Tag Archives: retailers

Wal-Mart brings ‘endless aisle’ to Canadian cyberspace

Discount giant Wal-Mart Canada Corp. has entered the cyber fray, taking on Amazon.ca. Wal-Mart has big plans, says Gino DiGioacchino, senior vice-president, E-commerce, seen here Dec. 2, 2011.

Discount giant Wal-Mart Canada Corp. has entered the cyber fray, taking on Amazon.ca. Wal-Mart has big plans, says Gino DiGioacchino, senior vice-president, E-commerce, seen here Dec. 2, 2011.

Retailers are gearing up for an e-commerce battle this holiday season after discount giant Wal-Mart Canada Corp. entered the cyber fray, taking on the burgeoning e-titan Amazon.ca.

The push by a growing numbers of chains to pump up their domestic Internet sales raises the stakes for the entire sector. With consumers racing to find deals and convenient shopping venues in uncertain economic times, major retailers are vying to draw customers and stop them from shopping at established U.S. e-tailers… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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Days are numbered for social influencers

The sun is setting on social influencers.

The sun is setting on social influencers.

The social influencer is dead. Long live real customers.

I recently visited my aunt in Waterloo, Ont. She is 87. She spoke a lot about how commerce was done in the 1950s, “before things got complicated.” Two zingers resulted from that conversation.

The first was how, in her opinion, businesses and brands genuinely used to try to produce high-quality products. She spoke of car companies and retailers and food products with reverence. Large brands were not looked at with the same skepticism some are today, she said, and upstart or craft brands were not revered in the same way some are now… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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Here are some must-have gifts for the holidays

An employee sets up a Christmas display at Sears in Toronto's Eaton Centre. (Oct. 25, 2011)

An employee sets up a Christmas display at Sears in Toronto's Eaton Centre. (Oct. 25, 2011)

Canadian consumers will be looking for affordable luxury, anything with “an app” and above all good value when they start their holiday shopping this year, according to retailers.

There’s no single product or category that’s expected to dominate this season the way Nintendo’s revolutionary new game console, the Wii, stole the thunder in 2006.

Instead, Canadian retailers have placed their bets on a range of products, from cashmere sweaters to iPads. They’re also stocking more small-ticket items, such as $5 gift baskets… Read More

Source Photo and Text: Moneyville.ca

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Costco to hike membership fees in three weeks

The company plans to raise its membership fees Nov. 1. The increase will affect an estimated 22 million club members in Canada and the U.S., most of whom pay $50 or $100 per year.

The company plans to raise its membership fees Nov. 1. The increase will affect an estimated 22 million club members in Canada and the U.S., most of whom pay $50 or $100 per year.

Costco Wholesale Corp. is raising its membership fees 10 per cent as the wholesale club operator tries to keep its prices on products low to keep drawing value-focused shoppers.

All retailers are struggling to balance soaring costs against shoppers’ continuing demand for low prices… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Toronto Star

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What NFC means to consumers and marketers

From left: Blackberry 9850, Bold, Torch.

From left: Blackberry 9850, Bold, Torch.

Near field communication (NFC) – an innovation in wireless technology – is about to make the jump from the bleeding edge to the leading edge. If you have not heard of NFC, or don’t really understand it, you are not alone – but that is about to change. The coming mainstream presence of NFC will present opportunities for consumers, retailers and marketers… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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How to create eye-catching e-mail newsletters

How to create eye-catching e-mail newsletters

E-mail marketing has more uses than you might think.

Alison Kramer is the owner of Nummies, a five-year old firm that makes lingerie for nursing mothers. The business only sells wholesale, distributing goods through a network of retailers across North America, from its home base in Toronto… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

 

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