A New UPS Report: Complexities of Online Retailing

Posted on November 30, 2016 by bermanevansretail

 

On a regular basis, shipping giant UPS publishes reports on the “UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper™.”
Its 2016 report deals with the tech-savvy shoppers who are transforming the retail landscape:
“While E-commerce offers new, unparalleled opportunities for accelerated growth, most retailers also are facing unprecedented challenges, and their very survival is in question. They must keep pace with ever-evolving technology and customer expectations. And omnichannel retailers are being pushed by shoppers to deliver a compelling, seamless experience across all channels. The lines of distinction between brick-and-mortar and digital experiences are forever blurred.”
“Excellence across all channels is considered table stakes, and organizations are struggling with how best to accomplish these objectives while remaining profitable. With change at a rampant pace, there is no longer a universal set of answers for how a retailer sets priorities and thrives. However, this much is clear: It is more essential than ever to understand the actions and motivations of today’s increasingly savvy, tech-driven shopper. That is exactly what this study offers — insights on today’s well-connected, in-control shopper.”
“Retailers of all sizes are experiencing tensions within their organization about prioritizing the changes needed to remain competitive. The insights offered here are designed to help them determine the best path forward as they navigate the intricacies of a market that’s never been more challenging.”
Click the image to access the full UPS 2016 report.

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Posted in Online Retailing, Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 5: Managing a Retail Business, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Part 8: Putting It All Together, Social Media and Retailing, Technology in Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s on Your Shopping List? Part 2

Posted on November 29, 2016 by bermanevansretail
Yesterday’s post focused on the popularity of gift cards during the holiday season. Today, we take a broader look at what shoppers will be buying this year.
As Ana Serafin Smith reports for the National Retail Federation:
“With shoppers eager to take advantage of early promotions from retailers, more than half of consumers have already 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.”
“NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said: ‘This time of year is about finding the right gifts while staying on budget. For those looking for anything from toys to apparel at retailers large and small, in-store or online, retailers are ready with great merchandise at affordable prices.’”

 
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Posted in Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s on Your Shopping List? Part 1

Posted on November 28, 2016 by bermanevansretail
Today’s post focuses on the popularity of gift cards during the holiday season. These cards are easy to purchase and enable the recipients to buy what what most interests them — while also being somewhat impersonal.
Based on the recent survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, these gift card findings are clear:
“Holiday shoppers are planning to purchase an average of three gift cards with an approximate value of $46 per card, the second most-popular gift after clothing. Spending on gift cards is expected to reach $27.5 billion, up from last year’s planned $26 billion. The most popular types of gift cards include those from restaurants (35 percent of buyers), department stores (33 percent), Visa/MasterCard/American Express (22 percent), coffee shops (21 percent) and entertainment (17 percent).”

 
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Posted in Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments