• If you doubt the power of social media, consider what one major retailer is doing to boost sales, gain customer loyalty, and grab attention this holiday season.

    Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving Day) is one of the most competitive and profitable shopping days for retailers each year.

    Check out what Circuit City is doing to build buzz within its retail community of consumer electronics shoppers…

    Circuit City has teamed with social media company Pluck.com to encourage social networking among consumers about the products they are shopping for this holiday season.

    CityCenter Community, a social networking destination on CircuitCity.com, has added blogs, personal consumer profiles, and photo galleries for members of the Circuit City online community.

    The idea is for shoppers to share their ratings and reviews about popular products, such as flat-panel TVs and computers, home theater systems, digital cameras, and other items.

    Circuit City hopes to monitor customer demand for key items and adjust its inventories accordingly in response to the social media-driven conversations in CityCenter.

    It’s an organic way for Circuit City to connect with its customers and encourage them to participate in the shopping experience beyond just consumer spending.

    Circuit City customers can interact directly with one another, sharing their opinions about the products and support issues. This kind of openness should lead to better and more direct customer service for Circuit City, which should lead to improved customer loyalty and more informed buying decisions.

    Is this the future of online commerce? What do you think?

    Let us know… Leave a comment on this blog and tell us how you intend to incorporate social media into your holiday shopping routine.

    How long before Santa jumps on the social media bandwagon?

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