There’s no time like the present to launch a new direct-to-consumer (DTC) E-commerce site on Shopify Plus. Site launches and re-platforming are moving to the top of many retailers’ to-do lists as more consumers are suddenly shopping online due to COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders. An efficient new site can be a smart investment to be able to continue serving your (previously offline) customers. If you already have an E-commerce website, migrating to a more powerful platform like Shopify Plus will reduce or eliminate ongoing costs to maintain and upgrade, and better performance and customer experience will help convert more consumers to purchase. 

Some things change, others stay the same. For example, women are still more likely than men to ask (their voice assistant) for directions. Joking aside, mobile and smart speaker voice assistants are fast becoming a part of everyday life, allowing us to conveniently ask for information like the day’s weather report or commute times, or to more easily multi-task; for example, to adjust the thermostat and play a favorite song while working. 

“Automation” sounds cold and detached, but email marketing automation is actually all about thoughtfully nurturing the customer relationship through personalization – albeit on a large scale. Automating emails based on behavioral triggers and real-time data enables you to consistently email many customers at just the right time with just the right message or information. For example, a “welcome” email after someone creates an account, a discount for someone who abandons his/her cart, or a recipe that uses a recently purchased product. 

Why do we buy things we don’t actually need? Emotion plays a big role; purchasing a product can make you feel good about yourself (workout clothes) or that you belong to a community of others who share your values (shoes made from recycled materials). Most of us also like to get a good deal (admit it: getting the most for your money has brought a smile to your face). You can build an emotional connection with your products through brand building and creating compelling lifestyle content. But you also can tap into the power of “good-deal glee” with a smart product bundling strategy. 

eCommerce growth is nothing new to retail, but with the coronavirus pandemic, brands are having to quickly evolve to meet the needs of consumers. Many reports are showing eCommerce growth for essentials and even sales comparable to BFCM but other industries are going to need to help customers shop in a new way as we all learn to adapt to our new way of life.

Since 2016, we’ve seen increased use of AR by retailers. If you haven’t checked out AR in the last few years, you may be surprised by how much it has improved (in large part thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning and mobile device technology). There has been a large improvement with how brands are using it to create engaging user experiences, and how much shoppers want AR. For example, an Accenture survey found that 61% of consumers said they were interested in using augmented reality to help them better determine how clothes would fit when shopping online.

These are tough times for retail. While eCommerce sales might be up, many omnichannel brands and specific categories are taking a hit. There’s also a lot of anxiety, both personal and financial, due to Covid-19 and an impending recession. We feel it too. 

We’re also having a moment of information overload from all of the articles, tips and reports being produced. To help you weed through and find information you can use to determine what modified strategies are right for your business, we thought it would be helpful to provide a roundup of and key takeaways from what we’ve found insightful. As we come across new articles and resources, we’ll continue to update this blog, so be sure to check back.

Companies like Netflix and Amazon have set a high bar for retailers when it comes to personalizing online shopping experiences. In fact, more than half of consumers say they expect that companies will anticipate their needs and make recommendations before they even make contact. While this may sound daunting, it doesn’t have to be.

Increasing average order value (AOV) is a tried-and-true strategy for maximizing revenue from existing customers. You’ve been there, done that. However, now that the subscription eCommerce market is growing by leaps and bounds, you may want to consider how you can apply this strategy to your subscription customers.

Despite the increasing use of messaging apps and social media, good old email continues to outperform them all when it comes to customer acquisition, retention and revenue. And when you create personalized emails that deliver relevant messages and offers to specific audiences – like your most profitable or engaged customers – the power of email really becomes apparent. One survey concluded that segmented email campaigns (vs. one-size-fits-all campaigns) could increase email revenue as much as 760%! Another survey reported that targeted emails generate 58% of companies’ overall revenue. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

Use of SMS, aka “texting,” for eCommerce is on the upswing, but still widely underutilized, creating major opportunities – particularly with subscriptions and customer service, in our opinion – for brands that are quick to the punch.