In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter, we’re reporting as retailers look set to enjoy strong trade over the Easter weekend, wherever they sell. Springboard predicts that high street sales will be up particularly strongly. But the fastest rise in sales of all, says PCA Predict, will be reserved for those that not only sell online, but more specifically optimise their websites for mobile. One audience of mobile shoppers will be those that are on trains over the course of the holiday, says KBH On-Train Media.
At its simplest, this is all about enabling shoppers to buy in the way that they want to. Tesco this week set out some of the ways it has improved its customer experience in a way that has clearly resonated with those shoppers. Digital innovation has been part of that, as has a focus on service: but at the heart of all the supermarket’s efforts has been the customer.
Today’s report from IRX 2017 looks at how luxury retailer mytheresa.com approaches the task of making shopping special for the most demanding customers.
Today we also hear from Richard Surridge of Sally Express on that retailer’s merchandising strategies as it targets a niche group of customers, and we report on how shoppers are willing to trade their data for discounts: another way that may drive improvements to the customer experience.
Today’s guest comment comes from Georges Berzgal of Pitney Bowes, who considers how retailers can use marketplaces to boost their sales.
Webinars
Upcoming InternetRetailing webinars are from Greenlight Commerce, on how BHS relaunched online in just seven weeks, to be held at 2pm on May 4, and from inRiver on how retailers can shape their product marketing for the micromoment, to be held at 2pm on May 8.
Find out more about them and register for free on the InternetRetailing webinar page. You can also catch up with past webinars on the page: recent sessions have come from IBM Watson on using AI to improve the customer experience, and from SmartFocus and The Entertainer on using social to reach digital customers.
