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This was really interesting to read especially because my friends and I just spent the afternoon roaming around Mass Ave and not one of us made a purchase. We decided to spend the day at the City Market and then walk around downtown. I think that in relation to this article our generation is becoming for concerned with experience as opposed to purchases. While none of my friends made purchases in stores downtown, were were willing to pay the gas and food prices ect. in order to contribute to our overall experience downtown.

This article made me really think about my purchasing habits, and what I value when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. What really stuck out to me in this article was the idea that the millennial generation might be becoming more frugal. With the heavy focus on online shopping, I think it provides customers with more options. You have the ability to go to a store find something,not purchase it, but still have the experience the "shopping" experience. If you saw something while looking that you want, there is the option to go online to seek out better deals with other companies for the same product. So the millennial generation may be more frugal in the sense that there are many ways of obtaining the items they want, but they utilize the internet to seek out better prices.

I agree with Megan, Sarah and Lina. I view shopping more as a social experience than anything else. It is very rare that I ever go shopping by myself because I enjoy having someone there with me when I am trying clothes on and walking around etc. With that being said, after a day of shopping or being in a shopping environment I do not base whether I had a good day or a bad day based on how many items I purchased but whether I had a good experience shopping. Whether that be based on the people I was with, or if my food was good or bad or if there was good or bad customer service at the stores I was at. I also personally think there is a completely different experience shopping for clothes in a store vs. shopping for other retail items (electronics, jewelry, appliances, books etc.) in a store. A lot of people (myself included) like to try on clothes to see how they fit and how they look on so I enjoy shopping for clothes in-store. However, when it comes to other items that do not need to be personally fitted to me, I enjoy online shopping just for the pure convenience.

This article explains ways retailers such as Toys-R-Us and K-Mart are using layaway, return policies, and reward programs to get consumers into their stores to ultimately make transactions. Can you think of other retailers who are implementing these types of incentives? Have any of you ever put something on layaway? Do you think these incentives/programs are beneficial for retailers?

I actually really like this idea of offering deals to get people in the store early, it reduces the revenues lost with huge black friday price cuts by offering a more relaxed approach. It also would help the company make sure they don't run out of stock of a certain item. Having more customers in the store before the heavy Christmas shopping starts gives them a view on what will be popular and will help them forecast better and make sure they don't have missed sales opportunities.

I think extending the return policy is good because it allows for someone to use the products as gift for Christmas. I don't know what I think about having sales earlier. If they keep doing this, soon sales for Christmas are going to be six months out of the year then it's going to be all year; I mean how long is too long?

This article focuses on how retailers use pop-up shops to gain customers attention that allows retailers to tell the story of a brand to drive customer awareness and brand perception.

I agree with Krista. As a customer, I want to see the product so this is a great idea for brands that don't have that physical store to interact with. I won't buy something if I can't see it. I have to know it is really worth it. That is why I don't ever do online shopping except for school books.

I like the idea of pop-up stores because it helps a store be more versatile and makes the store be more mobile, while still having a brick and mortar store. I even read an article recently on employee relations and there was a company that had a pop-up Tiffany's store at one of their events where the entire employee base had a chance to browse through the pop-up store and got free giveaways complimentary of the company. Doing events like this get people into the store and browsing even if it is only for a company event.

JCP failed to convince customers to buy at "everyday prices" so they decided to bring sales back. To do this, they marked up prices then marked them down however people ended up paying more than the "everyday prices" and there is evidence that proves it.

Very interesting article. It seems that JCP has changed their pricing strategy multiple times this year -- I think this strategy could possibly cause JCP to loose more customers. Marking up and down is a good strategy but not when existing customers know what specific items cost -- the worst is that JCP put higher price tags on top of low ones (as a customer I would just be offend and that alone would drive me to shop else where). I think JCP has driven customers to think they are getting ripped off rather than getting good prices and leading them to believe they are getting a bargain. I think it is a very common strategy used by retailers and I am not bothered by it but when I become fully aware of it -- that is a problem.

It makes me sad to think that companies are "tricking" us to get our business. I understand from a "marketing mindset" and psychological perspective that companies get us to think we are getting such a great deal when prices are slashed. Just like the article also mentioned, Kohls may do this too. They always make a conscience effort to circle (in red pen) the amount of money you saved today on our shopping trip. But that number fluctuates so much based on when there is Kohl's cash, 15-20% off mobile coupons, etc. They always make you think you got an amazing deal, when next week it could be even better...or worse.

I agree with the article, that loyalty programs are not working. In my own experience there are only TWO kinds of loylty programs that are working somehow. Firstly, a loyalty program that is introduced by a brand/shop/store that I am already loyal with, e.g. the favourite coffee shop, or the closest supermarket. In those shops a loyalty program might even lead customers to buy more and appreciate it. Secondly, what I think is also working are loyalty programs introduced by a pool of shops. E.g. in Germany we had PayBack for a long time, which was a joint loyalty program that gave you points in almost any major retailer in Germany, so it was used by a lot of people. Noone wants to have 10 or 15 loyalty program plastic cards in their wallet, though...

I believe one of the largest reasons why loyalty is such an obstacle in today's markets is primarily due to fast paced, innovative society that we live in now. Consumers are becoming so oriented to 'the next big thing' that it is increasingly difficult for businesses to keep up with this rapid changing of trends, especially considering the small window a product has before it is one-upped.

I thought this was interesting to read as I myself have several loyalty cards to various places. I never put much thought into it, but after this article it really emphasizes the fact that I. Not really loyal to the brand as much as e transactional benefits. Given an alternate and similar option at a better price I would probably jump ship from those I support now to something different. It may not create the sincere loyalty, but it has worked in keeping me to returning to certain places for the transactional benefits, so it doesn't seem like a total failure.

This article discusses Staples incorporation of interactive kiosks and digital signage into their stores to help be more efficient with their square footage. They are trying to give customers "access to endless aisle shopping and ordering capabilities." Do you think shoppers will be disappointed by the limited amount of options on hand or will the ability to order more items in-store outweigh the limited selection?

The digital kiosk idea can be great, but only if it works effectively. In my experience, I tried using Targets kiosks that they started using to pull up a registry for a wedding. However, the system wouldn't allow me access to the registry, and even after an employee tried helping me, we both just kind of gave up. This is just one example how technology if used improperly can do more to hinder a consumer's experience than help.

I am not sure how I feel about Staples new plan to offer a limited selection in-store. If this is more for small items that there are many types of -- it is helpful and takes away the frustration of searching for a specific item among many alike items -- but why would we go into the store when we can just order it online? Going off Lina -- sometimes the reason people go into stores is to get the item there and then . . . this makes me think will ordering it in store be more of a hassle than a convenience? I think it will be interesting to see how consumers react to this new shopping experience. . I think it is a good way to incorporate online and in-store shopping but I think that this may just drive consumers to shop online and stray away from going into the store.

This article completely parallels what you have been stressing in class about making omnichannel shopping as cohesive as possible. Not only does the store have an expected image to fulfill, but if the store is utilizing a virtual app in addition to an online website, the channels need to work in harmony to achieve the same desired outcome. It is evident that different consumers have different buying preferences and habits, so it is important that no matter where the consumer is deciding to buy that the channel has a cohesive image that represents the overall brand as whole.

It will be interesting to see how stores respond to the changes in consumer needs. We talked in class about how our generation is very focused on the store experience. I think that we really enjoy stores that differentiate themselves from others in terms of service- that is why Apple and Nordstrom so frequently in class because they stand out in our minds and have made a prominent impression on us. However, I do think its important to recognize that not all in store cell phone usage is bad. Brands can really benefit from consumers being on their phones by encouraging them to check in, tweet at their friends, or engage online with the brand- for the potential in store benefit.

This was so interesting! I completely agree with the online-to-store relationships and why customers want to touch and feel the product. I experienced this when completing my e-commerce audit when shopping for my product (a CD). There were perks associated with purchasing online (an exclusive product not available in the store) but there were additional savings options when purchasing in the store. Mobile presence is huge and I foresee this aspect continuing to dominate the market for both brick-and-mortar and online retailers.

Not only is this a great way to reach a greater target market but also bring to light the culture of hispanics to those who aren't familiar with it. I wonder how many more will be built and if there could be "too much of a good thing", but it seems to be doing well for now. It seems to be implying and mostly Mexican traditions so it would be interesting to go and see what other cultures are incorporated.

I lived in Mexico for an extended period of time when I was in high school and the hispanic culture thrives around the "plaza culture". In Mexico, being together and out of the house is part of their culture- walking at night, dancing, or just hanging out in the plaza is where most of their social life occurs. Cities and towns are build around their plazas. In the United States we do not maintain this aspect, our plaza would be comparable to sitting on our couch watching TV after work- where instead they go out into the community. Altering the setup and store hours encourages and brings the Hispanics back to their roots but also can provide the neighbor hood with some education in diversity and really great foods and products that they may not have been aware of before.

Not only is it a great way for the Hispanic population to connect and revisit their roots like others had said, but what a great way for people from different backgrounds/cultures to have the opportunity to shop at a Hispanic market without having to travel out of the country. I think this is wonderful!

I think it is a good step of Macy's to increase the size of their men's department. Most propably there is no way an expansion of the women's department would increase sales by a proportional amount. Furthermore, having a bigger variety might invite more men to shop at Macy's and who knows, they might bring their wife or the other way round...

This article talks about Macy's increasing the size of the store, specifically the men's department. They are looking to categorize each floor to have a particular experience. Do you think this expansion is excessive or a good step forward? Do you feel that stores that have specific categorized sections succeed and what have been your experiences in similar situations?

I agree. I like Macy's and I shop there for Christmas especially but I don't ever go to the men's department because I don't think they have a good spread or variety. I would shop there if they did expand this section. It would be so much more convenient to shop all in one place than go store to store.

Good overview of the evolution of retailing in the US

It is amazing to see the progression of retailing over the years, and is even more interesting to see how much more it will be changing in the future. I had never heard of shopping through "flash sales" until this summer, but I think it has quite the appeal for those on the go who want high end products at a lower price. I have seen a number of TV advertisements for HauteLook, and I am interested to see if it will be a source of shopping that will be used by my friends and classmates even in this next year. This is an interesting concept that I look forward to learning more about, and I am interested in hearing reviews about this new way of shopping if anyone in the class has used it!

I think my favorite part of this article is that they are going to include a strip of packing tape to make it easier to return. That is just funny. I would think they wouldn't want to make it easier to return,, I mean, what company wants to have a customer return an item. I understand they want to make it convenient, I just think it's funny.

Topshop is a European retailer that has a very unique store layout. Do you think it is important for a unique retailer like Topshop to have a unique store layout? Do you think it was a smart move to have the store layout be different than it is in the U.K. or the same?

I think Topshop will be about the experience just as much or more than just a place for consumers to shop. With the unique store layout and variety of merchandise varying in price from $20 - $600, I think this will be a unique experience for consumers and become a place they want to shop. Also, I love how all the "rooms" are a little bit different--I think it would make a consumer feel like they were going to multiple little boutiques under one roof.

One of the components that set unique retailers apart is the store layout and Topshop has done that well in the UK. I have visited the Topshop in Chicago and love the layout. I think it is fun, trendy, and one of the reasons it is successful -- people enjoy the experience. Topshop in the UK has unique store layout -- so why not transfer that same idea to the US in a little bit of a different way? It was smart of them to change the store layout and has seemed to be successful so far.

I think the article is right to a certain extent, but the example of Abercrombie is a bit extreme. Obviously, every company tries to target a specific group of consumers but does that necessarily always have to imply that its marketing strategies are discriminatory? Shouldn't a company have the right to target a certain consumer base in order to ensure a profit? Or does the seeking for profit not justify any type of discrimination no matter how small?

This article focuses on three brands who have shunned specific consumer segments. Abercrombie and Fitch, Cristal and Burberry all have experienced issues in their process of market segmentation with offending specific consumers. Is offending specific consumers an inevitable consequence that all companies/brands will have to face? Not all brands can succeed with a one size fits all type of mentality, so how and when is it alright to completely exclude consumer segments? The types of people hired at these stores go through a specific process that is also discriminatory. For example, at A&F it is commonplace for only thin and attractive individuals to be hired on. Do we have a problem with this? How would we feel if we had the opposite type of individuals assisting us?

I agree with a lot of the previous comments. While I do not think it is right for brands such we Abercrombie to expressively shun people from their stores because they are not the right size or shape or do not have the right look, I think it's acceptable for stores to segment in terms of their "target customer." Whether or not to factor in different body types or "pretty people" is a controversial question. When I worked at Hollister in high school, it was apparent that they searched for attractive people by the way they sifted through customers that came into the store, or the way they approached people in the mall. While I understand the need to segment a market and have a target customer, I do not think the people that work at these stores or the customers that shop there should all be the same.

Exciting to know that college students began the company and have stuck to their values ever since. It is interesting to hear that they prefer art students over business students (us). Makes me think that we should become more well-rounded so that we are not stereotyped as only "analytical" which the article mentions at least twice. We can be creative too!

Thank you for this article Kara! Urban Outfitters is one of my favorite places to shop and I had no idea that it was started and run by college students--I think this is one of the great ways that they are attracting their target market. This was my favorite sentence from the article, "If a manager sees an old wooden crate on his way to work and thinks it would look good in the men's section, he can bring it to work and put it on display." This is wonderful, just wonderful! Going back to what a lot of you have already mentioned, their unique layout and atmosphere is what brings people in and creates that overall "experience" for the customers.

Great article Kara! I agree with Lina and find it very interesting that they prefer to hire art students versus business students. Although I am not a very artist person this article makes me wonder if students should take more classes in the arts along with our core curriculum. I have never actually entered or bought anything from urban outfitters so I cant say I truly understand what the stores look like from a layout stand point, but it is very interesting that employees are allowed a sense of freedom when it comes to creating an ascetically pleasing store. I think it will be interesting to see if more businesses learn toward hiring more artistic individual.

I like the "show room" idea. That could really boom.

I agree Lina this has a chance really take off

Be sure you check out the two videos as well -

Technology never ceases to amaze me - how convenient for people who hate waiting in line. I agree that there is a HUGE security concern for retailers and consumers. I think there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed on all ends. It will be very interesting to see if this idea catches on or if retailers and consumers will continue shopping as they always have.

PayPal was a huge success online and I believe it will be a success in the stores too. I hate to wait in lines and if this shortens lines then I am all in. I agree with Sarah the security issue does worry me and needs to be tested and addressed before actual use. Once the security problems are fixed I firmly believe this with great enhance the customer experience and drive revenues in the retail industry.

This is really interesting to me that they would let someone go because of wearing a head scarf- I know that American brands like Abercrombie is really popular abroad- especially in Germany and Turkey where it is considered more of a luxury/high end product because of its American qualities. Abercrombie risks this image because many of their customers abroad, especially in those two regions are muslims and losing their support in the international market could harm their bottom line more then a dress code violation could.

This is awful, especially because the firing came from a district manager who should be trained better and just flat out ethical. While I was abroad I noticed how much Europeans loved Abercrombie and thought of it to be a very exclusive brand because to them it is fairly uncommon. I am glad their sales have decreased that much and if they continue to act like this and discriminate then they are going to go no where overseas.

This is just ridiculous and very embarrassing for Abercrombie. Honestly, I'm surprised their sales are not down more than 10%, but I have a feeling that they are going to keep decreasing if they continue to handle these situations the way that they have been.

I like it! I want to be recognized, greeted, and assisted if I need to be. I can see where some people may feel uncomfortable but employees should be trained when to know when a person wants more help or to be left alone.

I find this kind of stuff extremely interesting. I honestly like that stores can track me like this because this means that they are more likely to send coupons and deals my way for the things I want to buy. I also think this is a great way for stores to get the perfect layout of their store by seeing where certain demographics walk around.

This is significant because it has implications beyond just marketing to consumers. The question is, how far should we trespass into citizens (aka customers) rights in order to improve the customers experience? This isnt JUST another marketing ploy, it's an experiment in eroding consumer privacy... and it's working. Marketers realize how little consumers are informed of their own behavior and by association they realize lengths to which they can go. But as privacy erodes, what do we really gain? Sure, it's great they can send us coupons and build our customer profile, but did companies consult the consumer and get consent to do this? Is this data collection all passively done because companies know the taboo behind privacy issues? What does this type of intrusion open up in the future? I think this is seen as simply "the way things are" because we are all desensitized to businesses (and governments) violating the privacy of information. I would like to point out that historically when masses of people in power simply accept things the way they are that's when really really bad things happen (slavery, child labor, exploitation, etc). Passive accumulation of this information seems to me complicit with those who actively accumulate this information- they're both invasions. We must critically think about how allowing such invasions actually works to shape the physical and mental landscapes of our lives, are we actually prepared to deal with the consequences? So, while it may seem like this is just another marketing ploy, we instead should see this as actually another breach of private information which will continue to shape consumer behavior.

Be sure to watch the video in this article on how this AR app is going to work.

I think this is an amazing concept! Now not only have they made online shopping more fun and interactive but it is also a much more efficient way of shopping for the right piece of furniture. You no longer have to worry about taking measurements or samples to make sure the furniture matches up with the room. Instead, you can virtually place the chosen piece right in the room with accurate measurements and design and see how it looks before even buying it!

This app seems super exciting. I love rearranging and decorating my own room and this app allows for people to physically see an idea on a screen that was originally just a vision. It is great to see how more and more companies are integrating omni-channel retailing to improve the customer experience whether it be online, in store, and mobile.