Is a Deliverer Entering Person’s Home OK?

Posted on November 27, 2017 by bermanevansretail

What do YOU think of this: A Deliverer Entering Person’s Home OK? Amazon believes many of its customers will love this practice. And that they will pay for it. But, critics say most people won’t want a stranger in their home if they are away.

We know most shoppers want convenience and speed in having products delivered. People feel OK if home for deliveries and with packages left at their door. But, will they leave a key for a deliverer to enter their home?

 

Amazon Key: A New Form of Delivery

Powerhouse Amazon believes its new in-home delivery will be a big hit:

“Amazon Key is an exclusive service for Prime members. It radically improves the convenience of receiving deliveries. And it allows in-home delivery and secure home access for guests and others. Find out at https://www.amazon.com/key.“

Check out the video overview of Amazon Key.

And Amazon sees a bright future for this service. Look at the pricing strategy:

“Amazon Key works for for Prime members in select cities and surrounding areas. To get started, purchase the Amazon Key In-Home Kit, starting at $249.99. The kit includes Amazon’s indoor cloud camera and a smart lock.”

“As a Prime member, get Amazon packages delivered inside your front door. Plus, grant access to the people you trust. Such as your family, friends, dog walker, or house cleaner. No leaving a key under the mat.”

Amazon’s confidence springs from the huge number of Prime Members. And that number grows each year. And each quarter.

Look at the number of Prime households! Deliverer Entering Person's Home OK?

For further information on Amazon Key, click the animated image.

Amazon Key. Deliverer Entering Person's Home OK? To Shoppers?
 

Is a Deliverer Entering Person’s Home OK?

To date, it seems most things Amazon touches turn to gold. But, will this be the exception? Would YOU subscribe to Amazon Key?

First, a lot of shoppers may find $249.99 pricey for the in-home kit. Second, Amazon does not yet know if shoppers trust in-home delivery.

In sum, consider these eMarketer observations:

“Amazon, Walmart, and shippers seek ways to get items past customers’ front doors. Their latest strategy — to drop packages inside homes. Or, for groceries, inside fridges. But consumers haven’t bought into the concept. Yet. In a Recode survey, 5% of Prime users say they will definitely buy it. Yet, 58% definitely won’t.”

“The percent who’d buy was similar whether or not a person used Prime.”

Deliverer Entering Person's Home OK? To Shoppers? Survey Says NO!

 

Posted in Online Retailing, Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Technology in Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Small Business Saturday 2017. Support Local Businesses.

Posted on November 24, 2017 by bermanevansretail

Thanksgiving weekend is a big selling time. Consider that for firms of any size. But, most attention focuses on larger firms. Yet, tomorrow, we encourage you to participate. Small Business Saturday 2017. Support Local Businesses.

As we know, small businesses need all the help they can get:

 

What Is Small Business Saturday?

In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday. The goal: To stimulate local shopping:

“It’s 2010. And small businesses hurt from an economy in recession. To support these firms, American Express launches Small Business Saturday. And schedules it on the Saturday of Thanksgiving week. By one year post-launch, local officials across the nation took notice. And they promoted the day. In 2011, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution for Small Business Saturday.”

“By 2012, officials came from all 50 states. And it got a shout-out from the U.S. President. In 2013, 1,450+ people and entities entered to be Neighborhood Champions. They rallied their communities with events and activities. By 2016, that number increased to 6,700+ Neighborhood Champions. They represented all 50 states. In addition, business groups, nonprofit trade groups, cities, towns, and others engaged. To that end, they formed a Small Business Saturday Coalition. And 100 corporations lend their official support.”

In sum, nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday lies “Small Business Saturday.” And it generates billions of dollars in revenues each year.

Small Business Saturday 2017. Support Local Businesses.

 

Small Business Saturday 2017. Support Local Businesses.

Small Business Saturday has come a long way. To start, check out the Facebook page. Click the image.

 

The U.S. Small Business Administration participates. “Saturday, November 25, 2017 is Small Business Saturday®. On that day, celebrate and support small businesses. And all they do for their communities. Please join the SBA and others across the country, Support local small business by shopping there.” For shoppers, find small businesses in your area.

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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 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy Thanksgiving. Black Friday Shopping Next?

Posted on November 23, 2017 by bermanevansretail

We wish you Happy Thanksgiving. Now, we ask you a question. Is Black Friday shopping next?

 

Happy Thanksgiving. Black Friday Shopping Next?

 

And remember to look at our holiday shopping tips.

 

Black Friday Shopping Next?

Despite many shoppers avoiding Black Friday, millions are getting revved up. And they spend billions of dollars over Thanksgiving weekend. What about YOU?

Statista has two excellent infographics on Black Friday shopping. One covers the hours people shop. The other looks at impulsive shopping.

As Rebekka Keuss reports:

“A Statista survey on purchasing habits during the holiday season revealed that those participating in the Black Friday madness plan to make use of the many doorbuster deals, traditionally – is it a tradition already? – offered only during the early hours of the day. Being an early bird literally pays off, so that’s the logic of many holiday shoppers. Accordingly, pre-Black Friday advertising does too. So, if you don’t belong to the 47 percent planning to stay at home and you are looking for a new smartphone, some new swanky clothes or expensive toys for your kids, prepare to get up early; otherwise the Black Friday deals might be gone before you can make it to the stores.”

Black Friday Shopping Next? How early will you shop?

And Martin Armstrong notes:

“Eager deal hunters will be going out with specific purchases in their crosshairs. Once in the stores, however, there is always the chance of stumbling across a great bargain which proves just too good to resist. The results of the Statista Thanksgiving & Holiday Survey 2016 showed that the product types most likely to spontaneously jump off the shelves and into U.S. shoppers’ carts are clothing, consumer electronics, and games/toys. 43 percent of respondents said that they would make an impulse purchase of ‘clothing, textiles, or shoes if they saw a good offer on Black Friday.”

Black Friday Shopping Next? How are impulsive are you?

 

Posted in 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, Social Media and Retailing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment