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Like other legacy brands that relied on wholesale retail in past years, Lenovo is trying to establish its direct-to-consumer presence. As a tech gadget brand, the company is leaning on Google search and paid ads to reach specific consumer segments and fold them into its DTC channel.
Over the past few years, a number of companies ranging from e-commerce consumer brands to fast food chains have built out first-party data hubs. Now, with continuously changing privacy laws, some marketers are suggesting a move to zero-party data, which refers to entirely volunteered user information.
The sneaker market may already appear saturated, but retail brands are betting on running shoes as the next growth frontier. The athletic footwear category, which saw major growth over the past two years, has new players like Lululemon and Allbirds competing against the likes of Nike.
In the past, customer service chatbots were considered a good way to handle simple customer service inquiries. However, as CX teams become overwhelmed with e-commerce tickets, retailers like Harry Rosen are looking for ways to deepen chatbots' capabilities.
Over the past few years, many brands have build out loyalty programs in hopes of collecting more first-party or zero-party data. Asics is the latest brand trying to get a more granular sense of who its customer base is by testing out a variety of surveys, quizzes, browsing features and pop-ups.
Over the past week, a number of retailers and brands announced they'll stop selling their products in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions could help put further pressure on Russia's economy, while also impacting retailers' own sales.
At first sight, the audiences of QVC and TikTok seem nothing alike. But body care brand Curie argues that both channels' cohorts love one thing: visually engaging products. Founder and CEO Sarah Moret explained that using the two channels in combination has helped the company drive 60% of its sales in 2021.
As the coronavirus continues to upend cooking and dining habits, meal kit companies are trying to adapt and keep customers ordering consistently. One apparent leader in the U.S. market is HelloFresh, which has continued to invest in offerings and fulfillment while its competitors struggle to become profitable.
In-store and curbside pickup continue to evolve, as retailers invest heavily to keep customers using the features. Target is one company leading the pack, announcing a new pilot program that allows customers to order Starbucks while they wait for their order or return an item curbside.
The demand for home furnishings has ebbed and flowed, and e-commerce players are trying to keep their momentum going. One company that capitalized on the home goods trend is Overstock. So much so, the online retailer is phasing out its other categories and focusing on furniture and home decor.
Brands are constantly trying to market their flagship stores as experience hubs for their customers. But foot traffic doesn't always come easy, especially in the age of coronavirus when customers need a reason to linger around. Sneaker brand P448 is trying to design its storefronts to attract street passersby and the online crowds alike.
Grocery store merchandising is becoming more data-driven to reflect changing consumer tastes. One company that's jumping on the strategy is Schwan's, which makes several brands of frozen that include its growing Asian-inspired SKUs.
Over the past few years, direct-to-consumer dessert brands have become mainstays on social feeds. These e-commerce bakeries include startups like Last Crumb, Bougie Bakes and newcomer Raize, and operate from ghost kitchen facilities while relying digital marketing to grow their customer base.
Despite low margins on delivery orders, DoorDash has managed to continue its pandemic momentum. During the last quarter of 2021, the company reached a record number of users and average order values.
As digital channels like Facebook become more expensive and less reliable, some DTC brands are giving linear TV a try. This year, startup brands like Kencko and Sagely Naturals are dipping their toes into the traditional television ad model to reach a bigger audience.
For years, retail experts have touted live streaming as the hottest new way to acquire customers and create instant sales. However, executing video commerce isn't a one-size-fits-all strategy, as lingerie brand Adore Me has found.
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