3 Reasons CB4 is Tailor-Made for Apparel Retail
A lot of “retail technology” works in other verticals, but not in fashion. Apparel retail is unique. Each style an apparel retailer sells has seemingly innumerable deviations. Every tee shirt comes in various sizes and colors. Shoppers need to touch and feel clothes before they buy-in. They need to envision how clothes fit in with […]
Retailers are Joining the Rental Economy. Who Will End Up on Top?
If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed an interesting change in consumer behavior: a growing number of shoppers are choosing to rent instead of buy. This trend is a lot more prevalent in the apparel market, but verticals like home furnishings are starting to catch on. According to the market research firm GlobalData […]
Staying on Top: Highlights of Levi’s Tech Infrastructure
Levi Strauss & Co. is rocking and rolling. The 166-year-old retailer (wait, what?) celebrated its 2nd IPO and $8 billion valuation in March, and Levi’s brand recognition is at an all-time high. The iconic red tag is still as ubiquitous and leather patch in back still considered as cool as ever. Levi’s success isn’t just […]
3 Ways Fashion Retailers are Using AI for Operational Efficiency
Today’s apparel retailers can choose from unending menu of high-tech offerings promising to transform their business. But not all technological tools–particularly those calling themselves artificial intelligence (i.e. fashion AI)–are created equal. In fact, after the 2019 NRF Big Show, the LA Times boldly announced that retailers are wasting their time on tech that looks exciting, yet doesn’t […]
3 Types of Data You Need for Killer Clienteling in Fashion Retail
Clienteling was once a practice used exclusively by luxury retailers. Savvy in-store style advisers would keep a book of their most reliable, spend-happy clients, and establish long-lasting connections with them to maintain loyalty. But in today’s competitive retail landscape, all shoppers expect to be fawned over. Shoppers patronizing upmarket apparel brands (think: Theory, Rag & […]
5 Tech Innovations Responsible for H&M’s Turnaround
A little less than a year ago, H&M was grappling with a number of issues that diminished the retail experience and their bottom line. Not only was it suffering from a sales slump, but the company had a stockpile of unsold inventory worth $4 billion, struggled with style misses and snafus, and was falling behind […]
CB4’s 1st Annual Apparel Retail Loyalty Awards
As traditional brick-and-mortar retailers fend against online rivals, loyalty programs are becoming crucial for meeting shoppers’ expectations and earning repeat business. Seeking to earn allegiance from customers who face a growing cornucopia of choices, today’s incentive programs are no longer focused solely on making the next sale. They aim to build a customer relationship for […]
Ready to Reduce In-Store Apparel Returns? Try These Tactics on For Size
Brick-and-mortar retailers are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to return policies. From your customers’ perspective, online purchases make for seamless returns. E-commerce returns are often free, with labels included in the shipment box. Brick-and-mortar retailers, hungry to attract and retain shoppers, are increasingly expected to offer flexible return policies […]
How Nike Slayed 2018, and Takeaways for Fashion Retailers
2018 was a year full of wins for Nike, on the field and off. The brand’s iconic swoosh was ubiquitous at the 2018 World Cup before a television audience of nearly 3.6 billion people—the third-most-viewed television broadcast of all time. By Nike’s count, 60% of the athletes competing in the tournament’s opening round wore Nike […]
Kohl’s x CB4 NRF Panel: How to Satisfy Mission-Driven Shoppers
Kohl’s VP of Technology, Shweta Bhatia heads up the retailer’s in-store learning labs. These labs test innovative technology solutions and then scale them across Kohl’s entire chain of 1,000+ stores. Bhatia had this to say about her philosophy: “We focus on two things: Keeping it simple and making it actionable. Making it simple is the […]
