The best of Cross-Atlantic Insight 2011

As we reach the end of 2011, it’s time to reflect on the biggest stories of the year. Here, we’ve compiled our top 11 articles with an international angle as featured in the Cross-Atlantic Insight newsletter. Measured by click-throughs, the following are the most popular articles with newsletter subscribers during 2011.

1. Compare and contrast: Clarks
In a nutshell—in 2010, Clarks Shoes grew 28 percent largely thanks to its overseas business. Here we take a look at how its international websites compare with its UK offering.

2. Small businesses fight changes to EU Directive
In a nutshell—proposed amendments to the EU Consumer Rights Directive could have a significant impact on UK businesses if approved and will see some companies forced out of business, say its critics. Examining reactions to the proposed changes.

3. Targeting the Nordics? Consider this first
In a nutshell—with a mature ecommerce market, efficient postal system, and a good availability of prospecting data, Scandinavia presents an attractive opportunity for catalogue and online retailers, but there are several other points to consider first.

4. EU Consumer Rights Directive update
In a nutshell—the EU abandons plans to force retailers to sell into all countries within the EU and offer free returns

5. Compare and contrast: Best Buy
In a nutshell—Best Buy UK’s troubles have been well documented, can a review of the website shed light why Best Buy hasn’t translated well across the Atlantic? 

6. International study indicates huge potential for mobile retail
In a nutshell—a new ForeSee report on mobile shopping shows that UK consumers are willing to shop by mobile and are closing the gap on their US counterparts.

7. European online sales overtake the US
In a nutshell—European online retail sales now exceed those in the US, according to a new report.

8. Fighting fraud on a global scale
In a nutshell—when online retailers invite foreign customers over the threshold, they can also be putting out the welcome mat for fraudsters.

9. Expanding to the USA? Consider this first
In a nutshell—this article was still generating click-throughs in 2011, although it was originally published in October 2010 based an ECMOD presentation on international expansion.

10. Click and collect on a multinational level
In a nutshell—a best-practice guide on how to approach click and collect and how it’s done in the US and Europe

11. Catalogues drive international sales for Next
In a nutshell—having tried a combination of online and email marketing to recruit overseas customers with lacklustre results, Next finds catalogues to be the most effective method of customer acquisition.

If you’re considering international expansion or if already involved in overseas markets, Cross-Atlantic Insight is essential reading. To receive the free Cross-Atlantic Insight enewsletter every other Tuesday, visit www.catalog-biz.com/newsletters.asp.