5 predictions for the future of retail
Chatbots, messaging apps and voice enabled devices will also start to become a key element of brand communication, according to a new report looking into the future of retail.
Email fail: Amazon mistakenly sends baby registry emails
Amazon sent out some very confusing emails on Tuesday, telling a large number of customers that someone had bought an item off their baby registry.
The Body Shop hires Urban Airship for mobile wallet campaign
The Body Shop is working with agency Urban Airship to launch a mobile wallet pass with the latest news and signature counts for its Forever Against Animal Testing campaign.
The checkout “is least satisfying part of the omnichannel shopping experience”
Poor payments experience at the checkout is the weak link in connected customers’ omnichannel shopping experiences, causing retailers lost conversions and customer loyalty, a new report from KPS, a transformation agency, reveals.
Technology ignorance “will cost UK independent retailers dearly this Christmas”
Just 7% of SME decision makers surveyed in the retail sector invest in technology to meet peak periods, like Christmas, which could put themselves at a clear disadvantage against the online and high street giants.
Facial recognition marketing firm OfferMoments gets £1.5m funding boost
Facial recognition ad platform OfferMoments has received a £1.5 million boost to help fund its new innovative Out-Of-Home-advertising service.
Most consumers use Amazon to research purchases (and quarter do it instore)
72% of people now visit Amazon when they want to research products online before making a purchase and over a quarter (26%) of Amazon users admit to checking for alternatives, background information and prices on the site when they come up on a potential purchase in a physical store, according to new research.
London Fashion Week: Premium labels invest big in influencers
Ahead of London Fashion Week, new research shows that premium fashion marketers working at designer labels such as Brit label Burberry are willing to pay far more for influencer posts compared to their fellow marketers in other sectors.
High street shopping : Over 45s let down by in-store experience as youngsters seek ‘inspiration’
Older generations are disgruntled with the current in-store experience offering, but retailers can’t depend on younger demographics being satisfied either, according to new research.
Lack of convenience ‘accounts for 25% of failed online deliveries’
Despite retailers recognising ‘last mile convenience’ is an increasingly important consideration for online shoppers, many are still failing to meet consumers’ expectations in fulfilment, according to new research.
Spotify and Hulu team up for $4.99 monthly student package
Spotify has partnered with Hulu to let students in the US get both a premium Spotify subscription and a subscription to Hulu for a combined price of $4.99 a month.
eBay takes on Amazon with ‘The Entertainment Shop’ for physical media
eBay has announced a major play for the UK’s physical media market, with the launch of ‘The Entertainment Shop’.
Only 9% of people now visit high-street travel agents
The future of the high-street travel agent could be under threat, as a new report finds that only 9% of UK holidaymakers now visit travel agents to book their holiday.
Reebok makes social lifestyle content shoppable
Reebok is making social lifestyle content shoppable for the first time, as it looks to hone the ideal customer journey.
Smart shopping: 7 in 10 want AI to transform their shopping experience
Seven in 10 (70%) consumers both know about artificial intelligence-based (AI) technologies and believe they can transform their shopping experience – but 66% have yet to come across them in a retail environment, according to new research.
Stores “must speed up their customer service to survive”
Speed and convenience top consumers’ motivations for choosing to shop in-store, directly impacting bricks-and-mortar conversions, a new report from PCMS, a global provider of unified commerce solutions, reveals.
Mastercard and Garmin lets people pay via fitness watches
Mastercard is adding payment capabilities to the newly launched Garmin vívoactive 3, letting people pay for goods while out keeping fit without provide having to carry their phone or wallet around.
Alibaba to expand into online groceries via BigBasket investment
Alibaba is reportedly in talks to pick up a significant stake in online grocer BigBasket in India, as the Chinese online retail giant looks to rival Amazon’s recent expansion into fresh food with its WholeFoods acquisition.
Social shopping trends: Facebook inspiration helped boost Black Friday sales last year
With a combined community of more than 40 million monthly active users in the UK, Facebook and Instagram are becoming inspiration spots for consumers when shopping for Black Friday or Christmas deals, according to new research.
Domino’s teams with Ford for self-driving pizza delivery cars
Domino’s is trialling self-driving delivery cars in the US, following a partnership with Ford.
