Skip the obnoxious sales people. Avoid the risk of being caught "planning" by a friend or close family member at your local shopping mall.

Ocappi, a new online jewelry store, allows people to shop for and try on their dream engagement rings in the privacy of their own home, free of charge and hassle. Much like the Warby Parker business model, there is no obligation to purchase and free shipping both ways. 

Their "One&Only Try-On Service" allows the consumer to add up to six replica rings (set with cubic zirconium stones) to their order and check out at no charge. The six replica rings will then be shipped directly to the consumer, allowing five days to try on and play dress up with. There is a pre-paid return label included in the package to send them back, at no cost. Discrete, convenient and free.

It will be interesting to see if Ocappi can successfully shift the typical jewelry shopping experience using this e-commerce model of no-hassle trial and convenience.

What more could a possible-bride-to-be ask for when making what could be one of the most important jewelry purchases of her life?

---via PSFK.

In an effort to increase in-store traffic, drive sales and connect parents with their inner child, Toys'R'Us has launched a Facebook game application that generates coupons based on user engagement. To earn rewards in the form of in-store savings, the 'ToysRUs Towers' game asks that participants create their own department store, staff it and make sure that profits continue to rise by changing out displays among other tasks. Much like the ever-popular Farmville, the experience when playing is effortless, allowing parents easy access to savings and kids' involvement as well. 

This game is interesting for a number of reasons. It's refreshing to see a kids' brand engage with parents in such a direct and amusing way, while also offering them savings and driving visits to retail locations. In a way, it's payoff for procrastination on Facebook! The game also helps users to connect more closely with the brand by immersing them in a personalized environment similar to that of Toys'R'Us locations and calling the user to take on business responsibilities. Additionally, the timing couldn't have been more perfect with the holiday season in full swing.

via PSFK

I'm guilty of doing it, my friends are guilty of doing it, and my mother is probably guilty of doing it too. I have definitely done my fair share of showrooming, or seeing products at retail stores and then purchasing it for a better price online.

With holiday shopping around the corner, we're all gearing up to find the best deals online or offline. Check out the infographic below for an overview of the trend.  According to Aprimo, one of the best ways for brick and mortar stores to keep their customer purchases in-store is to know their needs and better personalize their shopping trip.

(hat tip: Adverve)

If we had it our way the entire world would be wirelessly connected. Unfortunately, this is not yet the case. From a profit and customer satisfaction standpoint, there are many places that should be wirelessly connected.

With the increasing popularity of smart phones and mobile applications, consumers today are using smart phone as a personal shopping consultant and more. But what happens if the consumer is unable to connect to this "personal shopping consultant" while in store? Will they decide not purchase? Is this a missed opportunity for the retailer?

Interestingly enough,  a consumer survey by Deloitte found that "37 percent of shoppers who tried to use a mobile application in-store were unable to because they didn't have connectivity." There are many reasons why this is a missed opportunity. It leaves the consumer unable to search for online ratings, connect with online sales promotions, and social share any content or feedback. It also leaves the consumer unable to engage with the retailer's own mobile application while in-store. The survey also showed that "while mobile shopping increased from 43 percent to 50 percent in the past year, internet connectivity did not."

Surely it does not matter how robust your mobile application is if your customer can't access it while in store. Personally, if I'm able to research the web, leverage mobile apps, and social network while shopping; I'm likely to stay longer and buy...

There are some clear leaders in the U.S. social media space. Names like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr are well-known amongst the Internet-connected. But there is a new kid on the block that is getting popular, and fast.

Pinterest is a site that lets users save and share content that interests them from across the Web. It's what many like to call a "social bulletin board." The site's end goal is simple: connect the like-minded.

There are tons of consumers interacting on the site, the majority of which are women. In mid-December Pinterest saw 11 million visitors in one week alone. It's clear why brands like Whole Foods, Nordstrom and West Elm are getting involved.

These brands are successful in part because they adhere to the third rule of Pin Etiquette: "Avoid Self Promotion." The service is meant to be a platform where consumers (and brands) can communicate a lifestyle and interact with others that share similar interests - not a place for brands to boast about their products.

Looking forward, expect to see deeper brand integration with this platform. Brands like Time, Inc. have discussed adding "Pin It" buttons to their websites and have also expressed interest in a white-label version of the platform. More generally, expect to see an increase in brands' focus on the creation and sharing of multimedia...