2013 - This Is Going To Be Fun!

Here we are in the new year, and according to WWD, January 7th, 2013 will be the year of digital.  In a very interesting article, Rachel Strugatz points out what many of us have known for years, specifically that mobile platform shopping is coming on strong across retail, and fashion in particular.  I'm very encouraged by this article, both as a result of the content offered (which is very insightful) as well as the real estate dedicated to the topic by WWD.  (Nearly 3 entire pages of their print issue.)

Read the entire article HERE.

Much of the data in this article reads to a ramp-up to strong mobile presence in late-2014 or 2015 being the prudent move on the part of fashion retailers.

This is, in my opinion, a missed-the-boat strategy.  Smart, nimble and aggressive retailers are working on mobile integration now, and will already be fully engaged in the development of their 2nd to 3rd generation mobile experience by the time the more traditional 'houses' make their move.  The next generation of mobile app will not simply facilitate shopping and provide an optimized mobile experience to the consumer  Rather, it will, at a minimum, utilize an omnichannel approach, combined with geolocation, CRM, marketing and other technologies to;

• Motivate consumers into the store shopping experience
• Facilitate the shopping and purchasing experience
• Convert each passerby into a possible sale
• Transform all advertising into a potential sales conversion
• Deliver to the retailer unparalleled and previously unachievable insight into the world of their customer

I am both proud as well as excited to be a part of this revolution, engaging with retailers in creating this entirely new paradigm.

My prediction: 2013 is going to be a LOT of fun!


Matt Yotko
President - Soho DigiTech