By Christophe Primault, CEO of CloudWork.com Marketing automation is a highly prized ideal in retail, for both online and brick-and-mortar stores. Retailers can increase sales by having a complete customer history in front of them when a shopper walks in their door or visits their website. Marketing automation serves two purposes. It reduces the repetitive tasks that come from copying data ... [Read more]
U.S. Retail Sales Rebound in April
May 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Retail sales excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants rose 0.6 percent in April seasonally adjusted from the previous month and increased 3.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Strengthening employment data, increasing housing prices and a record-breaking stock market may have provided consumers the confidence they needed to shop last month. “In the face of higher taxes and ... [Read more]
The Anatomy of the Perfect Email Newsletter
May 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
By Jessica Moretti Consumers are under a constant barrage of advertisements and promotions, making it increasingly difficult to capture their attention. In a world full of noise, a good way to stand out from the crowd is to send a message that isn't focused on selling, but instead works to nurture the relationship with your customers. One of the best relationship building tools at a retailer's ... [Read more]
eCommerce and Security—Are You Safe?
May 8, 2013 by 3 Comments
Small business owners are 100 percent responsible for their customers' personal information and credit card data. One of the biggest myths is that security is tied solely to credit card information. The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Council will be the first to point out that it is as much about the personal information of your customers as it is about their credit cards. At the end of the ... [Read more]
The Marketplace Fairness Act and Shopping Behavior
May 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The long-debated Internet sales tax issue is nearing an end with the U.S. Senate's passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act by a binding vote of 69 to 27. Now the bill must go before the U.S. House of Representatives for approval. The legislation would allow the 45 states, and the District of Columbia, that currently charge sales tax to require large online retailers to collect tax on purchases ... [Read more]
Onex to Acquire Nielsen Expositions for $950 Million
May 6, 2013 by 1 Comment
Private equity firm Onex Corporation has agreed to acquire Nielsen Expositions from its parent, an affiliate of Nielsen Holdings N.V., for $950 million in cash consideration. Nielsen Expositions is a leading operator of large, business-to-business trade shows in the United States. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. Based in ... [Read more]
A/B Testing with Google Content Experiments
May 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Any online retailer who is serious about increasing sales knows that ongoing testing of design elements is essential. There are many ways to achieve this, including custom coded, paid and free solutions. In the past, one of the better free options was Google's Website Optimizer (GWO). However, in August of 2012, Google discontinued GWO and replaced it with Content Experiments. Google says the move ... [Read more]
Details Make the Difference
May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
By Tom Shay Changing your advertising style to maximize results The rain that started Thursday evening continues to pour on this Saturday morning with no sign of letting up. Understandably, many customers have chosen to stay home. The two retailers, Al and Bill, have made their inventory purchases, media buys, and have extra sales help in the building today. While both retailers are disappointed ... [Read more]
OFFPRICE Recognized by TSNN Top 250
May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The OFFPRICE Show is once again being recognized for its growth in net square footage. The Trade Show News Network (TSNN) recently announced its 2012 Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States in terms of net square footage, and both the February and August OFFPRICE Shows ranked in the top 200. Checking in at #163 is the February 2012 OFFPRICE Show (126,245 sq. feet). Right behind at #164 is the ... [Read more]
Independent Retailer and Web Wholesaler Magazines Merge
May 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Sumner Communications, Inc. is thrilled to announce the merger of our publications, Web Wholesaler Magazine and INDEPENDENT RETAILER, to form a single, strong and comprehensive monthly magazine and website. The new INDEPENDENT RETAILER will continue to feature the vital wholesale business news and product information that store owners depend upon, and will now include the addition of several new ... [Read more]
