Think Customers: The 1to1 Blog

According to Big Research and Shop.org, holiday shoppers looking for bargains aren't likely to be disappointed today Cyber Monday. Nearly nine in ten (87.1%) retailers will have a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from 83.7 percent last year and 72.2 percent in 2007. The most popular promotions are expected to be specific deals (42.9%), one-day sales (32.9%), and free shipping on all purchases (15.7%). Half of retailers (50.0%) will distribute promotions and deals to shoppers through a special Cyber Monday email.*

So with so many online retailers chasing the same customers with similar deals, so companies are taking a different approach. Take Amazon.com, for example. Sure, it has lots of deals today. But one unique service is its "Frustration Free Packaging" Option on toys, electronics, video games, home and garden items, among others. The program is designed to reduce "wrap rage." Amazon re-packages items in recyclable boxes that are easy to open and free of excess materials such as hard plastic clamshell cases, plastic bindings, and wire ties.

And as Mila D'Antonio wrote in a recent blog post, more companies are using live chat to help customers with their online purchases more effectively. Online beauty retailer e.l.f.com, for example, has two dedicated professional beauty consultants on hand to chat with customers who have questions before making a purchase.

It's these types of customer service offerings that will truly make an online retailer stand out during the holidays and beyond. Do you know of other sites with unique or successful customer service strategies? I'd love to hear it.

Happy Holidays, and Happy Shopping! I'm a medium if you'd like to get me anything...