Hammock Gear initially built its reputation through social media, word of mouth and a commitment to first-class customer service. That reputation has provided a steady influx of new shoppers, and Hammock Gear has partnered with Springbot to automate its marketing campaigns and convert new site visitors into loyal customers. The company’s updated web site helped drive the best holiday season ever, with 2018 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales rising 164% over 2017. An important element of this success is the site’s granular approach to abandonment emails. Rather than immediately sending promotions, Hammock Gear varies its responses based on the level of interaction. Even simple, no-pressure emails are effective at getting potential customers to return, according to Sally Brown, Hammock Gear COO. For instance, a browser who visits the site, looks around and leaves without adding anything to his or her cart gets a polite thank you message with a return link. “We take a softer approach to it,” said Brown in an interview with Retail TouchPoints. “Rather than just going right at them and saying, ‘Hey, we know you stopped by, and we know you looked at this thing — come back and we’ll give you a discount,’ it's…

While 94% of retail marketers believe that their company truly embodies customer obsession, only 18% are seeing the revenue growth they expected from those efforts, according to a survey from Listrak and Forrester Consulting. Retailers are leveraging new features and functionalities to achieve greater efficiency (63%), better innovation (58%) and improved customer satisfaction scores (49%), but many are not seeing tangible bottom-line benefits from these investments. When it comes to investing in marketing technology (martech), only 22% of retailers prioritize whether it can improve business outcomes, such as higher customer lifetime value (CLV), revenue growth, acquisition, engagement and conversion.

Whether they’re looking for the best deals or a reason to visit their favorite store, nearly every shopper can be reached through email marketing, according to a study by Fluent Commerce. The report looked at five shopper personas that are defined more by behaviors than traditional markers such as age, gender and income, determining what kinds of outreach best break through their email filters and fuel conversions.

White Elephant parties, a gamified gift exchange often featuring unconventional items, are more than a niche tradition: 36 million Americans are expected to participate in these gift exchanges this holiday season, which could account for up to $22 billion in associated gift sales, according to zulily. With an appropriate marketing and pricing strategy, almost any retailer can generate sales from the concept. “I think there’s room for everyone to get in on this trend,” said Naama Bloom, VP of Brand Marketing at zulily in an interview with Retail TouchPoints. “You don’t have to sell quirky products to have great products for a White Elephant.” The ever-changing nature of zulily’s product selection makes the site a natural destination for White Elephant gifts and inspiration, and Bloom offered tips to help retailers capture their share of this booming market: Know your audience: Potential White Elephant gifts should appeal to a retailer’s existing shopper base rather than chase outside trends; Price appropriately: Most gift exchanges involve inexpensive gifts, so advertise accordingly; and Inspire creativity: Whether they want something quirky, clever or practical, shoppers want to bring gifts that stand out. It’s All About Showing Off The Goods For the unfamiliar, a White Elephant…