Category: Marketing How-To

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e.l.f. beauty winner

Behind The Scenes of e.l.f. Cosmetics’ True Crime Parody “Cosmetic Criminals”

At the 2024 CommerceNexty Awards, e.l.f. Cosmetics was honored with the Marketing Innovator of the Year Award for their creative and engaging true crime parody documentary, Cosmetic Criminals. This campaign humorously depicted the phenomenon of “e.l.f. pinching”—the act of borrowing makeup without any intention of returning it—prevalent in households everywhere. We sat down with Laurie Lam, Chief Brand Officer at e.l.f. Beauty, to learn more about the inspiration behind Cosmetic Criminals and the brand’s approach to marketing. Read on for the full interview.   Katja Teichmann: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Cosmetic Criminals?  Laurie Lam: Cosmetic Criminals was born from

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sephora winners

Behind The Scenes of Sephora’s SEPHORiA Event

At the 2024 CommerceNexty Awards, CommerceNext presented Sephora’s with the Best Use of a New Channel Award for Sephora’s SEPHORiA: House of Beauty, which merged digital and physical spaces in a tribute to beauty diversity, improving brand image and highlighting product distinction. We sat down with Kate Biancamano, Senior Director, Event & Experiential Marketing at Sephora to learn more about the inspiration behind the SEPHORiA event. Read on for the full interview. Teichmann: For those who haven’t been to a SEPHORiA event, can you paint a picture of what the event experience is like? Kate Biancamano: Absolutely! SEPHORiA is Sephora’s global annual beauty

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generative ai

Transformative Insights on Generative AI from the 2024 CommerceNext Growth Show

The 2024 CommerceNext Growth Show provided a wealth of insights into the evolving role of generative AI in the retail industry. Sessions from all three days highlighted how leading brands are leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations and drive growth. This article synthesizes these insights into a cohesive discussion on the transformative potential of generative AI in retail. WHAT WE LEARNED: Enhancing Customer Experience with AI Operational Efficiency and Agile Approaches Data-Driven Marketing and Personalization Collaborative Leadership and Strategic Alignment Future Trends and Innovations in AI Enhancing Customer Experience with AI Generative AI is revolutionizing how retailers engage with customers by

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A customer shopping internationally.

Cross-Border Ecommerce: What Most Brands Miss About Global Opportunities

Introducing cross-border ecommerce to your brand offers vast potential for growth, but it requires thorough research and strategic planning to succeed. By understanding global trends and market dynamics, ecommerce professionals can unlock significant opportunities and stay ahead of the competition. Key Takeaways: Global ecommerce is rapidly growing and offers substantial revenue potential for economies of scale and growing economies. Successful international expansion requires detailed market research and strategic planning around operations, logistics and international customer values. Localization of marketing, customer service and payment options is crucial. Staying informed of global trends in ecommerce and challenges competitors may have faced can help navigate the

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A person walking with shipping boxes.

7 Ecommerce Returns Policies that Customers Absolutely Love

Return policies can make or break whether a customer decides to shop with your brand, so creating and implementing effective return policies is essential. Let’s dive into the basics of return policies and seven different policies that customers will be sure to love.  Key Takeaways: Offer a return policy that is easy to find with clear instructions and transparent expectations. Offer personalized policies with multiple return options and streamline the returns process. Consider the environmental impact and impact on brand values that your return policy brings. Provide flexible policies with free shipping for returns.   The Basics on Ecommerce Return Policies Before deciding

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An image showing what "omni" means: a connection and seamless flow through multiple channels.

Retail Omnichannel Strategy: How to Meet Multi-Channel Demands

Retail is evolving everyday. Today, it is now a dynamic blend of online and offline experiences, driven by evolving consumer behaviors and technological advancements. Employing omnichannel strategies will help you stay ahead of the curve, so read on for how your brand can meet multi-channel demands. Key Takeaways: Shopping behavior now revolves around an omnichannel experience, blending online and offline seamlessly. Researching, integrating data, optimizing touchpoints and personalizing experiences are crucial for effective omnichannel strategies. Throughout all phases of creating an omnichannel experience, successful retail brands prioritize a customer-centric approach over a channel-centric one. The evolving landscape includes following emerging omnichannel trends such

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A person online shopping on their computer.

The Emerging Online Trend That’s Quietly Changing How We Shop

In today’s dynamic ecommerce landscape, the integration of AI technologies is reshaping the way we shop online. We’ve put together a guide on how AI is impacting ecommerce businesses, from personalized experiences to streamlined logistics, to help you understand how to stay ahead in the increasingly competitive market. Key Takeaways: Leverage AI for mobile optimization and online discovery by including personalized shopping experiences, virtual assistants, chatbots and many more tools to enhance accessibility and customer engagement. Google, Meta and social media platforms utilize AI algorithms for targeted marketing and integrate AI-powered recommendation systems to facilitate seamless purchases. AR/VR technologies use AI for product

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Person analyzing data from SEO strategies.

Ecommerce SEO Uncovered: 5 Proven Strategies for Online Dominance

Optimizing SEO is pivotal for driving traffic and sales, and by implementing SEO strategies, you can help boost your online store to the top of search results. We’ve compiled 5 strategies to help you optimize SEO for your ecommerce site. Key Takeaways:  Effective keyword research is crucial. Website setup is key: focus on simplicity and user-friendliness. Create quality content that is product-led with keyword research implemented. Manage link building internally and externally. Conduct regular audits to maintain and improve search engine rankings.   1. Conduct Comprehensive Keyword Research Keyword research is key to reaching your target audience. Begin by understanding your target audience.

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Love In The Air: Valentine’s Day Marketing Tips

Valentine’s Day is a golden opportunity for brands to connect with their audience in meaningful, creative and impactful ways. With consumer spending on Valentine’s Day reaching significant levels year after year, it remains a key moment for retailers and DTC brands to boost sales, enhance brand loyalty and engage with customers. According to Capital One Shopping, U.S. consumer spending on Valentine’s Day was projected to reach $26.6 billion, underscoring the importance of this holiday for ecommerce and retail businesses. To help your brand stand out, we’ve compiled actionable insights and strategies from some of the most creative and effective Valentine’s Day campaigns. Read

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BNPL in Ecommerce: Watch Out for These 3 Factors

Key Takeaways: BNPL is now a preferred payment method for Millennials and Gen Z. Choose a provider you trust and that integrates well with your POS system. Understand regional regulations and establish transparent relationships with BNPL providers to avoid problems. Regularly assess BNPL’s impact on customer satisfaction, cart abandonment rates and average order value (AOV) so you can adapt your strategy if needed. BNPL as the Primary Payment Method for Millenials and Gen Z During this year’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping frenzy, Adobe’s findings indicate a substantial 17% year-over-year increase in spending through BNPL platforms. Evidently, BNPL is no longer just an alternative;

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Important Notice: Avoid Unauthorized Housing Providers

Connections Housing is the exclusive housing partner for CommerceNext and the only trusted source for booking accommodations for our event. Be cautious of third-party companies posing as official housing providers. These entities may attempt to mislead you into booking through them, often resulting in non-refundable deposits or invalid reservations that we cannot assist with.

To ensure a secure and seamless booking experience, always reserve your accommodations directly with Connections Housing. If you are approached by anyone claiming to offer housing for CommerceNext outside of Connections Housing, please report this immediately to commercenext@connectionshousing.com.

For assistance or questions, you can contact the Connections Housing team at commercenext@connectionshousing.com or by phone at 725.201.7302.