Content about Online shopping

March 1, 2013

Same-day delivery is going to help separate omnichannel players from pretenders

Sears Holdings is adding some of its own fare to its mygofer.com offering, an online grocery service that "turbo-charges brick-and-mortar retailer assortments by allowing customers to get items from those stores where and when they want them in new, convenient ways."

"At mygofer, your list is our command," Sears tells shoppers on its website. "Shop with us for your prescriptions, groceries, beauty products, clothes, shoes, electronics and a whole lot more you might not expect. So whatever's on your list, we can help you get it — with incredible speed and no hassles. That's convenience."

February 28, 2013

The top seven 'hidden retailer insights'

During last December’s Drug Store Industry Issues Summit our panel of retail executives discussed how to optimize consumer white spaces, creating new trips and value. If you were not there, you missed some great discussions by many of the top thinkers in our industry.

During last December’s Drug Store News Industry Issues Summit, our panel of retail executives discussed how to optimize consumer white spaces, creating new trips and value. If you were not there, you missed some great discussions by many of the top thinkers in our industry.

I believe everyone attending gained valuable feedback on how to uncover and fill currently unmet consumer white spaces. Two key themes were discussed:

February 27, 2013

Target Canada rollout to be bigger than any annual U.S. rollout to date

Target is planning a rollout in Canada that will be bigger than any single year's worth of its store openings in the United States ever, executives of the company said Wednesday morning in a call with Wall Street analysts to discuss the mass merchandise retailer's fourth-quarter and full-year 2012 results.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is planning a rollout in Canada that will be bigger than any single year's worth of its store openings in the United States ever, executives of the company said Wednesday morning in a call with Wall Street analysts to discuss the mass merchandise retailer's fourth-quarter and full-year 2012 results.

February 25, 2013

Chasing the elusive omnichannel shopper

Omnichannel. It's one of the hottest topics in retail. It's seamless retailing in real-time. It's making sure that the brand experience coming out of a retailer is exemplary no matter how a consumer chooses to engage — on the e-commerce site, through an app for the tablet or smartphone, within the brick-and-mortar location or any two of those venues simultaneously.

February 15, 2013

Retail CFOs to emphasize online, mobile retail in 2013, study finds

Retail executives are moderating their expectations for 2013 following uneven sales in December and January, according to a new survey of CFOs by professional services firm BDO USA.

CHICAGO — Retail executives are moderating their expectations for 2013 following uneven sales in December and January, according to a new survey of CFOs by professional services firm BDO USA.

February 13, 2013

Shopkick, citing Nielsen data, stakes claim as leading shopping app

Shopkick, a shopping app, on Wednesday announced that Nielsen ranked Shopkick No. 34 out of approximately 1 million apps in December 2012.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Shopkick, a shopping app, on Wednesday announced that Nielsen ranked Shopkick No. 34 out of approximately 1 million apps in December 2012. While still trailing giants like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter overall, Shopkick dominated the shopping category during the holiday season, with more frequent and prolonged usage than all physical retailers' own apps including Starbucks, Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger and Safeway, the app developer noted.

February 12, 2013

Survey: Showrooming may not be driving as many consumers to Amazon as everyone thinks

In a survey of more than 6,200 consumers collected during the peak holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Amazon scored highest among 25 of the top mobile commerce companies in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a report released Tuesday by ForeSee.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In a survey of more than 6,200 consumers collected during the peak holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Amazon scored highest among 25 of the top mobile commerce companies in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a report released Tuesday by ForeSee.

February 7, 2013

ComScore: Low awareness, retail access key barriers to widespread digital wallet adoption

ComScore released the Digital Wallet Road Map 2013, a study which measures consumer awareness, perceptions and intent to use current digital wallet offerings.

RESTON, Va. — ComScore on Monday released the Digital Wallet Road Map 2013, a study which measures consumer awareness, perceptions and intent to use current digital wallet offerings. The study found digital wallets, which store a virtual copy of the contents of a consumer's physical wallet to facilitate online or offline retail transactions, only had awareness among 51% of U.S. consumers for wallets other than PayPal.

February 7, 2013

Satisfaction study: Packaging can influence purchase intent, customer satisfaction

MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.”

RICHMOND, Va. — MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.” The study explores the role of packaging in product satisfaction as consumers purchase, transport, use and dispose of products across 10 different categories.

February 6, 2013

Social media does not replace brick-and-mortar retailers, study finds

Despite nearly half of shoppers using social media every day, less than one-fifth shop through them, according to a new study by PwC.

NEW YORK — Despite nearly half of shoppers using social media every day, less than one-fifth shop through them, according to a new study by PwC.

February 5, 2013

Target launches REDcard program for Canadian customers

Target has made its REDcard cards available for customers at its Canadian stores, the mass merchandise retailer said.

TORONTO — Target has made its REDcard cards available for customers at its Canadian stores, the mass merchandise retailer said.

January 30, 2013

Penniless: Most Canadian retailers ready for phase-out of 1-cent coins, retailing group says

Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of 1-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

TORONTO — Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of 1-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

The Retail Council of Canada said the majority of the country's retail businesses were prepared for the disappearance of the penny and will follow the government's proposals for determining prices.

January 25, 2013

Retailers stand to benefit from Made-in-America wave

Walmart recently announced that it would source $50 billion of the products sold in its stores in the United States over the next 10 years, according to a report in USA Today.

"Be American; buy American" has long been a slogan that makes buying U.S.-made goods sound nothing less than patriotic because it helps create American jobs, much like CVS' initiatives to create jobs for veterans, and the recent Made-in-USA fervor around the country has more than demonstrated that. But there are practical reasons for sourcing domestically as well, making it high time for retailers to start looking into putting more products with the "Made in USA" label on their shelves.

Walmart recently announced that it would source $50 billion of the products sold in its stores in the United States over the next 10 years, according to a report in USA Today.

January 23, 2013

Nielsen: Retail opportunities for 2013 in big data, omnichannel and fresh

Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon.

CHICAGO — Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon. "The consumer remains in maintenance mode," he said. "Consumers are being pragmatic in their spending. Uncertainty dominates."

January 22, 2013

Club retailers to see higher growth over next three years, Deloitte study finds

Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

The study, by Deloitte, found that consumer products executives expect growth through warehouse club retailers to outpace those of other retail channels, including mass merchandise, supermarkets and online retail.

January 18, 2013

Duane Reade's 'Show Us Some Leg' campaign illustrates power of social media

Duane Reade experienced nearly a 20% boost in sales of its private label hosiery thanks to a seven-week social media campaign dubbed “Show Us Some Leg,” according to a published report.
The important takeaway here is that the success of this campaign speaks to the overall importance of engaging consumers beyond the walls of the bricks-and-mortar store.

Duane Reade experienced nearly a 20% boost in sales of its private label hosiery thanks to a seven-week social media campaign dubbed “Show Us Some Leg,” according to a published report.

The important takeaway here is that the success of this campaign speaks to the overall importance of engaging consumers beyond the walls of the bricks-and-mortar store.

January 17, 2013

Half of consumers will seek alternative brands at shelf

If the OTC products for which they were looking were not on the shelf, half would switch to another product, with 30% looking for an alternative product and 20% asking the pharmacist for an alternative solution, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September. However, 42% of respondents are observed to be product loyalists and would seek the OTC out at another retailer.

To see more Patient Views, click here.

January 16, 2013

Online retailer touts 'Made in USA'

Amid a growing interest nationwide in buying domestically made goods, a new online retailer makes "Made in USA" it's primary selling point.

PHOENIX — Amid a growing interest nationwide in buying domestically made goods, a new online retailer makes "Made in USA" it's primary selling point.

Shop & Buy American Made brings together products from U.S. manufacturers, artisans and small businesses, ranging from home decor to clothing and accessories.

January 15, 2013

Healthy holiday shopping season, but trouble could lie ahead, NRF says

Despite caution among consumers, retailers wrapped up 2012 with a healthy holiday shopping season, according to a new report by a retailing trade group.

NEW YORK — Despite caution among consumers, retailers wrapped up 2012 with a healthy holiday shopping season, according to a new report by a retailing trade group.

The National Retail Federation said Tuesday that holiday retail sales increased 3% over the year before, to $579.8 billion. December retail sales increased 0.8% seasonally adjusted from November and 2.1% unadjusted year over year. Nevertheless, the 3% increase was still below the NRF's projected 4.1% growth. Meanwhile, nonstore holiday sales grew 11.1%.

January 10, 2013

New Year revelations

If you are like a lot of people, hanging a new calendar has inspired you to embrace new beginnings and experimentation. Every January morning begins with plans to put insights into action.

And if you are like a lot of other people, you’re feeling desperate for different outcomes in 2013, while still doing things the 2012 way.

January 9, 2013

Mintel: Men increasingly turn to Web to buy beauty products

Men are an ideal target for online beauty and beauty retailers may want to consider expanding more marketing efforts to further leverage this growing opportunity, according to recent research from Mintel.

CHICAGO — Men are an ideal target for online beauty and beauty retailers may want to consider expanding more marketing efforts to further leverage this growing opportunity, according to recent research from Mintel.

The ease and convenience features of online shopping appeal to some 60% of men ages 18 of 34 years who buy beauty products and agree that buying online is more convenient than shopping in store. This compares with 52% of women of the same age and 41% of their older male counterparts (ages 55 years and older), according to Mintel.

January 9, 2013

Study: Return to promotion of new products spells rise in FSI coupon distribution in 2012

More than 274 billion Free Standing Insert coupons were distributed in 2012, marking a 0.8% increase in activity versus 2011, as retailer promotion pages also rose by 5.2% during the year with Walmart snagging the top spot followed by Walgreens, according to Kantar Media.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — More than 274 billion Free Standing Insert coupons were distributed in 2012, marking a 0.8% increase in activity versus 2011, as retailer promotion pages also rose by 5.2% during the year with Walmart snagging the top spot followed by Walgreens, according to Kantar Media.

January 8, 2013

FDA advises consumers not to purchase adulterated 'MAXILOSS Weight Advanced'

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday advised consumers not to purchase or use “MAXILOSS Weight Advanced” — a product promoted and sold for weight loss on various web sites, including DreamLifeWeightLoss.com, and in some retail stores.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday advised consumers not to purchase or use “MAXILOSS Weight Advanced” — a product promoted and sold for weight loss on various web sites, including DreamLifeWeightLoss.com, and in some retail stores.

January 8, 2013

Target price matches online retailers

Target Corp. has launched a campaign to price match online retailers, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. has launched a campaign to price match online retailers, the mass-merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

The Minneapolis-based retailer said it planned to price match online retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com year-round; Target stores would also price match items on the company's own website.

January 7, 2013

More adoption of technology could drive retail pharmacy customer loyalty, report finds

More than half of U.S. consumers would not recommend a particular pharmacy to family and friends, according to a new report by a Canadian customer experience management firm.

TORONTO — More than half of U.S. consumers would not recommend a particular pharmacy to family and friends, according to a new report by a Canadian customer experience management firm.