Retailers Using Internet During Crisis

The good thing about crisis is that most of the time, it forces company to find innovative way to keep good sales figure. It seems that most of US retailers are trying to make the best of Internet in order to battle during the economical downturn. Recently, I have posted an article on how Wall Mart was using the Internet in its strategy. Now a new article explains how retailers are considering Internet as a key way to maximize their sales during the crisis.

If traditional retailers have fought against the Internet at the beginning, they have understood how important a multi channel strategy was important to reach the customers.

Here are some online techniques illustrating this article, of retailers using the Internet:

• Shifting marketing plans from traditional advertising to social-networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
• Sending targeted e-mails to customers based on their stated preferences or past purchases.
  Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
  Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
  Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
  Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
• Interactive features such as videos and options that give customers the ability to share items they like with friends.
• Premium Outlets, which owns the Gilroy center, started tweeting (http://twitter.com/premiumoutlets) in March "as an enhanced way of communicating with shoppers, giving updates and tips on how to get the best deals," said spokeswoman Kristyn Mendez.
• Membership has been growing in the free VIP Shopper Club, where members can access exclusive online coupons, vouchers, insider information and updates about upcoming sales and events.
• Gilroy Premium Outlets is reaching customers through Facebook updates and Twitter tweets. Also offers VIP membership online that gives customers access to special deals and coupons.
• H&M, the "fast fashion" boutique, offers fashion and designer bio videos, a style guide and an interactive feature that allows women and men to create a model in their likeness to try on clothing.
• KMart is active on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace, and its mykmart.com. has a community page for discussions and seeking advice about products.
• Sears" site has a function that allows visitors to browse other sites in its holdings, including KMart and Lands" End.
• Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus are among the department stores that use multimedia and their stores" fashion directors to engage high-end customers.

As you can see, there are multiple ways to think about how to use the Internet to trigger sales both on and off line.