Member Login | About Us | Become a Member | Contact Us

N E X T

Top

Six Trends That Are Transforming Retail [Slide Show]

by Christian Gulliksen |

September 13, 2012

| 11,620 views

Take the first step (it's free).

Sign in with your preferred account, below.

Slide 1 of

In a keynote presentation for the Shop.org Merchandising Summit, Rohit Bhargava presented 12 major trends that are set to transform the world of retail. Here are six of them.

Trend No. 1: Pervasive Shopping

With mobile devices and retail integration, the store is never closed. Anyone can shop for anything, anywhere, anytime. "Offering the ability to purchase in multiple channels, and integrating with third-party e-commerce networks, is key," notes Bhargava.

Trend No. 2: Retail Curation

Retailers responded to ever-increasing shopping options with a tailored experience that enables customers to find and share the products that interest them. Now, customers have come to expect a high degree of personalized curation.

Trend No. 3: Story Trumps Product

A strong narrative can clinch the sale. "When products are easily replicated and do not necessarily stand out," explains Bhargava, " better storytelling is the secret weapon."

Trend No. 4: Being Useful Sells

The conversation is important, but customers see value in usefulness. Are you trying to create dialogue when a customer really wants education? Sometimes she just wants a how-to guide, not an online chat.

Trend No. 5: Analytics Everywhere

Whether they're tracking the progress of their Amazon delivery or the progress of their Domino's delivery, consumers use online tools to chart every aspect of their lives. These tools—and the data they provide—will influence their purchasing decisions.

Trend No. 6: Instant Visual E-commerce

We've nearly reached the point where we can click on any image to view and purchase a product. "Finding ways to link imagery in any form (across the Web) to ecommerce pages will become more important," says Bhargava.

Slide 1 of 6

Christian Gulliksen is a writer who has authored several of the Get to the Po!nt newsletters for MarketingProfs. A former editor at Robb Report, he has also contributed to Worth, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter.

Customer Relationships, Digital Theory, E-Commerce, Location-Based Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Mobile Marketing, Online Marketing, Testimonials

Subscribe Today

IT'S FREE! Become a member to get the tools and knowledge you need to market smarter.

we respect your privacy.

Stay connected!

Don't miss a bit of MarketingProfs ... join the 600,000 marketers following us.

Editors' PRO Picks

Seminar: Create Meaningful Experiences for Your Brand

Brian Solis shares why great products, creative marketing, and delightful customer service are no longer enough to win customers. more
Take 10: How to Leverage Your Online Community

Presented by: Paul Chaney
In just 10 minutes, we'll share six practical tips that will help you tap into your online community to grow your business and benefit your customers. more
How-To Guide: Build Your Content Marketing Dream Team

In this 22-page guide, you'll learn how to identify the key hires to get your team started, what traits and skills to look for in your key hires, how to manage freelancers, and much more! more
SmartTools: Email Campaign Planner

Through eight simple to follow, well-defined steps, SmartTools: Email Campaign Planner will help you establish an effective email marketing program to gather and convert leads. more
How-To-Guide: The Perfect Pitch: Hit a Home Run With Every Headline, Subject Line, and Call to Action

Learn how to write headlines that will inspire your audience to read and want more. more
Seminar: SEO—How Customer Experience Impacts Search

Learn the most important elements of, and key changes in, customer search behavior. We'll also cover how to drive conversations through SEO, content, and social media. more
Take 10: Three Steps for Using Influencer Video to Increase Your Bottom Line

Presented by: Mark Lerner
In just 10 minutes, you'll learn three simple steps to source quality influencer video and use it to impact your bottom line in a meaningful and measurable way. more

MarketingProfs uses single
sign-on with Facebook, Twitter, Google and others to make subscribing and signing in easier for you. That's it, and nothing more! Rest assured that MarketingProfs: