January 27, 2010
·
Posted by
Donna Remillard
Sharing:
We recently sponsored a webinar on e-commerce content management where Brian Walker of Forrester Research delivered some interesting insights into consumer demands and how this demand puts pressure on merchant strategies to deliver content across the multi-channel shopping environment.
In this webinar we learned that consumers are not only shopping across channels but are using more and more devices to do so, even in-store. Consumer interest in self-service devices such as scanners attached to a shopping cart, self check-out aisles, and in-store kiosks for coupons or accessing the company...
January 26, 2010
·
Posted by
Wanda Cadigan
Sharing:
When you hear of something being called the ‘next big thing in social networking’ or ‘the next Twitter’, it’s a reason to take note. Foursquare is a location-based social network that helps you connect with friends using GPS via your mobile device. Location-based services aren’t new. If you have an iPhone, chances are you have some form of location-based weather app.
Foursquare is a self-described cross between a friend-finder, social city guide and a game that rewards you points for visiting locations multiple times. Sound a bit silly? Well it is. But it’s also proving to be incredibly ...
January 21, 2010
·
Posted by
Melany Gallant
Sharing:
A recent survey conducted by BIGResearch on behalf of the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association finds that moms with children at home like to use social media. A lot. Findings from the study indicate these moms "are more likely to use Facebook (60.3%), MySpace (42.4%) and Twitter (16.5%) than average adults (50.2%, 34.4%, 15.0%, respectively)" and that 15.3% maintain their own blog. BabyCenter, LLC conducted its own study in 2009 and found that the number of moms using social media has jumped 462% since 2006, and the number who use cell phones increased 348% in the same per...
January 19, 2010
·
Posted by
Melany Gallant
Sharing:
Paul Marsden over at Social Commerce Today provides some great tips on where to start when planning your social commerce strategy. He references McKinsey's LEAD strategy: Listen - Experiment - Assess - Develop And this strategy approach makes a lot of sense. It relies heavily on first understanding your audience; where they are online, how they use social tools to discuss products (think reviews, product comparisons for example) and how they make purchases. It's a process similar to executing a social media strategy - know and understand your audience and then implement a plan that ensures ...
January 18, 2010
·
Posted by
Donna Remillard
Sharing:
I recently came across this statement, while reading up on various loyalty strategies for an upcoming webinar and some related customer work we’re doing here at Cactus It stuck with me because it really made me think about what loyalty meant and if there really is such thing as ‘Brand Loyalty’. I’ve always considered myself ‘Brand Loyal’, but let’s face it, I can be as fickle as the next shopper. I’m there for you … until something better comes along.
Without looking up Webster’s or Wikipedia’s definition of loyalty, to me it means to remain constant and true to someone, in good times a...
January 15, 2010
·
Posted by
Wanda Cadigan
Sharing:
We’re just back from the 99th annual National Retail Federation show in New York, and as usual it was larger than life. Cactus was one of a few select partners chosen to participate with Microsoft at their ‘Connected Experiences for Retail’ booth.
Kicking off the event on Sunday night, Microsoft hosted a fabulous Opening Night Reception at the Marriott Marquis for a several hundred of their closest friends. I haven’t seen any official numbers yet, but in general show attendance did seem to be up from last year.
We showcased the CommerceLive e-commerce microsite solution built for the...
January 6, 2010
·
Posted by
Melany Gallant
Sharing:
On Monday, Internet Retailer cited a recent survey by Compete indicating that 37% of smartphone owners purchased merchandise via their phones in 2009. This is good news for e-tailers as we head into 2010. Opportunities for growth will widen as more and more consumers - and not just the tech-savvy ones - become comfortable with this purchasing channel. What is interesting is that the survey results show that owners of different smartphones participated in different kinds of shopping activities: 19% of smartphone owners have purchased music from their devices; 14% have purchased books, DVD...