So-called ‘click and collect’ may be the future of shopping for groceries
E-commerce
Free Shipping Wars Already Heating Up in Battle for Online Holiday Shoppers
‘Predatory’ Reason Marketers Target Women on Mondays
A new study suggests that beauty product pitches should be timed to target women at their “most vulnerable” moments — specifically, Mondays, when women feel least attractive.
It’s Target Versus Amazon in the Battle for Moms
Target wants its moms back. This week, Target rolled out a new diaper-delivery plan and a family friendly on-demand video streaming option. Both services are aimed at wooing moms—in particular, moms who might otherwise give
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Black Friday Is Facing Extinction
Is Black Friday dying? More evidence is showing up indicating that the day after Thanksgiving is not the best day for finding deals. Some retail experts are even forecasting that Black Friday will disappear as an American …
5 Ways Retailers Are Trying to Snag Holiday Shopping Dollars Extra Early This Year
Most people like Thanksgiving to have passed before setting up Christmas decorations and jumping into winter holiday mode. For marketers, however, it’s now become standard to embrace the winter holiday mentality long before …
Don’t Be Afraid to Share: Ridesharing Companies Lyft, Sidecar, UberX Get Official OK in California
It’s often been difficult for “sharing economy” participants to confirm what they’re doing is legal. But now we have a little clarity—at least in terms of the sharing of car rides, at least in California.
Guess Who’s Getting Some Pretty Awful Reviews: User Review Sites
The trustworthiness of Yelp, Angie’s List, and other “unbiased” ratings services is called into question in a new study by Consumer Reports. And the consumer advocacy publication is hardly the only one taking issue with …
Why Retailers Have Stopped Freaking Out About Showrooming
Big brick-and-mortar retailers know that everybody is using smartphones when shopping in their stores. And they’re (mostly) cool with it. For one thing, they don’t have much choice in the matter. For another, they’re embracing …
The Weird Reason Consumers Write Bad Online Reviews for Products They Never Bought
It’s not complicated why people write fake online reviews: The goal is to help a company out, either by praising its services or products and pumping up its ratings, or by bashing the competition with a scathing critique. But researchers have another theory about why some consumers—with apparently no axe to grind or financial interests …
Gmail Segregates ‘Promotions’: Why This Won’t Slow Down the E-mail Marketing Machine
Gmail’s new tabs system separates marketing messages into a “Promotions” box, making it easier than ever to ignore e-mail ads. Yet one theory holds that Gmail’s new design could actually make e-mail marketing more effective.
Hertz Drives to Be King of Anytime, Anyplace, Any Duration Rental Cars
In the near future, when you swing by the drugstore or home improvement center, renting a car could be as easy as picking up shampoo or a new ratchet set.