10/07/2012
RIS Fusion Awards 2012
The 9th Annual RIS News Fusion Awards are designed to recognize retail companies that are category leaders, successful business performers and technology innovators, specifically in the area of cross-channel excellence and fusing IT solutions with business strategy. The five award categories are: Cross-Channel Innovation, Cross-Channel Customer Experience, Cross-Channel SMB, Mobile Convergence and Social Convergence.
The more than 20 nominations were judged by a panel including RIS News’ senior editorial staff and several other retail industry experts, including a leading Wall Street analyst, a consultant and an ex-CIO of a major retailer.
This year’s five winners were honored in a live presentation at the joint
Cross-Channel Retail Executive Summit/Social-Mobile Convergence Forum on October 3-5, 2012 at the Westin in San Antonio, TX.
Neiman Marcus
Cross-Channel Innovation
• Founded 1907
• HQ in Dallas, TX
• 42 stores in 21 states
Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus has been noted for its distinctive merchandise and superior service, and now its revenue attribution analytics project that has won the Fusion Award. Launched in May 2012, the project implements the Upstream platform, utilizing large amounts of Neiman Marcus data to better understand revenue attribution.
The retailer can identify the marketing that preceded a purchase whether it was the same day, weeks ago or months ago. This allows for optimizing spend by channel as well as personalization of marketing channels per user.
REI
Cross-Channel Customer Experience
• Founded 1938
• HQ in Kent, WA
• 130 stores in 29 states
Recreation gear, sporting goods and clothing retailer REI’s “Mobile Selling Assistant,” a mobile selling application developed by Starmount, is the winner of this year’s Fusion Award.
The mobile application allows associates to meet customers in the aisle at the point of decision, providing a consultative sale as well as process transactions, sell memberships, access loyalty data, and redeem REI dividends – without leaving the customer’s side. Using the devices has also enabled the retailer to increase store throughput, and reduce customers’ wait time in line.
Moosejaw Mountaineering
Cross-Channel SMB
• Founded in 1992
• HQ in Madison Heights, MI
• 11 Stores in 5 states
Moosejaw Mountaineering, retailer of outdoor gear and apparel, has adopted mPOS technology, staying closely connected to customers in-store and helping associates serve in an advisory role, making it a 2012 Fusion Award winner. The personal dynamic established with the use of mPOS technology, introduced in August 2011, is a key differentiator for the retailer, making it easier to access product information and sell unseen items or order merchandise from inventory in the warehouse. The handheld devices are integrated into the retailer’s CrossView cross-channel commerce platform.
Target
Social Convergence
• Founded 1962
• HQ in Minneapolis, MN
• 1,770 stores in 49 states
Since 1962, Target has maintained focus on hitting the bulls-eye in terms of goods and services, pricing, and commitment to the community.
Target is the recipient of a Fusion Award for its Give with Friends campaign, launched in February 2012. Target’s Facebook page welcomed visitors with a redesigned logo, a group gift-giving tab and in-stream promotion. The retailer capitalized on the strengths of social media, tapping into meaningful events in customers’ lives through Group Gifting. In addition to creating a social sharing experience, Target used Group Gift Cards to drive additional foot traffic into stores or to drive online shoppers to www.Target.com.
Cabela’s
Mobile Convergence
• Founded 1961
• HQ in Sidney, NE
• 35 stores in 20 states
Cabela’s, an outdoor sporting goods retailer known for its catalog offerings, also sells products online and via mobile. Leading the way for retailers, Cabela’s was selected a Fusion Award winner for its customer engagement through mobile apps. The retailer has enhanced both its catalog and in-store experiences by incorporating a barcode and QR code scanner into its iPhone and Android apps, developed with Digby. Consumers can scan products in the store or catalog to learn more about products, including descriptions, customer ratings and reviews and product videos. Customers can also shop by category using the Store Locator function, gain access to the “Cabela’s Club” or use a complete site search.
The more than 20 nominations were judged by a panel including RIS News’ senior editorial staff and several other retail industry experts, including a leading Wall Street analyst, a consultant and an ex-CIO of a major retailer.
This year’s five winners were honored in a live presentation at the joint
Cross-Channel Retail Executive Summit/Social-Mobile Convergence Forum on October 3-5, 2012 at the Westin in San Antonio, TX.
Neiman Marcus
Cross-Channel Innovation
• Founded 1907
• HQ in Dallas, TX
• 42 stores in 21 states
Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus has been noted for its distinctive merchandise and superior service, and now its revenue attribution analytics project that has won the Fusion Award. Launched in May 2012, the project implements the Upstream platform, utilizing large amounts of Neiman Marcus data to better understand revenue attribution.
The retailer can identify the marketing that preceded a purchase whether it was the same day, weeks ago or months ago. This allows for optimizing spend by channel as well as personalization of marketing channels per user.
REI
Cross-Channel Customer Experience
• Founded 1938
• HQ in Kent, WA
• 130 stores in 29 states
Recreation gear, sporting goods and clothing retailer REI’s “Mobile Selling Assistant,” a mobile selling application developed by Starmount, is the winner of this year’s Fusion Award.
The mobile application allows associates to meet customers in the aisle at the point of decision, providing a consultative sale as well as process transactions, sell memberships, access loyalty data, and redeem REI dividends – without leaving the customer’s side. Using the devices has also enabled the retailer to increase store throughput, and reduce customers’ wait time in line.
Moosejaw Mountaineering
Cross-Channel SMB
• Founded in 1992
• HQ in Madison Heights, MI
• 11 Stores in 5 states
Moosejaw Mountaineering, retailer of outdoor gear and apparel, has adopted mPOS technology, staying closely connected to customers in-store and helping associates serve in an advisory role, making it a 2012 Fusion Award winner. The personal dynamic established with the use of mPOS technology, introduced in August 2011, is a key differentiator for the retailer, making it easier to access product information and sell unseen items or order merchandise from inventory in the warehouse. The handheld devices are integrated into the retailer’s CrossView cross-channel commerce platform.
Target
Social Convergence
• Founded 1962
• HQ in Minneapolis, MN
• 1,770 stores in 49 states
Since 1962, Target has maintained focus on hitting the bulls-eye in terms of goods and services, pricing, and commitment to the community.
Target is the recipient of a Fusion Award for its Give with Friends campaign, launched in February 2012. Target’s Facebook page welcomed visitors with a redesigned logo, a group gift-giving tab and in-stream promotion. The retailer capitalized on the strengths of social media, tapping into meaningful events in customers’ lives through Group Gifting. In addition to creating a social sharing experience, Target used Group Gift Cards to drive additional foot traffic into stores or to drive online shoppers to www.Target.com.
Cabela’s
Mobile Convergence
• Founded 1961
• HQ in Sidney, NE
• 35 stores in 20 states
Cabela’s, an outdoor sporting goods retailer known for its catalog offerings, also sells products online and via mobile. Leading the way for retailers, Cabela’s was selected a Fusion Award winner for its customer engagement through mobile apps. The retailer has enhanced both its catalog and in-store experiences by incorporating a barcode and QR code scanner into its iPhone and Android apps, developed with Digby. Consumers can scan products in the store or catalog to learn more about products, including descriptions, customer ratings and reviews and product videos. Customers can also shop by category using the Store Locator function, gain access to the “Cabela’s Club” or use a complete site search.
