In today’s Internet Retailing we cover a timely report from Accenture, which brings a salutory reminder of a fact that many IR readers may take for granted. The report, datelined Davos, home of this week’s World Economic Forum, reminds us the importance for global businesses (among them, of course, retailers), of adapting to the digital revolution in consumer behaviour. The effects of that digital revolution are clear to see in retail, as ever more consumers turn online and to mobile devices to buy, yet the recent demise of high street names including HMV and Jessops is a stark reminder of the prime importance of succesfully negotiating the transition as the way we shop changes. And that seems still more important on the day that a 0.3% dip in GDP was reported.
Today we also bring you a preview of the highlights of the third-annual Internet Retailing Expo (IRX 2013) and also report on retailers including Express Gifts owner Findel, John Lewis, as it appoints a new online director, and on brands including Adidas, Nicole Fahri and Superdry as they join the move towards virtual fitting rooms.
Our guest comment today is from Rob Holmes, of Melbourne IT Digital Brand Services, who considers how retailers can protect their reputations by guarding against online fraudsters.
We have four upcoming Internet Retailing webinars to flag up this week. As always, it’s free to attend our webinars, and you can find out more on our webinar page.
On February 6, at 3pm, Nathan Richter, strategic services director at Monetate , is joined by Simon Harrow of Kiddicare, for a session focused on the Latest trends in website personalisation. During the course of the event retailers can bring their knowledge of personalisation techniques up-to-date, while finding out how successful brands are using them to boost their order values and return on investment. To find out more and to sign up for the webinar click here.
On February 12, at 4pm, we’ll be joined by Don Bush, VP, Marketing at Kount, for a webinar that explores how retailers can Boost sales, beat fraud and reduce chargebacks. Featuring a case study from CD Baby, the session will explore ways that traders can make sure their sales are both safe and profitable. Find out more here, where you can also sign up to the webinar.
On February 20, at 11am, Matthew Curry of Lovehoney and Chris Edge of SLI Systems join us for a webinar, If they can’t find it they can’t buy it – importance of site search for online retailers. During the session the two speakers will examine how site search is used on the Lovehoney site, while Chris Edge, head of customer success UK at SLI, will also give broad advice on best practice use. To find out more about this webinar and to register, click here.
And on February 28 at 11am, we’ll be joined by Tim Pickard, chief strategist at NewVoiceMedia and Martin Hill-Wilson, chief executive of Brainfood and a long-standing member of the UK customer service community, for a discussion on how retailers can connect their CRM data with telephony to recognize and respond to individual customer situations and so offer a truly personalised customer experience, in Customer experience: making it personal. For more information and to register, click here.
Adapt and grow: the digital revolution and what it means for retail
IRX2013 THE HIGHLIGHTS: The conferences
GUEST COMMENT The importance of reputation in a digital world
Fashion retailers opt for virtual fitting rooms
All change: new key hires for John Lewis and CollectPlus
Express Gifts celebrates its strongest Christmas in five years
