By George Anderson
Ken Treske, chief marketing officer, CoolSavings, writes in the latest issue of the company newsletter, Know Thy Customer, "By and large, retail has missed the opportunity to embrace the Internet for what it truly is - a versatile marketing medium that is singular in its ability to influence consumers and drive purchases, not just online, but in a variety of channels."
In the article, Organizing Retail Strategies Around Today 's Online Consumer, Mr. Treske points to studies demonstrating the growing number of consumers who use the Internet to research a product before making an offline purchase.
He references the results of email campaigns run by three different retailers showing
"54% of recipients surveyed made a store visit after viewing the promotion, with nearly 47% of those consumers having been prompted by the e-mail alone."
Moderator's Comment: Are retailers fully taking advantage of the Internet as a marketing medium? What do retailers need to do to grow their business using the Net?
Ken Treske offers the following advice. "Admitting we have an opportunity is the first step to rewards." [George Anderson - Moderator]
- KNOW THY CUSTOMER Newsletter, July-Aug. 2003 - Cool Savings (Download - pdf format)