Big Ticket Items Get Discovered Online

Returning from the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition Manna representatives reported that attendees were upbeat, but not ecstatic about an upturn in the economy.  The general optimism was generated by surveys that show more people browsed for products online than in stores, 92% compared to 84%

The ATG reported earlier this year that 30% of consumers use more than three channels of information to research and then purchase products.  For example, they get a catalog, use the company’s website, and consider product reviews. Other channels of information are news articles, Word of Mouth, and advertising.

This statistic also reflects the overwhelming concern among retailers which is integration of the customer experience, from online, catalogs and in-store experiences.  That experience we believe is continued until the product is in its final destination.  Manna representatives Nick Mansilla and David Tomaschko listened to these concerns from retailers.  The options are limited with parcel carriers who don’t handle big ticket items, and with electronics, there are other issues such as fragility and installation that typical delivery providers don’t offer.

Another sign the economy is coming back was the 40% increase in IRCE attendee traffic. According to Mansilla and Tomaschko the show floor was busy with considerable interest in Manna Distribution’s high-speed, white-glove service options.  Manna’s national coverage and expertise in a variety of product lines, including electronics, appliances, and furniture gives retailers a one stop (pardon the pun) transportation option.  Email info@Manna.com.

Manna Solutions For ECommerce Leaders at IRCE Conference 

The growth in eCommerce in the last 10 years has led to a new set of challenges for online retailers.  Today the term online retailers is no longer reserved by the Amazons and Overstocks of the world; it includes Wal-Mart, Sears, and Staples.  The convenience of purchasing online is a fact of life with Internet sales in 2009 at $134 billion. While 20% year over year growth is not a regular occurrence, the trend has shifted to those facing a maturing business function, such as accommodating larger scale, efficiency, and inventory shifts.    The new challenges from a delivery perspective include fulfillment, warehousing, transportation, last-mile delivery, customer service, installation, and competitive shipping pricing.  

Manna Distribution Services has seen similar growth in its annual sales over the last five years as it builds a national delivery network of high-speed, white-glove services. The Internet Retail Conference and Exhibition is the largest event of its kind drawing retailers from around the country.  They are looking for solutions to these and other retail issues.   Manna account managers working with leading retail customers have devised delivery solutions that positively impact customer satisfaction and loyalty. National Account Manager Adam Trenberth met with retailers on the IRCE show floor at the Manna booth talking about the added value Manna offers customers including the ScheduleMyDelivery.com website. ScheduleMyDelivery. com allows consignees the convenience of scheduling the delivery time that fits their daily routine while keeping Manna retail customers and delivery personnel in a closed communications loop process.

Learn about this and other issues retailers are raising with Manna representatives on the IRCE show floor by emailing Manna at info@manna.com.  Or place a request for info at the Manna Distribution Services website

Baby Boomers Shock the World – Gobble Up Online Deals

This is one of the best bar–or in this era–coffee shop bets this holiday season. Ask your drinking partners what age group buys the most products online. Then watch their jaws drop when you cite this study that shows 65 year olds and up are the largest group of online shoppers.

Seventy-Seven percent of them said they are “most likely” to shop online, and–get this–in the survey this group is called “matures.” Following close behind are Baby Boomers with 71% of them shopping online. The study, called “Life Stages & Life Styles: Turning Generational Differences Into Media Opportunities,” included more than 1,500 consumers across generations conducted by the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing.

The surprise is that “matures” have discretionary income, on average $800 per month, and boomers, despite economic woes, still spend an estimated $2 trillion annually. More of those dollars are going to online purchases.

Get ready Cybershoppers your day is near. These stats blew me away. Remember last year in the teeth of the market crash? Last year online shopping grew, yes GREW from 2007 to 2008, here are the big three days from 2008

Date	2007	2008	% change
November 27 (Thanksgiving Day)	$273	$288	6%
November 28 (Black Friday)	$531	$534	1%
December 1 (Cyber Monday)	$733	$846	15%

Source: comScore

This year the competition for holiday sales is fierce, but there is a bit of energy, this week the Dow hit a 52-week high, and interest rates are at historic lows.

Retailers see a golden opportunity to offer values early in the season. Whether it’s electronics, accessories or appliances
shopping this season may well be fun. Eli Sakkal at Butterfly Photo in New York, one of the largest selection of consumer electronics and appliances online has some great insights, “The market is shifting, there are great deals to be had at both the high end of the product line and the lower end of the line, for both Plasma and LCD High Definition televisions during the next 3
weeks,” said Sakkal. Some of the deals include a Samsung 40” model 40B550 a highly rated model is at $799 at Butterfly Photo and a pre-Black Friday, pre-Cyber-Monday deal of a 50” Samsung Plasma for $1,499.85 These prices were at the time of writing this post and may change.

This holiday is a consumers’ market. Here are a couple of other Manna customers for great holiday deals and high-speed, white-glove delivery.

Electronics Expo

B & H Photo