Tag: retail industry

Mobile commerce revolutionizing retail

| February 8, 2013

mobile commerce retailMobile commerce begins to reshape the retail industry

When mobile commerce first began showing promise in the mid 2000’s, retailers were very leery of the concept and all but shunned its existence. Much of the retail industry has been slow to warm to the notion of mobile commerce, only paying it serious attention as recently as 2010. Now, however, it has become a difficult task to find a retailer that does not support mobile commerce in some way, and this once shunned phenomenon is beginning to revolutionize the entire industry.

conScore sees major potential in smart phones

There are a vast multitude of market research studies that show that mobile technology has come to play a dominant role in the lives of consumers, especially where shopping is involved. According to comScore, a leading market research firm, smart phones are becoming the medium of choice when it comes to mobile technology, with such devices account for 63% of all mobile devices owned by consumers. These consumers are becoming increasingly interested in using their smart phones to purchase products.

Amazon establishes leadership in mobile commerce due to early adoption

Companies that adopted a strong focus on the mobile space early on have become very powerful in the realm of mobile commerce today. Amazon, for instance, is currently one of the leading powers in the mobile commerce and e-commerce worlds. Amazon’s site registers more than 5 million unique visits every day, the majority of which are also tied to purchases made from a mobile device. comScore notes that mobile search has also come to play a major role in the evolution of the retail industry and its reach to consumers, especially as more people use their mobile devices to browse the Internet.

Mobile devices represent promising opportunities for retailers

According to comScore, an average of 5.7 million smart phone users made online purchases between May and July of 2012. Approximately 13% of these consumers made purchases greater than $250, while the major spent well more than $40 on products they were interested in. eBay is another company that has seen the evolution of the retail industry through mobile commerce, claiming that mobile devices are the equivalent to consumers carrying an entire department store with them wherever they go. According to eBay, these consumers check their mobile devices approximately 40 times a day, giving retailers 40 unique opportunities to engage these consumers on a daily basis.

Mobile games may hurt the retail sector

| February 5, 2013

Mobile games create problems for game retailersMobile games have found success, perhaps at the expense of retailers

There can be no denying the utter success that mobile games have seen in recent years. The game industry has begun to shift to be more accommodating of mobile consumers, while many developers have made a name for themselves through an exclusive focus on mobile games. Even developers that have traditionally clung to console games have begun entering into the mobile space. While mobile games have solidified the success for many in the game industry, it may take a disastrous toll on the retail sector.

Analysis suggests that game retailers may face uncertain future

Games are not the only things that are changing in the game industry; the way people get their games is evolving as well. In the past, consumers would have to visit physical stores to pick up games that they had been looking forward to. With the advent of mobile technology, and an increasing focus on Internet business, these stores are beginning to see less traffic. With mobile games pushing to dominate the game industry, these stores may actually see closure, according to 24/7 Wall St., a market analysis and news group.

Gamestop experiences turbulence in game market

Gamestop, a U.S.-based game retailer, may fall victim to the success of mobile games and the changing game industry landscape. For several years, Gamestop has sold games to avid consumers and boasts of more than 4,400 stores throughout the U.S. The company has done very well in solidifying its position in the game industry through its various partnerships with game developers. Despite these partnerships, however, the retailer has been seeing less in-store traffic, though its Internet traffic has increased significantly over the past several years.

Retailer expected to close 500 stores in the future

In November of 2012, Gamestop announced that it would be closing 200 of its stores in 2013. Mobile games were cited as part of the reason behind the closing of these stores. The retailer is projected to close an additional 500 stores in  the coming years due to the impact of mobile games and other elements within the game industry. The company’s gross profit for the third quarter of 2012 show that its three core product segments have been hit hard. These segments are new hardware, new software, and used products.