Digital Snippets: Target, Bloomingdale’s, Nike, Dolce & Gabbana, Barneys, Yoox

Some more great stories from around the web surrounding all things fashion and digital over the past week:

 

• Supermodel Coco Rocha guest edits Target’s Tumblr, stars in ‘Making of a Cover Shot’ video (as above) [Huffington Post]

• Bloomingdale’s launches Big Brown Bag app [WWD]

• Nike marketing boss attacks ‘institutionally analogue’ businesses [Marketing Magazine]

• Dolce & Gabbana launches official YouTube channel, integrates e-commerce [FashionablyMarketing.Me]

• Barneys.com gets a new look [WWD]

• Yoox in talks to set up PPR e-commerce venture, run online sales of all Paris-based brands including Gucci [Bloomberg]

• London fashion: meet 5 startups re-shaping the industry [TNW]

• Pre-ordering designer clothes: how to shop ahead of curve [The Independent]

• Commerce that’s curated just for you [BoF]

• Clothes Horse is blazing the trail for the future of clothing that fits [TNW]

Digital snippets: Google+, Yoox, Victoria Beckham, Cartier, DKNY, M&S, Groupon

Some more great stories from around the web surrounding all things fashion and digital over the past week:

• Google+ launches brand pages, Burberry, Macy’s and H&M first of fashion industry involved [Google Blog]

• Profile: Federico Marchetti, founder of Yoox Group [Financial Review]

• Victoria Beckham partners with Net-a-Porter to launch exclusive capsule dress collection (as pictured) [Vogue.co.uk]

• Cartier gets digital [WWD] 

• DKNY moves “Notes On A City” to Tumblr, expands brand content [FashionablyMarketing.Me]

• M&S adds social component to online video channel to push new Christmas TV ad [New Media Age]

• Groupon valued at nearly $13bn after IPO [Brand Republic]

• Amazon’s Endless.com launch iPhone app [Techcrunch]

The Corner’s China launch to partner with FedEx for luxury standby service

With the increasing integration of luxury and e-commerce, an ever-present hot topic is customer service. How best can upmarket designers replicate what they offer in-store in the online space?

It was interesting to read a piece on The Wall Street Journal recently therefore (A wish of e-shoppers everywhere, now in China), about the forthcoming launch of Yoox Group’s The Corner in China, and its collaboration with FedEx.

When shoppers get a delivery from thecorner.com.cn, the deal means the courier will actually wait on the doorstep for them while they look at their purchases, try them on and decide whether to keep them. Now that’s service.

The aim is to appeal to China’s high-end consumers and draw more of their luxury spending online. In case you weren’t already aware of the power of China spending, it might be worth noting it is estimated the country will account for 20% of the expected $547bn worth of luxury purchases by 2020, according to investment research group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.

Attracting this booming market is now about doing more than just opening a store. As the Chinese consumer has become more sophisticated so have their expectations, meaning special perks and exceptional service do hold value.

“China’s luxury buyers started decades later than the rest of the world, but in many ways, they are not only catching up but are surpassing the others,” said Federico Marchetti, founder and CEO of Yoox.

The site will also offer a 24-hour call centre, and fashion advisers accessible via instant messenger who can answer questions on fabric, quality, style and sizing.

Interestingly, if the standby service with FedEx is successful in China (it launches in September), Marchetti has suggested it may roll out to other countries too. Watch this space…