Newsletter for Ecommerce and Catalog Retailers – Feb 4 2011
February 4, 2011
Industry News
FIFTH GEAR Choice of the Week
Is free shipping reducing the size of your order?
Analysis of over 3 million transactions with major online retailers during the recent holiday season indicates an 87% increase in sales due to online ads, but 10% decrease in the size of the customer order. The reason? It may well be the free shipping that online retailers offer their customers…
(Source: New York Times)
Keeping online communication from getting complicated
With online communication getting interactive, individualized, and in the moment, today’s consumer is in control and knows exactly what he wants to receive, how he wants it, and when he wants it. Find out more about how message convergence can enable you to stay connected with your customers leading to more profitable relationships with your customer…
(Source: E-marketing and Commerce)
Web-only retailers had the cake and ate it too in 2010
Web-only retailers saw a 37.8% increase in sales in 2010. According to Internet Retailer’s analysis, combined revenue for 87 of its Top 500 retailers increased 32.9% to $46.53 billion in 2010 from $35 billion in 2009. In comparison, total retail sales grew year over year about 3% to $2.4 trillion last year from $2.33 trillion in 2009…
(Source: Internet Retailer)
The good, the bad, and the ugly of shipping costs
The duopoly of Fedex and UPS means there will be no more price wars as the global economy promises increased business for them. But there is help available for decreasing parcel costs – Shippers surveyed in Morgan Stanley’s Annual Best Practices Survey reported savings of more than 49 percent by using third-party resources. Read on for more…
(Source: Retail Online Integration)
Time to boost your ROI – Return on Inventory
As a direct retailer, your store never closes and inventory management is even more critical than for brick-and-mortar stores. In fact, inventory is the single largest expense for direct retailers. Read on to find out how even nominal gains in order fulfillment and inventory turnover can impact your return on inventory…
(Source: Retail Online Integration)
Accelerating Commerce
Featured Content from the FIFTH GEAR Blog
• Site Search Tools — by Guest Blogger Ernie Schell
• Creating Positive Experiences Through Catalogs
• Remarketing: Evoking Memories of Childhood
• Is Your Sweetie an Online Shopper?
• Remarketing Part 2: Increasing Ecommerce Conversions
