a preview on January 26, 2010 failed to disclose that they received gifts for posting blog content about that event," Mary Engle, the FTC's associate director-advertising practices, wrote in a letter dated April 20 to Ann Taylor's legal representation.

Creating a seamless cross-channel experience is likely your goal. But your customers may not be experiencing that, at least according to a March study from Forrester Research: US Online Retail Forecast, 2009 To 2014.

This month, in the final part of our two-part series examining the potential pitfalls of improving productivity by cutting costs, I provide several takeaway pointers to help your catalog/multichannel business make these changes with as little “pain” as possible. (For part 1, click here.) There are lessons we can take away from the two stories referenced in part 1, and you should consider them when you’re looking for ways to improve productivity and cut costs: 1. What’s the effect on the customer? Think about the reaction most people will have when reading the Ann Taylor story. Why would anybody want to work in retail?

Like it or loathe it, Federated Department Stores continues to rename its acquired department store chains with the Macy’s moniker across the country. And Margaret Getchell would be proud. Believed to be the first female retail executive, Getchell changed Macy’s from a fancy dry goods store into a department store with sales in 1870 totaling $1 million. She was quoted as saying back in 1866, “Never forget to astonish the customer.” And today, her statement is an integral part of Macy’s new marketing campaign and is prominent in all new store displays. Back then, Getchell achievement astonishment by addition. According to Macy’s brand history,

Of the 100 sites mystery-shopped by the etailing group in Q4 2005, only 10 met all of the surveyor’s criteria for exceptional online customer service and communication: Ann Taylor Bluefly Blue Nile Brookstone Crutchfield Finish Line J. Crew Sephora SmartBargains Tower Records The sites were ranked using benchmarking criteria such as: having a toll-free customer service line; keyword search; answered e-mails correctly within 25 hours; four or fewer days to receive orders; six or fewer clicks to checkout; real-time inventory status; online shipping status; and other variables. For more, visit: http://www.e-tailing.com.