More than 60 percent of consumers are increasing their online shopping activity

September 15, 2014

The SmartFocus survey also reveals a significant age-related gap in digital shopping preferences. Nearly half of all millennials spend more time shopping…

August retail sales increased 0.5 percent

September 12, 2014

When combined with revisions to July, August sales indicate a consistent improvement in consumer confidence and spending but run contrary to August's…

Study finds retailers cautiously optimistic about 2014 holiday sales

September 11, 2014

The most significant shifts for retailers in the 2014 holiday season can be found in omnichannel, which is changing the landscape for companies and impacting…

Toys"R"Us unveils its holiday marketing plans

September 10, 2014

Free online layaway, an enhanced loyalty program are among the new strategies for the toy retailer.

iPhone mobile payment option opens up opportunity for marketers

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

With Apple's rollout of Apple Pay, now might be a good time for marketers to get to know Passbook.

Twitter adding a 'Buy' button

September 8, 2014

The initial partnership consists of deals with Burberry, DonorsChoose and GLAAD, and also with a variety of big names in entertainment, including Brad Paisley…

Mastering customer retention using data

According to global consulting firm Bain & Company, it costs six to seven times more for an organization to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one.

Catalina acquires load-to-card digital coupon firm Cellfire

September 8, 2014

The company currently delivers millions of digital coupons every week with a reach of 22,000 stores nationwide.

IBM unveils back-to-school online shopping numbers

September 8, 2014

Overall, U.S. retail online sales for August were up more than 11 percent as compared to the same period last year.

Roundtable: Experts talk digital customer engagement

by Christopher Hall — w, t

Four digital signage and in-store merchandising experts talk about the customer engagement challenges facing retailers ahead of this year's DSA event.

Walmart's web efforts leave much in store

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Walmart created some buzz when it announced plans to personalize its online shopping experience, but the news failed to address the white elephant that is…

Target also adding shopping via Instagram

August 29, 2014

Just days after Nordstrom announced that it was partnering with Curalate to allow its customers to shop via the social network Instagram, Target announced that…

#CONNECTsummit14: Jack Philbin on mobile marketing best practices

During this year's CONNECT Mobile Innovation Summit, Vibes CEO Jack Philbin led the opening panel on the future of mobile and what it means for retail.

#CONNECTsummit14: Marketers should opt in to text as key mobile messaging channel

When it comes to building relationships with hardcore fans, marketers shouldn't overlook the original mobile messaging channel: text.

#CONNECTsummit14: Using Big Data to give customers what they want

The big message from this year's CONNECT Mobile Innovation Summit was not about retailers and restaurants deciding if mobile should be part of their digital…

Nordstrom adds Instagram shopping

August 26, 2014

Nordstrom Inc. announced that it is partnering with Curalate as the first company to launch Like2Buy, a platform that it says will enable a more seamless…

Artisan expands mobile marketing automation capabilities

August 26, 2014

Mobile marketing firm Artisan has announced the availability of in-app messaging capabilities, which it says are integrated into its Mobile Experience…

#CONNECTsummit14: Beacons offer immediacy, simplicity and context

Beacons are powerful tools, enabling marketers to push the right message to the right person in the right place at the right time.

Seven critical questions required for business decision precision

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Today's retail stakes are too high for "lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Diane von Furstenberg testing 'clickable/actionable' videos on Facebook

August 21, 2014

The shopping-via-video experience allows customers to make a purchase by clicking on individual items within the video.