At this year’s Shoptalk, the topic of new channels was one that came up time and again. There were sessions focused on it, as well as conversations at networking events and the expo hall.  Clearly, it’s a topic that’s top of mind for brands and retailers. In fact, 75% of Shoptalk attendees said that new…

Consumers have certain, basic expectations when it comes to customer service. That’s nothing new. For example, most have always expected friendly agents and quick resolutions to their issues. But these days, consumers have higher standards than ever before. Per Salesforce’s State of the Connected Customer, over half of consumers say the crises of the past two…

A few weeks ago, the team at 1440 headed to Las Vegas for Shoptalk 2022, one of our favorite events of the year. And it certainly didn’t disappoint. The event was billed as “retail’s big reunion.” And that’s exactly what it felt like. After a long hiatus from in-person events, it was great to reconnect…

Delivering great service throughout the customer journey has always been an important way to gain a competitive edge. But lately, it’s gotten even more important, as customer expectations have never been higher.  Per Salesforce’s State of the Connected Customer, more than half of consumers say that the crises of the past couple of years have…

Engaging in authentic conversations has always been an effective way to sell across all industries.  Consider a consumer walking into a brick-and-mortar store, searching for new skincare products. They’re greeted by a sales associate, who strikes up a conversation to learn more about the consumer’s lifestyle and needs. After building rapport, the consumer trusts the…

These days, the vast majority of brands sell through a number of different channels. Taking a multichannel approach to sales ensures these brands can get their products in front of more customers in more places, and in doing so, maximize sales.  Of course, each brand’s mix of sales channels looks different. But it might include…

Think having great products is enough to guarantee success? Well, you might want to think again. According to Salesforce research, 84% of customers say the experience a company provides is just as important as its products. So if you’re looking to grow your business (aren’t all brands?), then you’ve got to make it a top…

In just a few short weeks, the 1440 team is heading to Las Vegas for Shoptalk, one of the best industry events out there. Shoptalk is billing itself as a “retail’s biggest reunion,” and we can’t wait. We’ve all gone a long time without in-person events, and we’re thrilled that our first big event of…

By now, reviews are a part of daily life for most consumers. They consult this content when shopping for new products, considering which businesses to visit, choosing a mobile app to download, and even when considering a new job – not to mention myriad other situations. In fact, our recent survey on the role of…

Over-Moderating Customer Feedback and Q&As Reduces Brand Authenticity Consumers have endless information at their fingertips when researching what products to purchase. But these days, they rely less on brand-provided messaging and marketing – and more on feedback from others like them. How do they access this feedback? Increasingly, by engaging with reviews, questions and answers…

Walking into a brick-and-mortar store and speaking with a sales or customer service associate or picking up the phone and dialing an 800 number were once the primary ways consumers communicated with brands and got pre- and post-sale service. But that’s no longer the case. Today, consumers seek out service via a variety of different…

Brands should learn how to meet consumer expectations. Why? A brand that doesn’t put the customer first in today’s landscape risks losing customers to competitors who meet their expectations. To evaluate the extent of this analysis, we executed a UGC survey with 261 brands and 522 consumers in the U.S. The objective of the survey…