In your defense, February is a short month (regardless of the 29th day bonus day this year) … So here are some of the most talked about retail news stories of the month. From relevant trends in Retail and eCommerce to Valentine Day’s numbers, you will find value in catching up with these articles:

Retailers need to move to customer-centric model
That’s the conclusion of recent industry study by consulting firm The O Alliance. According to Andrea Weiss, founder of The O Alliance, “While Omni-channel was about giving shoppers a single view of a brand across all touch-points, the customer-centric model is about giving the brand a single view of the shopper, understanding who she is, what she wants and how she behaves at all times.”

Direct-to-consumer strategies might co-exist with a more traditional approach to staging runway shows
As the fashion industry continues to debate when and how to engage consumers and the advantages of direct-to-consumer fashion shows, Business of Fashion connected with industry legend, Karl Lagerfeld, backstage at Fendi’s F/W ’16 show.  His sentiment regarding the 'see now, buy now' fashion shows echoed some of the more traditional views permeating Europe's luxury fashion industry. However, Lagerfeld is not against a more immediate approach altogether, as he already creates one under-the-radar collection at Chanel that goes straight into retail stores without first being shown to press or external buyers.

Shoppers in UK And US Would Like To Rent Products From Retailers, New Industry Report Reveals
Study by shopping center operator, Westfield, ‘How We Shop Now: What’s Next?’, with leading experts and over 13,000 people across the UK and US demonstrated how emerging consumer trends will shape future stores.  The report found nearly one in five people in the UK are interested in renting from their favorite store. Overall, the study revealed that shoppers are looking to physical retailers to provide richer experiences to the consumer.

UK shoppers top online spending league: analysis
Shoppers in the UK spend more online per person than those from any other country in the world, research reveals. According to Internet World Germany, British shoppers spend an average of £1,050 a year, followed by the US, with £1,001. German shoppers came in third place, each spending an average of £915 via the internet each year.

Three Fifths Of Consumers Ready To Ditch Retailers Unable To Fulfill Their Digital Needs, Study Finds
A study revealed that digital services are central to the retail experience, with only 5% of consumers preferring to avoid Omni-channel completely. It surveyed 3,000 consumers in the US and UK identifying high digital demands and rising expectations as the defining characteristics of today’s retail experience. The research also found digitally-demanding consumers’ loyalty is eroding, as more than half of US (54%) and UK (56%) shoppers are willing to jump ship to a rival retailer if their preferred method of delivery isn’t available.

Dinner and Movie, Flowers and Jewelry Bring Valentine’s Day Spending To Record High:
The National Retail Federation estimated that Valentine’s Day resulted in total spending set to hit a record $19.7 billion. About 55 percent of Americans were expected to celebrate the holiday this year. Men were set to spend significantly more than women on their significant others. NRF estimated that men would spend $133.61 on gifts this year compared to $62.14 for women. Additionally, according to a survey by NFR, American consumers were to spend $681 million to treat their favorite pets to Valentine’s Day delights.

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