Retailers Retooling Holiday Layaway Plans for 2012

Posted on September 16, 2012 by bermanevansretail
Retailers are expecting (hoping?) for a better 2012 holiday season after a slow several years. They are planning for post-recession shopping behavior.
According to Alec Foege, writing for JWT Intelligence: “Back in 2009, Kmart and Sears revived the old Christmas layaway concept, first popularized during the Great Depression, as we noted at the time,  Toys ‘R’ Us and Best Buy followed suit with their own iterations. But even as the recession has subsided, the layaway concept has endured (getting a PR boost last December when “layaway angels” began paying off random balances at Kmarts and Wal-Marts around the U.S.). With many Americans still struggling and reluctant to pile more debt onto credit cards, merchants are filling in the gap to get the sale, with both brick-and-mortar and online retailers revving up their pay-over-time concepts for the upcoming holiday season.”
Click the Toys ‘R’ Us image to read more from JWT Intelligence about retailers’ 2012 plans.

 

 

Posted in 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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Whole Foods and Customer Wellness

Posted on September 15, 2012 by bermanevansretail
Whole Foods is a supermarket chain that emphasizes natural and organic food. It has been a very strong leader in its segment of the marketplace.
Healthier eating is becoming more important to many consumers — and to retailers. As JWT Intelligence notes: “Shoppers are looking to brands to educate them on complex topics and help them navigate their choices, perhaps no more so than in the confusing realm of nutrition. Some supermarkets have adopted nutrition-scoring systems, for instance, as we note in our food trends report. And increasingly, grocers are introducing dietitians who help customers make more informed decisions, even creating customized lists to suit individual needs.”
Take a look at Whole Foods’ Wellness Club video.

 

 

Posted in Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Social Media and Retailing, Video Clips (non-career) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

High-Tech Changing Retail Merchandising Practices

Posted on September 15, 2012 by bermanevansretail
Here’s a good take on the evolving use of technology in retailing by Erik Sherman, writing for Inc.: “The retail industry is undergoing significant changes in the merchandising process — at least, so says a recent survey by RSR Research. The best of the national performers have picked up on a crucial strategy: Target your store’s selection of goods to the needs and interests of specific communities. It’s better for sales and for controlling costs. The savviest retailers know this and they’re using technology to help give them edge. According to the survey, firms that outperform industry averages for annual same-store sales comparisons tend to use and understand specialized computer software tools to manage specific aspects of merchandising.”
Click the chart for Sherman’s full story.

 

 

Posted in Part 5: Managing a Retail Business, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Technology in Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment