For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Alternative Delivery Options: Benefiting Both Buyers And Retailers

by Patti Freeman Evans, February 18, 2009

In-store pickup, shipment to store, and parcel pickup points all offer an alternative to home delivery of eCommerce orders in Europe. For retailers, alternative deliveries can create an opportunity for incremental sales, while also allowing them to develop . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Planning Your Merchandising Makeover

Merchandising Planning Initiatives Put Consumer Service At The Center Of Retail Planning Processes

by George Lawrie, February 3, 2009

Retailers face an uncertain future with merchandising processes, the key factor in their differentiation, in some disarray. Over the next three years, a minority already plans a massive overhaul — but in a cruelly competitive market, many more should . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

The State Of Retailing Online 2008: Profitability, Economy, And Multichannel Report

by Sucharita Mulpuru, October 15, 2008

As part of "The State of Retailing Online," a Shop.org study conducted by Forrester Research, we surveyed online retailers in June and July 2008 about their profitability and outlook for the coming 12 months, given the current state of the economy. Online . . .

For Technology Sales Enablement Professionals

Industry Essential: Global Retail Industry

eCommerce Revitalization And "Legacy Lifelines" Dominate Retailers' IT Plans Around The Globe

by George Lawrie, August 13, 2008

IT spending and interest in new initiatives follows the sun, with optimism waning from Asia Pacific to Europe and then to North America. But retailers across the globe share many priorities — notably, common interest in prolonging the life of legacy apps . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Retail Multichannel IT Road Map

How Can Retail IT Support Multichannel Trading Without Ripping And Replacing Everything?

by George Lawrie, July 7, 2008

While many retailers still trade via isolated channels, sometimes even referring to the online channel as "store 999," consumers demand a complete shopping experience across channels that includes interactions such as researching or reserving merchandise . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Fair Indigo Launches with Process, Systems, and Organization Aligned Across All Channels

by Patti Freeman Evans, March 30, 2008

Fair Indigo is a multichannel retailer located in Madison, Wisconsin dedicated to selling apparel and accessories made by companies implementing fair-trade practices.

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

The Inevitable Convergence Of Retail Channels

by Tamara Mendelsohn, May 17, 2007

As consumers become more comfortable with the Internet, multichannel consumers are increasing in number. Multichannel consumers look like "average consumers," but bring new expectations to the shopping experience. Because they demand a consistent voice . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Five Immediate Opportunities For eCommerce Improvement

by Sucharita Mulpuru, May 11, 2007

While eCommerce sales continue to grow at a rapid pace, unmet customer opportunities abound in the areas of Web site merchandising, Web site operations, and fulfillment. Specifically, the following five areas represent opportunities for improvement: shipping/product . . .

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Acquisition Of Comergent Moves Sterling Commerce A Step Closer To The Perfect Order

by R "Ray" Wang, Tamara Mendelsohn, May 9, 2007

In a marriage of technology that will ultimately give eBusiness executives a single view of the order across channels, Sterling Commerce acquired Comergent on January 8, 2007. Forrester examined the integration plans 100 days after acquisition. We believe . . .

The Online Store Gets Physical

Notes From The "JCPenney Experience" Hybrid Physical/Virtual Store

by Carrie Johnson, Nikki Baird, Tamara Mendelsohn, Sucharita Mulpuru, April 21, 2006

J.C. Penney Company recently opened a temporary physical/virtual store, the JCPenney Experience, in New York's Times Square to showcase the JCPenney department store's "new look" brands and assortment and introduce customers to its eCommerce offering. . . .

How To Get To Multichannel Merchandising

by Carrie Johnson, Joshua Walker, Charles P. Wilson, December 1, 2003

Retailers try to optimize online merchandising but don't succeed. Why? Because they first need a multichannel technology foundation that enables consistent product organization and display.

Multichannel Best Practices: Sears And REI

by James Crawford, Kate Delhagen, Amy Dash, December 4, 2002

Sears and REI run two of today's best multichannel retail companies. Other retailers must learn from their experiences - and pay close attention to their next moves - to capture valuable multichannel shoppers.