Lithium Technologies released findings from its State of Social Engagement 2016 study that uncovers how well Fortune 1000 retail brands are engaging with consumers across social platforms. The study showed that retailers are prioritizing engagement, collaboration with influencers and online communities in order to bolster customer satisfaction, and ultimately, sales.
With the middle of the holiday season approaching and shoppers eager to take advantage of early promotions from retailers, more than half of consumers have started making dents in their holiday gift lists, according to the annual mid-season survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
To compete in the ongoing online retailing arms race, Walmart is bringing its sizable resources to bear to capture not only the U.S., but the global e-commerce market. CEO Doug McMillon recently laid out four priorities for the retailer as it looks to not only continue to dominate the physical retail space but make significant inroads in e-commerce: Make every day easier for busy families, operate with discipline, be the most trusted retailer, and deliver results and position the company to win.
With the election behind them, consumers are eager to see the deals retailers will offer for the biggest shopping weekend of the year, with 59 percent of Americans - an estimated 137.4 million people - planning to or considering shopping during Thanksgiving weekend, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Pitney Bowes, a global commerce technology company, says parcel shipping volume will grow at an annual rate of 5 to 7 percent through 2018, with cross border shipping leading the way, according to the company's Parcel Shipping Index annual report.
Both UPS and rival carrier FedEx have announced e-commerce partnership as they head into the busy holiday shopping season that kicks off with Cyber Weekend.
At Gap's annual shareholder meeting this year, CEO Art Peck said, "to not be considering Amazon and others would be in my view delusional." Soon after, Lands' End announced that it would start selling some merchandise on Amazon, as the online behemoth's "credibility of being a desired fashion destination for shoppers continues to grow."
A survey conducted this month indicates that online shopping on Black Friday is expanding beyond the U.S. and gaining popularity in other developed countries, says One Hour Translation, which provides translation services to global e-commerce companies.
If you think customer expectations are high overall in terms of e-commerce and direct-to-customer fulfillment, take a good look at the millennial generation. Across a number of studies you see a pattern: a keen desire for the most rapid shipping method possible; free, unlimited returns; and a greater willingness to spend a bit more to get it the same day.
Fashion retailer River Island is rolling out a radio frequency identification tool at all 280 of the stores it owns and operates. The retailer says it will track all of the garments it sells in the stores, which are located in United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, using tags applied by suppliers.
The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the e-commerce/omnichannel industry — which consists of companies engaged in internet retailing, including those with auxiliary brick-and-mortar stores. Learn how e-commerce/omnichannel companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.
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