New digitally tuned-in retail fixtures may help department stores regain some of the fashion authority they have given up to specialty stores and mass merchants. The Virtual Personal stylist, developed by nG Connect Program, takes away some of the frustration of fitting rooms and messy makeup counters by enabling customers to “try on” apparel and [...]
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In-store web access In an effort to draw customer focus to the store as the primary means of merchandise distribution, some retailers are turning to in-store Internet-connected kiosks to engage customers, provide convenience, and increase shopping satisfaction. A digital misstep Best Buy was one of the pioneers of the customer-oriented Internet workstation in the early [...]
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The launch of the iPad only one year ago spurred demand for the computer tablet. There are more than 100 tablet devices from over 60 different manufacturers now being offered for public consumption. Retail innovation Quick to join the tablet wave, innovative retailers are employing various versions of the tablet phenomenon to enhance customer service. [...]
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Last November, the exteriors of Ralph Lauren’s flagship stores in New York and London became real-life canvases for dynamic video displays telling the brand story. Stunned observers on the ground watched as the building seemed to disintegrate, only to be reconstructed and open up to reveal a four-story-tall fashion show of Ralph-Lauren-clad models. The scene [...]
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Consumers in the second decade of the 21st century have multiple ways of shopping: stores, online, or catalog. So what’s new? Today’s retail convergence is driven by consumers and emerging technologies more than ever before. A 2010 survey of U.S. consumers by Buzzback Market Research http://www.buzzback.com/ indicated that: • 88% of shoppers are more likely [...]
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Gone are the days of in-store communications with a static message that is replaced seasonally or as a result of a new advertising campaign! By integrating proximity marketing with digital signs, messages can be matched to consumers’ interests, shopping trends, or demographics. Shoppers with shared characteristics tend to shop at certain times. Digital signage, informed [...]
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Continuing the Disney Store tradition of razzle-dazzle, storytelling, and entertainment, the new “immersive” concept announced at the National Retail Federation conference in New York on January 11 is a fusion of technology, innovative store design, and 21st-century customer service. Customer service with an iPod touch New retail-sales technology designed by Oracle incorporates the iPod touch [...]
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What tech innovation is providing a Bloomingdale’s location with inventory accuracy of 95%, Dillard’s a 96% time savings in cycle counts, and American Apparel with 14% increase in sales? Many retailers are keeping closed mouthed regarding their testing of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging at the item level, but industry reports indicate that J.C. Penney has [...]
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Downloading and usage of cell phone apps is on the rise worldwide. Recent surveys have estimated the mobile apps market to increase from the current $2.2 billion to $17.5 billion over the next three years. To take advantage of all of the capabilities of downloadable apps, users must have a smartphone (Blackberry, iPhone, Android, etc.), [...]
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