Mobile Orders Take Over Black Friday 2019

Every year around the time of Thanksgiving, many individuals go out of their way to shop for special deals and sales many retail store offer. This year is no different. Through the use of social media and mobile apps, many customers were able to gather up their shopping carts without having to leave there homes.

Throughout the years, consumers were able to shop in-stores for their products. However, with the recent shifts in technology and mobile apps, consumers were able to gather and buy more products than ever before. Orders made over mobile apps and online purchases had an increase of 35% on Black Friday .

More online orders were made over a mobile device rather than a desktop. Overall, smartphones alone accumulated over $2.9 billion in profits. Throughout the weekend, mobile orders continued to take over sales. Adobe Digital Insights, Taylor Schreiner claimed, "Even when shopper went to stores, they were now buying nearly 41% more online purchases before going to the store to pick up."

With this trend, people are more than willing to jump to their phones to make an online purchase instead of waiting in line for their orders.

Stores with online pick up services even made a come up with this past weekend's sales event.The NPD Group's Holiday Purchase Intentions Survey claims that one out of five online purchase were picked up in stores.

According to Marshal Cohen, the NPD chief industry advisor states, the adoption of mobile shopping can lead consumers to the the store where most impulse spending happens. This demonstrates the importance of retail approach in keeping up with today's retail environment, especially during competitive holiday shopping season."

The majority of retail stores over the weekend held promotions averaging between 37-47%. The top sellers this year were kitchen wares/appliances, accessories, and clothing. With this report, researchers can distinguish that consumers are wiling to invest into their homes and themselves.

Retailers that are able to reach their consumers through a wide range of offers and assortment, along with the use of online presence can make a big impact for their sales.

This past weekend has brought a lot of online commerce for both store and the consumers. Even with this statement, the overall profits and sales just barely reached it's estimated goals.

Music Options on Facebook Widens its Reach in Europe

Facebook has introduced their music options to seven more countries in the European region. This option allows users to become more interactive with the media platform. The music option on Facebook allows users to play music of their preference on their profile page, however the music has to be clicked on.The music is pinned under the user's profile name and the clip containing the song will play.

Example of the new Facebook feature on a users profile page. (photo credit:https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/24/18018572/facebook-music-profile-stories-lip-sync-live-lyrics)

Not only does this new feature stick on your profile page, but users can also use this feature to play on their stories. A story on Facebook is a user-generated feature that allows users to play photos or clips for a short amount of time. On this feature, filters and lens can be used to make the users become more interactive.

Facebook announced

The seven countries that will partake in the music feature will be, The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Romania, and Slovakia. With this, Facebook has allowed over 30 countries to partake in this feature.

For the last few years Facebook has been working hard when it comes to achieving their goals of allowing users to use music on their social media pages and features. Due to wanting no copyright infringement, Facebook has been working with music recording labels to allow their users to use their songs.

A photograph of the countries that make up the European continent. (photo credit: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/06/05/malta-leads-the-way-for-gay-and-transgender-rights-in-europe)

Instagram, which is a social media platform Facebook bought back in 2012, is also contributing the music option to their features as well. " Instagram stories question stickers also now has music", announced Facebook, " Your friends can respond to your questions sticker with a song from the music library and share your favorites to your stories".

On the Instagram platform, when users post on their stories with their choice of music, there is a feature that allows users to have a visual effect of the beat of their music from the sound of their music.With allowing the music feature to become more usable on both Facebook and Instagram, these two platforms can gain more user engagements.

Instagram showing their music feature for users to use in their stories (Photo credit: https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/28/17513188/instagram-stories-music-licensed-soundtracks-new-feature-daily-users)

Facebook states," Just take a photo or video from your Facebook camera or camera roll and tap on the sticker icon and select the music sticker." You can choose any part of the song to play. The expected rise in user interaction is one of Facebook's focuses, especially with their story feature which is gaining popularity on both media platforms.

source:https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-expands-its-music-options-into-seven-new-regions/565263/

Communications Department Showcases Multimedia Show

A crowd of people watching one of the many videos produced by the students. (Photo: Jessica Farley)

It's that time of year again for Communications students to show off their hard work with the Multimedia student showcase on April 25, 2018. The showcase will present the best works from students from all over the communications department. The showcase will open its doors at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday night at the Milton Theater.

A short video about the Multimedia showcase. (Video: Aurorah Gayle)

The Communications Department Chairman and organizer, Rob Rector started the Multimedia showcase a few years ago for the students to help them see the excellent work they’ve done and show them to potential employers.

“I think it’s important for a few reasons.” Said Rob Rector. “I think it’s an important goal for students to work towards. It’s a good way to wrap up a semester, to show all the hard work and effort that our students have put out throughout the year and share it with the public.”

The showcase features videography, photography, graphic designs,podcasts and students reading their creative writings. The showcase will only feature the best projects that students have created all year.

A gallery of some of the photography students work. (Photo: Jessica Farley)

“It’s to highlight the best of the best. There’s no event to give out participation medals.” Said Rector. “It’s more for students who really want it. It an opportunity to show the community just how good our students are.

The Multimedia showcase will also feature a live stream of the event from YouTube.com.The live-stream of the event features prerecorded and live interviews of the participants.

Willie Brown, a Communications Intern and co-host for the event describes some of the jobs he had to take on to make sure the showcase is as successful as possible.

“My internship has been to help get the showcase put together.” Said Willie. “Whether that’s making a promo video, I’ve shot quite a few vignettes segments to fit in the showcase somehow.”

One of the promo videos created for the showcase. (Video: Willie Brown)

Willie will also have some of his creative works featured into the showcase, along with his follow classmates.

Educational Lab Specialist, Chelsea Wootten, who also helped to organize the event talks about her favorite part about the Multimedia showcase.

“My favorite part of the showcase is seeing everyone come together and see each other’s work.” Said Chelsea. “It’s a really stressful time, but the night of it’s either you go big or go home and no matter what happens at the end of the night, we’ve all gotten to hang out and see all of our work come together.”

With every year, the Multimedia showcase seems to be gaining more popularity among the public. Senators, school officials, and even potential employers attend the showcase.

After presenting their projects, many students are offered internships to positions related to their field of interest.

"It's a chance for the students to feel like rock stars," said Rector.