Manufacturing in the United States is, to some degree, still the backbone of our nation. Countries around the world aspire to achieve our level of quality and innovation. The rub, however, is that some U.S. manufacturers have been slow to embrace the benefits that come from developing equally innovative eCommerce websites.   When it comes to online interactions with customers and clients, manufacturers are much the same as other retail entities. Their products need to be showcased in the best light...

Yummi Candles, a North American brand currently holding the largest range and selection of unscented candles, found its roots in the age-old adage that necessity is the mother of invention. And nearly 40 years later, it’s holding true to that philosophy by continually re-inventing and improving its unmatched collection of product offerings. When company co-founder, Steve Stratakos, was cutting his teeth in the working world as a maître d’ in a high-end seafood company, he didn’t necessarily fit the mold of...

Moving to the cloud – it’s what all forward-thinking businesses are doing. And it’s what your business should be doing, too. Right? Well, before jumping on the bandwagon, it’s best to understand exactly what it means to move to the cloud and if it’s actually well-suited for your business’s needs.   Whether you’re new to the cloud or a long-time user – be it for personal or business reasons – most individuals have been exposed to the idea of storing or...

Without Steve Jobs, the designers at Apple are finding inspiration in unexpected places. And actually, that was always the case – even during the days when Jobs resided over the company.   According to Scott Forstall, former senior vice president of iOS software, in a recent report compiled by the editors at Fast Company, tackling the iPhone keyboard can be linked back to an old episode of The Simpsons where a memo is erroneously changed from “Beat up Martin” to “Eat...

On Sept. 18, 2013, in downtown Chicago, a wide variety of IBM business partners gathered at 71 S. Wacker Dr. to learn about the wide array of products found under the Smarter Commerce umbrella. The overarching theme of the business partner event, however, focused on how those solutions can put the customer in context.   John Davidson, sales executive with the Global Smarter Commerce team, kicked off the two-day event by setting expectations for attendees. He explained that the Smarter Commerce...

As we here at NetSphere Strategies mentioned in a blog posted earlier this week, we will be looking at the options available to eCommerce businesses in a three-part series that addresses whether to buy, build or host your new site. For our second installment, we’ll focus on the pros and cons of buying a commercial eCommerce package.   Like the snowflake, no two eCommerce businesses are alike. And that’s why it’s important to weigh the odds to determine what’s best for...

Optimizing an online store’s checkout process is not a new idea. It is, however, something that eCommerce business owners are still working to tackle. Some sites have found success while others can learn from their achievements.   Last year, the Baymard Institute, an independent web research institute, conducted a survey of online checkout processes and who’s doing it best. The group’s efforts were, and are, focused on discovering, documenting and sharing the best ways to improve the online user experience.  ...

Last year, as shoppers carefully crafted their game plans for Black Friday, visitors to the Best Buy website were greeted with the following message: "Our site is incredibly busy! Please be patient while we shovel you a path."   So, not only were consumers unable to peruse the site’s doorbuster deals, but investors, too, were unable to boost their already waning confidence in the underperforming electronics retailer.   Best Buy was, of course, able to bounce back – the issue happened...

Mobile, analytics, omni-channel and social might just be the four biggest issues on the plates of eCommerce business owners today. So it makes perfect sense that IBM, a leader in eCommerce platforms, is making it easier for e-retailers to excel in those realms.   With its new Digital Experience software, companies can deepen engagement, uncover customer sentiment and build loyalty. Just last month, in fact, IBM issued a press releasethat outlined the advanced capabilities included in the software: Mobile Experiences: According to...

When Howard Miller first started making clocks 87 years ago, his goal – first and foremost – was to make products that highlighted the quality of the materials used and the talent of the craftsmen making them. Today, just as it was in the beginning, his company’s focus is directed at the most precious of commodities available: time. That focus on quality has caused Howard Miller timepieces to become nothing less than heirlooms, proudly passed from generation to generation. In the...