Content about Multichannel retailer

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a leading provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced its Retail Services business has signed a long-term agreement to continue providing the co-brand credit card program for multichannel retailer Gander Mountain.

By Kiran Kumar Malathkar, Kiran_kumar@mindtree.com

There’s no question about it: Shoppers will have more options than ever before when it comes to shopping this holiday, from where and how they shop to how they pay. Given the myriad of choices available, experts agree that one of the keys to a successful holiday season — and long-term survival — is customer engagement.

Plantation, Fla. -- Multichannel retailer Dreams, which focuses on the licensed sports products industry, said Wednesday that it has partnered with Hibbett Sports to become its exclusive online provider for team merchandise in the licensed sports category.

Hibbett’s new online platform is stadiumshop.hibbett.com and represents the bricks-and-mortar sporting goods retailer’s first entrance into e-commerce.

Atlanta -- CDC Software Corp. announced Tuesday that Hamburg, Germany-based Hermes Fulfilment, part of multichannel retailer Otto Group, is using the cloud-based CDC e-commerce platform to help deliver e-commerce and multichannel retail services to its global customers.

Already, Hermes Fulfilment is using CDC e-commerce to power the online storefront of Wolford, a global manufacturer and marketer of upscale hosiery, lingerie, and ready-to-wear items. CDC e-commerce’s platform is initially being used in Wolford’s online ordering system.

A strong IT infrastructure is absolutely critical to supporting retailers’ business strategies. Under the traditional model, most retailers designed, deployed and maintained their own systems. From meeting customers’ increased expectations at the point of sale to multichannel integration to price optimization, however, the complexity of today’s retail operations is such that more and more retailers are taking a different approach and utilizing on-demand, software-as-a-service (SaaS) alternatives to traditional, on-premise systems.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- While many e-retailers had a holiday to celebrate, customer satisfaction with the Top 40 online retailers overall has fallen since last year, according to the sixth annual ForeSee Results E-Retail Satisfaction Index (U.S. Holiday Edition).

By Bridget Trask, Bridget.trask@convergys.com

Is it ever too early to start planning for the holiday rush? Not in the retail sector, where revenue expectations rely on that all-important spike in fourth quarter sales. Every day counts, especially this year, when retailers will feel the full impact of a major change in the marketplace -- growth in customer demand for a shopping experience via multiple interaction channels.