Jeff Roster

2008 has been a very difficult year to cover the retail industry for many reasons. In this post I won’t go any further down that road. But one of the very interesting trends that took on steam this year has been to see retail embrace social media.  Don’t know what that is?  Before 2009 is over you will, trust me.  Social media is using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other Web 2.0 sites to build and maintain loyalty with their customers.  To be sure I’ve been late to this party.  I didn’t know what Facebook was 2 years ago.  My exposure came from a friend involved with mobility technologies.  He updated his Facebook page while traveling together to a concert.  Then I thought he was crazy and said as much.  This morning on my Facebook page I’ve already posted one picture and a short video, commented on a theological position of a friend and made a lame attempt at humor, all before 2PM.

My latest dive into social media has been experimenting with Twitter.  Like Facebook I didn’t get it at first. Twitter is a site that focuses on microblogging.  If you think it, you can post it in 140 characters or less. But now a whole two weeks later I really see this as a marketing tool with great potential.  Just go to Twitter and search on the term retail.  What you get back is a raw slice of emotion, the good the bad and the ugly.  Obviously at this time of year retail is on everybody’s mind.  You bump into people microblogging about their thoughts of being laid off, of the horrors of dealing with the public and of interacting with retail associates that have clearly been pushed past the brink. Occasionally people actually having a good time during the holiday season.  Fascinating stuff.

Below are a few of my favorites, with names removed.  Just think how much information is communicated in a few characters.  Yah at this point this is pretty basic stuff.  But my bet is by year end 2009 every Tier One retailer will have a social media strategy in place.  We’ll see.

• only in MN: camo Santa hats.
• I think lots of marketers have trouble understanding Twitter b/c they try to be interesting rather than try to be interested.
• We have two inches of snow and the news is acting like we already have 20″. At least it got them to quit talking about the economy.
• is off today and wondering where the day went. Probably the same place as last weekend. and lost socks?
• Today I was nice to two retail folks when nobody else was. By my math, this earns me two unspeakable cruelties for next week. Amirite?
• Just saw another BEAUTIFUL west TX sunset. About to brave Wal mart-pray for me
• Finished 1/3 of Christmas shopping this afternoon. Braving Wal-Mart later tonight for the rest. Pray for me. LOL
• God help me, I’m actually thinking of descending into retail hell the Saturday before Christmas. But if I go now, it won’t be bad, right?
• My iPod headphones have died but there is no way I’m going near any retail locations for at least a week. I’m in terrifying silence!
• one of the last four people left in a once-thriving retail headquarters office.
• Working retail during the X-mas season has made me feel like the lovechild of Ebeneezer Scrooge and the Grinch.
• Trying not to let working retail ruin my holiday spirit…it’s hard
• Eating a subway sandwich, after braving vast Wal Mart crowds in the name of motherhood, apple pie and Santa Claus. Does Santa work this hard
• Temp Store at the mall called Man Town. It’s like I was in a beer commercial.
• We now have a 8′ tall inflatable hunter complete with camo vest and shotgun in our front yard. Thank MIL and Cabelas. (sigh)
• surrounded by people saying “im in line at rei right now” into their phones
• Christmas is so close and I’m not done shopping! Running out of ideas for gifts.
• Oh good.. I work at a large retail store on the last weekend before Xmas. This will be interesting.
• Wow. Snow, fresh baked cookies, lemon cello,I finished my Christmas shopping AND Christmas movies on TV? THIS is the life.
• Done Christmas shopping!!!

Let’s all hope for and work hard towards a better 2009!

Jeff Roster

Twitter ID:  JeffPR

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Category: Retail Industry Events Retail Observations     Tags: Christmas shopping, Loyalty, retail social media, Twitter

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