Ithaca, New York-based Rosie, an e-commerce solution for independent grocers and wholesalers, has added a new merchandising capability to its online shopping experience, Collections. The new functionality allows retailers more control over the way they market products on Shop, Rosie’s new online experience launched in the fourth quarter of 2020.
By grouping related products into Collections, retailers can promote specific segments of their inventory, such as seasonal products, sale items or local specialties. Collections drive customers to new product categories specific to the retailer, allowing them to discover new products handpicked by their local independent grocer. Retailers can also do what they cannot in-store, like group perishable and non-perishable items together, creating a digital end cap.
“Collections allow us to creatively showcase our most popular products and our stores’ most unique items,” said Corry Lankford, director of e-commerce at Brookshire Brothers. “We work closely with local businesses in our community. Our customers shop with us versus the big brand store down the road because they know they can find specialty, high-quality items they can’t find elsewhere. We can now batch these products together in a ‘Support Local’ collection, to help drive traffic to the products most valuable to our store and community.”
Retailers benefit from the ability to increase sales conversions by promoting specific segments of their product inventory. It’s never been easier to nudge customers toward certain goods or put specialty items from different departments all in one place. Possible uses for a Collection include:
- Seasonal occasions;
- Meal planning and recipes;
- Vendor sponsored promotions;
- Local and specialty products; and
- Cross-department items customers might want to buy together such as ground beef, sliced cheese, ketchup and hamburger buns for a summer cookout.
“Collections gives retailers full control over the products they want to merchandise most, regardless of their department,” said Nick Nickitas, Rosie founder and CEO. “We’ve brought the custom-curated local experience online, enabling retailers to delight shoppers in the same way they can in-store, from highlighting seasonal items to encouraging discovery of new products and experiences.”
