For today’s time-strapped shopper, boutiques are becoming more popular by the minute. Compared to shopping in an expansive department store, these smaller specialty shops can be much more enjoyable primarily because the selection isn’t as overwhelming. It also helps that the boutique owner has curated a collection of what he or she considers the best of the best, alleviating the shopper from sorting through racks and racks of items. Boutiques, however, aren’t the only respite for time-strapped shoppers. Online shopping...

After a new sales tax regulation went into effect Jan. 1, some eCommerce companies found themselves in scramble mode. For proponents of having online sales treated the same as sales through brick-and-mortar locations, however, their day has finally come true in Illinois, at least partially. Legislators in Illinois have worked for many months to create an online sale tax law to help bolster state revenues. The state’s supreme court rejected an earlier measure because it violated a federal rule against discriminatory...

Nearly 112 million people tuned in to the Super Bowl last year, representing one of the largest television audiences ever. It’s the most watched football game of the year, but as we know, many people are as equally excited for the commercials, which are some of the best you’ll see all year. However, does eCommerce see much action on Super Bowl Sunday? A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that television viewership hurts online sales. The study, conducted...

It’s not difficult to spot the trends when the size of smartphones are concerned. What once fit compactly in the front pocket is now creating an obvious outline – smartphones are getting bigger, and that’s a good thing for eCommerce. The question remains though, how big is too big? A Saturday Night Live skit earning frequent play in “best of SNL” compilations comes from the 2001 season, a time when mobile phone producers were in a race to bring smaller phones...

In a previous blog, the team at NetSphere Strategies covered the importance of tools for analyzing website data, focusing on Tealeaf, IBM's new customer experience manager. Today, however, we'll take a deeper look at what Tealeaf has to offer in more effectively pulling down actionable data related to how users interact with a website.  Any company with an eCommerce focus needs to ensure the visitors to their website are experiencing a smooth, hiccup-free interaction. Consumers have come to expect their web...

We know consumers are remaining keen to do a majority of their shopping at the retailers’ brick-and-mortar stores. However, a growing number of consumers are taking to their computers and mobile devices to make their purchases. According to the National Retail Federation’s Holiday Consumer Spending Survey, the average shopper planned to do 44 percent of their holiday-related buying online. Most Americans have a choice when it comes to shopping online or going to the actual retailer. For retailers looking for bigger...

The push to find out how consumers interact with their favorite brands has proven to be a catalyst for vendors to deliver website analytics tools. Most companies are done trying to push products onto consumers because they realize (unless you’re Apple) that it doesn’t work. Instead, they’re more focused on learning what consumers actually want and deliver on those desires. eCommerce companies have a wealth of information at their fingertips, but only if they have the tools to collect and analyze...

Most retailers are familiar with “shopping bulimics” – the consumers who make purchases and promptly return their merchandise. Retail consultant Kurt Salmon told the Wall Street Journal in an article last year that one third of all Internet transactions result in returns. While this might not be the best-case scenario for retailers, some of whom lose millions a year on returns, it’s important to note that consumer behavior often dictates best practices for retailers. Just as marketers will seek out many...

Take a guess on what days are the busiest for the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx, and you might be surprised. It’s not the days leading up to tax day – it’s the days just before Christmas. In fact, both shipping entities are expecting to break records this year on the amount of packages being shipped from coast to coast. The U.S. Postal Service estimated that they would process more than 640 million holiday cards on Monday, Dec. 15. On the...

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, U.S. retail trends are coming to full light. As digital door-buster deals continue throughout the month of December, it's clear to see that retailers aren’t as reliant on the post-Thanksgiving weekend as they used to be. Many retailers, like Amazon and Walmart, extended their door-buster deals beyond the typical shopping period. They started prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and are pushing further into December. According to multiple sources, however, Cyber Monday could still...