The Online Shopping Experience

The Online Shopping Experience for Retail Consumers

Fashion specialty retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Barney’s New York, and Saks Fifth Avenue have built their business on providing quality products and an exceptional customer shopping experience. For example, Nordstrom is famous for their liberal return policy – allowing even an old lady to return automobile tires to one of their stores. This customer experience is a key strategic experience and industry driver.

Yet the competitive landscape is changing. With the proliferation of online shopping the customer shopping experience is moving away from the brick-and-mortar stores to a web based experience. As a result, these specialty retailers are looking to find ways to provide the same high-level online shopping experience as they do in their stores.  So the question arises, what are they doing exactly?

First, to provide an positive online shopping experience retailers are providing lots of product online. In fact, the online platform allows some retailers to provide more product online than they can have in their actually stores. In addition, retailers are also trying to make it easier to see what the product looks like and how it fits. With several different camera angles retailers shoot their product on models so customers can see how the product fits. Also, some retailers are providing video of the product so customers can see how the garment moves on the model. In addition to a variety of camera angles and video, retailers are also providing the models measurements and size of the garments online so customers can get a reference to what size will fit them.

Finally, in order to increase the online shopping experience, researchers are experimenting with technology that scans a customer’s body and home and then places the garment digitally on their image in the computer. 

The future of the online customer shopping experience is very bright and many retailers have just scratched the surface. In additon, As retailers continue to find ways to increase this customer experience they will further differentiate themselves from their competitors

Additional articles by this blogger include :

• Harley Davidson Goes Dark Custom - to read click here

Final Season of Gossip Girl Begins

Gossip Girl: Season 6

Young, fashion-conscious girls all around the globe go crazy each season as Serena and Blair appear on yet another episode of the hit show Gossip Girl. The latest season, which started this past week, is different in that it will be the final season of the show. So, what is this show about and why is it such a big hit among young women? Let's take a look. 

Gossip Girl is about young, wealthy, college-age New York students and the drama they face living in the city. It acts as an escape for viewers to experience a world where money isn't an issue. The show follows the lives of these students, but the series has become known for its wardrobe, influencing trends around the world. Each episode, viewers are treated to a fashion show as characters don everything from lavishing gowns to Chanel accessories. Serena Vanderwoodsen, one of the main characters, is played by Blake Lively, one of the most noted fashionistas today. Her role in Gossip Girl only helped her become the modern fashion icon she is now. The other style star on the show is Blair Waldorf, played by Leighton Meester. Young viewers usually take sides with one of these characters, being highly influenced by the clothes each wears. 

With the last season in full swing, viewers can only guess what kind of events are to unfold. Each episode leaves young women not knowing what to expect, but wanting more. The big question though is what are those that aspire to be an upper east sider supposed to do when their idols go off screen? What is going to be the next show these viewers turn to for fashion and entertainment? 

Check out the preview of the final season of Gossip Girl below. 

Click here to keep up to date with the latest on Gossip Girl. 

Sweet spots visited by the cast

Three cars I want to drive in the future

    

 1. Benz S65 AMG

When I first saw this car, I was super excited because its design was very unique, fascinating and has a luxury Benz logo in the front hood. Later, I found out that the car was one of the Benz cars that belong to the AMG model lines. AMG stands for Aufrecht (Founder), Melcher(Founder), and Grobaspach (Location of the Headquater). The history of AMG started with designing and testing racing engines in 1967. Then, it became one of the affiliates in the Mercedes -Benz in 2005. Generally, AMG models have more aggressive exterior shapes as they seem to represent the racing history. In addition, the powerful  6.0 liter V12 engine in the S65 AMG model proved the highest-performance among all the Mercedes models. Because AMG models have evolved every year since its first launch, Benz will release more attracting version of its AMG model by the time I actually get the best AMG.      

2. BMW 750 i

I‘ve been loving BMW cars since I watched the movie ‘Transporter’. In the movie, Jason Statham crazily drives cars, especially for one of his own BMW cars even though what he drove was very old version of BMW. BMW has its own unique front grill design by which I can instantly notice that it’s BMW from the long distance. The front design always reminds me of the face of the shark. It may be because of its similar shape to the shark and the powerful performance that BMW cars present.  BMW seems to focus more on adapting the hybrid engines to their all series. In addition, when looking 2012 BMW series, they put emphasis on changing little details, such as conversion from analogue gauge to electronic gauge, and things that generally relate to dash board.   

        

        

3.  Lexus LS Series

Lexus LS series are the most expensive and luxurious models. As many people know, Lexus has been successful in improving their brand name under the support of its parent company, Toyota. In general, Japanese cars have been known for strong durability, which gives benefits in terms of reselling the cars. I have several friends who have driven the Lexus, BMW, Audis, and other German cars. After they experienced all the luxury cars, their driving feeling were like ‘those good cars are pretty much the same’. It is probably they are not the experts or racing drivers so that they cannot differentiate the unique driving performance that each brand really presents. But, these indirect experiences were helpful to me in deciding which car to buy in the future. In addition, one time I saw the report saying that Lexus has the least customer claims in the U.S. market. Lexus is also less expensive than other high-graded cars, such as Benz, Audi, and BMW. Thus, Lexus is one of my options when I become successful and buy a nice car.

Dark Custom and Harley Davidson

To capture the spending power of the millennial generation Harley-Davidson has released the dark custom line of motorcycles. These motorcycles are defined by their stripped down, fast, raw styling. Without audio and saddle bags, they are built solely for the experience and image of riding a Harley-Davidson.

The dark custom line of motorcycles includes the Iron 883, Forty-Eight, Seventy-Two, Street Bob, Blackline, and the Fat Bob. 

In addition to their line of Dark custom motorcycles, Harley-Davidson offers clothing for the millennial generation called Black Label. With trendier styling a millennial can feel more acquainted with the Black Label clothing than the traditional Harley apparel. With the ability to ride a Dark Custom motorcycle and wear Black Label clothing Harley-Davidson is offering the millennial generation what they do best, a lifestyle.

photos courtesy of http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/dark-custom/dark-custom.html

Additional articles by this blogger include :

• The Online Shopping Experience - to read click here

Bringing Sustainability to Ethiopia

Sustainability and Poverty Reduction

Sustainability is a major problem in many parts of the world. One in two people worldwide lives in poverty and the human cost of poverty is 30,000 children who die each day. Microfinance lending provides small loans to the poor to help them engage in productive activities and work their way out of poverty. As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” This concept describes the basic goal of sustainability that microfinance focuses on. Worldwide, the need for microfinance is great because it acts as an effective tool for reducing poverty and establishes small businesses. 

Microfinance can be an effective and powerful tool for poverty reduction. With most poverty-stricken individuals living in rural areas, food insecurity is one of the main challenges to economic development in poor countries, particularly Ethiopia. 

With an estimated population of 60 million, approximately 85% of Ethiopians live in rural areas. Because of harsh circumstances that make agricultural production tough, a large number of people cannot support their families with food. Through microfinance, ideas and programs are implemented to increase food production; therefore, the overall level of poverty is reduced. By promoting entrepreneurship and free markets, the small loans not only benefit the borrower, but also create jobs and financial stability for many others. As new businesses emerge, overall dependency is reduced

The outcomes of microfinance have shown to be positive including increased sustainability and improved education. Microfinance should be supported because it helps bring sustainability to rural areas instead of temporary relief assistance. One of the pronounced features of microfinance is that credit programs can be designed and adapted to fit specific villages and groups.

Ethiopia’s poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, but with droughts and poor farming practices production is hard to maintain. Hope Arising has begun to establish unique practices in villages to create sustainable food and agricultural production through gardening and sheep fattening. From there, businesses slowly grow and are maintained, creating a steady source of income for families. 

Microfinance looks to educate individuals about business before giving out loans. More and more women in poverty are being educated because they comprise the majority of borrowers and are more likely to support their children. By learning the basics of business, individuals will know how to run and keep a business going and they will be able to share that knowledge with families and acquaintances, establishing an effective market in villages. 

Along with business education, the effects of microfinance on livelihood can be multidimensional.  Some of these positive effects include that women become more empowered, health education spreads, and households function more efficiently. An overall healthier way of life is created through microfinance. Jump-starting small businesses by providing small loans to the impoverished is a concept that should be supported by those in developed countries.

SOURCES:

http://www.worldvisionmicro.org/pages/statistic 

Berhane, G., Gardebroek, C. (2011). Does

     Microfinance Reduce Rural Poverty?

     Evidence Based on Household Panel Data     

     from Northern Ethiopia. American Journal of

     Agricultural Economics, 93(1), 43-55.

Amha, W. (2000). Review of Microfinance

     Industry in Ethiopia: Regulatory Frameworks

     and Performance. Association of Ethiopian 

     Microfinance Institutions, 2, 1-48.

     

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Places to visit in Seoul, Korea

I have lived in Seoul city, South Korea, more than 25 years. There are approximately 10 million people living in Seoul, which makes you imagine a heavy traffic jam, noise pollution, etc. Yes, they are all true, and it may take some time for foreigners to get accustomed with all that. But, there is also a good side of Seoul in which I had good times with my best friends. So, before I introduce to you some of the good places to visit around Seoul, check out this video first.

Gwanghwamun Square

Gwanghwamun Square was expanded by reducing 16 lanes of traffic to 10, in 2008. The first thing you will notice is the statue of the great admiral, Lee Sun Shin. He has been well known for the great Myeongryang Victory of clearing 133 foreign invading ships by 12 korean ships. Besides that, there is a gigantic SeJong cultural center, in which famous musicians, plays, or operas are presented. I recommend taking a walk at night around the Square because all the colorful lights beaming out from the building or streets is so beautiful that lovers or lots of families come and enjoy the romantic night.

National Museum and the Kyungbok Palace

National Museum is the largest museum in Korea with about 220,000 objects in its collection. They have well preserved the traditional objects that the old ancient kings used about 1000 years ago. The size of the whole museum and its surrounding parks is enormous. I remember visiting the museum and parks several times in my elementary and high school, participating in the competition of drawing the sceneries, and playing all around with classmates. Kyungbok Palace is the place where the kings of the last Korean dynasty lived, and it is part of the museum. Some couples are marrying there in the old traditional ways, wearing complicated traditional costumes.

Lotte World

I have never been to Disney Land, but I have been to the Korean version of Disney Land, the Lotte World.  I strongly recommend visiting there early in the week days because in the weekends so many crowds create the longest time queue in all rides. But, you can enjoy the different kinds of events, such as Musical Parade and K-Pop shows. My most favorite part of Lotte world is skating. They made a big ice rink in the center of the big dorm stadium. I used to go there often in the summer, and had good times. 

Korean Sports

Traditional Korean Sports: Taekwondo & Ssireum

Taekwondo is martial-sports originated in Korea. It uses the entire body, especially the hands and feet. Taekwondo not only strengthens one’s physical wellbeing, but it also cultivates character via physical and mental training. Taekwondo is now firmly established as international sports in Korea, and the Taekwondo Association has a membership of 3.8 million, which consists of about ten percent of total Korean population.

Ssireum is a Korean traditional form of wrestling. It is a type of folk competition in which two players, holding on to a satba (a cloth tied around the waist and thigh), use their strength and various techniques to wrestle each other to the ground. The ultimate winner of a ssireum tournament was traditionally awarded a bull, which was a symbol of strength 

Choi Hong-man was a former ssireum champion in South korea. In Asia, he was called “Korean Monster”. His height is 2.8 m (7 ft 2 in) and weighs 160 kg (350 lb). Although he had unsuccessful career in mixed martial arts, he recently began a singing career with supermodel Kang Soo Hee under the name of Beauty & the Beast.