Target made headlines recently by announcing that the price-match guarantee that we saw during the holiday shopping season will now be a full-time offer throughout the year. I’m sure I wasn’t the only retail analyst who saw how big of a deal this could end up becoming. But a closer look at the fine print […]
Archives for January 2013
Holiday-style promotions become a year-round affair
Holiday-style promotions become a year-round affair Justine Griffin/Sarasota Herald-Tribune Following a relatively flat 2012 holiday shopping season, retail chains are extending holiday-time promotions to spur sales, touching off what analysts say will be an unpredictable spending climate throughout this year. In many cases, the tactics this year are ones merchants kicked off in 2012, ranging […]
Smartphones key mobile growth
Smartphones key mobile growth Kim Leonard/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Shoppers tapping away at smartphones played a big role in ringing up a 171 percent increase in holiday sales via mobile websites developed and tracked by Branding Brand. The South Side-based mobile commerce company monitored 84 retail sites, compared the latest numbers to holiday 2011 and concluded the […]
Holiday Blues?
While initial holiday sales predictions were robust in calling for as much as a 6 percent increase over last year, the initial verdict on overall sales could be far less than those original predictions. Still, I think it’s too early to write off this holiday shopping season as a bust. In fact, many reports are […]
Rising prices could stall local recovery
Rising prices could stall local recovery Justine Griffin/Sarasota Herald-Tribune Waning consumer confidence and tepid spending could stall the already-slow economic recovery in Southwest Florida and elsewhere, following a lackluster holiday shopping season and price increases set for later this year. Analysts say rising prices for food, gasoline and other household goods will affect how much […]
The Value Matrix
In the post holiday rush, value often times becomes synonymous with price. And while price is a big factor, I think there is more to consider when assessing a brand’s value, like quality, service and what I like to call “social consciousness,” which refers to an organization’s charity giving, environmental responsibility and how they treat […]