Note: A version of this post originally appeared in Forbes. No brand is safe from the awesome power of a superior customer experience. Consumers — particularly young ones — have shown that they will rapidly shift loyalties to brands delivering an overall experience that is more personalized and easier to use, both online and offline. Amazon’s …
Note: A version of this post originally appeared in Forbes. Call it “The Retail Apocalypse.” Call it “The Amazon Effect.” Call it what you will, but the facts are plain: the retail industry is in crisis. Bankruptcies are skyrocketing, and Amazon is gobbling up market share and expanding capabilities at a nigh-unbelievable rate. Some consider the current shakeout …
Every day is Halloween for brands who can’t recognize their customers. Failing to identify customers across devices and channels is like failing to identify Halloween revelers obscured behind masks and makeup. If you don’t know who you’re engaging, you have no context for interaction, and the conversation inevitably takes a frightful turn. But every day …
We are all living in what Forrester Research famously proclaimed “The Age of the Customer.” But some brands are living better than others — for that matter, many are just barely hanging on. The Age of the Customer heralds a decisive, disruptive shift in the balance of marketplace power. Consumers now control relationships with brands, not …
There’s no such thing as “convenient enough.” As fast as we learn to swipe instead of type, or tap to pay, we’re already looking for a faster, shinier option — or complaining about why it doesn’t exist yet. Who could possibly keep up with this unending demand for faster, more hassle-free customer experiences? Guess we …
Note: A version of this post originally appeared on The Future CMO Club website. Want to think less like a marketer and more like your customers? Put yourself in their shoes. One terrific way to know someone better is playing the Never Have I Ever Game. You’ll quickly find there are experiences that most all of …
What do marketers have in common with kids at Christmas? What do marketers have in common with kids at Christmas? For one, we’re inexorably drawn to the latest hot thing. For the kids, there’s always a must-have new toy, like Hatchimals or fidget spinners. And for marketers, it’s usually the latest tech trend, like chatbots …
Amidst record numbers of store closings, can you name three retailers (other than Amazon) that are likely to have plenty of inventory and traffic this holiday season? Our surveillance turned up three brands that look ripe for ripping off: Sephora, Home Depot and Best Buy, all of whom competed in categories that showed above-average growth …
The average American will buy 14 gifts this holiday season, and nearly half of all shoppers will also purchase something for themselves in the process. How do you make sure your brand gets at least a fair share of that spending? Many brands put all of their holiday planning focus on new customer acquisition. But …
The adage “Know your customer” has been around for as long as the retail industry. My father was an independent retailer, and he successfully put two children through college through the revenue generated from his single store. His techniques were primitive, but his knowledge unquestioned: he knew his customers and knew what they wanted. This …