Thursday
December 4, 2008
ComScore reports that Cyber Monday spending increased 15% over last year. While the November to December period is down 2% from last year, this weekend saw tremendous gains in online sales. Breaking down the data a bit more, ComScore today reports that there was a 22% increase in online shoppers, though a decrease in the average value per transaction. Online shopping sites saw a 33% jump in traffic, with Best Buy seeing a 131% increase in traffic. I hope they were able to reap the benefits of that. More detailed breakdowns available in today’s release from ComScore.
Best Buy recently turned to their retail stores to look for talent to build their new intranet. There seems to be a good focus on breaking down divisions between rank and accelerating communication from the bottom up. Employee feedback is being used by merchants to help make better, and most likely, more timelier decisions. I also really like the fact that they went to the store level to find the skill to build the intranet, essentially allowing the target audience to have a major say in how the site will be built.
Walmart and Coke have released a new commercial called “Joy! Enough to go around“. The commercial pushes the low prices that Walmart has on Coke products; prices so low that it allows the star of the video to throw a holiday party for everyone he knows. It’s a really well crafted video. I love the continuous, one-camera shot of this video. Now, I can’t get the jingle out of my head. Well done, I think.
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Wednesday
November 26, 2008
Couple of stories that I’m reading this morning:
CNBC’s got a great run down on Amazon’s holiday strategy. The online retailer saw a 42% sales growth in Q4 2007 and forecasts 12 – 15% growth this year. Remarkable feat considering consumer spending is forecast to be down this season. The retailer looks to siphon sales from other retailers by offering low prices and “ridiculous deals”.
Shop.org has released more data on expected consumer habits through this Holiday season and especially for this weekend. Bottom line, consumers are using the web to enhance their real world shopping experience. Be prepared.
Just on the heals of reporting very soft e-commerce sales growth in October, Comscore forecasts flat growth in e-commerce sales for this holiday season. They estimate a 4% decline in sales through the first 23 days of the Nov-Dev shopping season.
Earlier today I talked about JCPenney’s use of social media, Twitter, and viral marketing. I missed this press release from the retailer detailing some of the improvements they’ve launched on jcp.com for a better online shopping experience. More product photos, customer reviews, and more online-only promotions. Kohl’s holiday strategy also emphasized a better online experience.
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Tuesday
November 18, 2008
comScore has released their October 2008 US retail e-commerce sales estimates. The verdict? Sales were weak – only up 1% over October 2007, which is the softest increase since comScore started tracking US retail e-commerce sales in 2001.
For households making less than $50,000, sales were down 3% for the past three months, compared to the same time period last year. Households with incomes over $100,000 saw a 14% growth in the same time period.
The economy is hitting everyone hard right now and it appears that no retailer, online or live, is immune at this point.
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