Approximately 70% of Americans are expected to celebrate Halloween this year, up from 63.8% in 2010, according to results from the National Retail Federation’s “2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.” To better reach Halloween celebrators nationwide, BuyCostumes.com, a costume, accessories and décor provider, rolled out a mobile optimized site; and based on early results, the retailer expects to set Halloween sales records. The new storefront was developed and launched in early October 2011 in partnership with Usablenet, a mobile and multichannel engagement solution provider.

The m-Commerce site was designed to give shoppers access to more than 20,000 items in the BuyCostumes.com inventory and replicate the search, product view and customer service functions of its web site. Like the web site, it also allows users to narrow a search based on category and view numerous high-resolution costume images. “The most important goal of the BuyCostumes.com mobile site was to recreate an easy shopping experience that enables customers to find the costumes, accessories and décor they want,” Nick Taylor, CEO of Usablenet, told Retail TouchPoints.

Retailers must maintain consistent pricing, markdown and promotion strategies across stores and channels to meet the needs of today’s research-savvy, price-conscious consumers. Gander Mountain Company, a specialty outdoor retailer, is implementing the Revionics Price Optimization solution to address this need and ensure optimal price monitoring and management throughout its stores.

Gander Mountain is deploying the Revionics pricing solution throughout its 116 retail locations to streamline pricing strategies and boost profit. As part of a two-year agreement, Revionics will provide the retailer with a more scientific and strategic merchandising and pricing approach, according to Karen Dutch, Senior VP of Marketing for Revionics.

As the powers of mobile, social and web continue to develop, retailers must implement compelling multimedia elements such as photos, video and blogging to excel in the space. The luxury retail market in particular has provided optimal examples of branding and multichannel engagement. By creating a unique, elite experience, luxury retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, and upscale manufacturers such as Burberry and Gucci, have successfully utilized social, mobile and web elements to engage consumers and formulate long-lasting relationships with their shoppers.  

To provide insight on the thriving luxury market, the e-tailing group recently released its “Inaugural Luxury Mystery Shopping Study” and “Luxury Customer Experience Index.” In a survey of 1,000 shoppers during September 2011, the consultancy investigated consumer response to web, social and other multimedia experiences. “The convergence of technology, from mobile to social trends, may ultimately be the most important factor connecting consumers to the brands they covet,” the report revealed.    

Daily deals have emerged as a way for retailers to increase customer acquisitions and overall purchase rates. Sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial offer consumers limited-time deals and specials for services from merchants, restaurants and salons, retail items and other consumer-oriented goods. Despite the recent departure of Facebook and Yelp from the daily deal space and reports of deal redemption issues, a new study from Rice and Cornell universities reveals that daily deal usage is still thriving.

The study, titled “Daily Deal Fatigue or Unabated Enthusiasm?,” spotlighted purchase behaviors and consumers’ overall opinion of daily deal sites. In the survey of 655 consumers that have purchased at least one daily deal, participants were separated into three categories: novice users who have purchased between one and four daily deals in the past; experienced users who have purchased between five and 10 deals; and heavy users who bought 11 or more offers.