Intelligent online marketing boosts purchases by 25 percent

Marketers must employ direct digital marketing strategies that demonstrate an understanding of how consumers use technology to make purchases.

How to catch male shoppers: Market to women

The men's grooming market is set to explode, and retailers can reach it more directly by marketing to women.

Private label: The prestige brands of tomorrow?

Retail expert and author Kate Newlin says the only odd thing about private label brands is that they've taken so long to win shoppers over.

Opinion: Why customer satisfaction surveys don't work

With 95 percent of our cognitive processing handled by the subconscious, how much value is there in surveys that probe the other five percent?

What the Amazon/Zappos deal means for customers

Amazon has acquired Zappos.com in a deal that exceeds $800 million. From the customer's standpoint, is this a marriage made in retail heaven?

Real-time purchases take to the skies

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A new program allows airlines to conduct catalog sales transactions while in mid-flight. But will travelers want to shop in the air?

Self-checkout and alcohol: A dangerous mix?

New research about minors, alcohol and self-checkout may prompt legislation in California.

Amazon remotely deletes Kindle books that were legitimately purchased

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

In a move fraught with irony, the online bookseller has remotely removed copies of George Orwell books from paying customers' Kindles.

E-tail clinic: The new CircuitCity.com

The electronics retail brand has been revived online by Systemax — so what is it like for customers?

Retailers can weather economy by focusing on basics

Trusted brands and an enlarged pool of skilled workers provide leverage.

Eight tips for better retail brand messaging

A New York City ad agency lays out a process to ensure retail communications reach their full potential.

Opinion: Retailers need to cut their SKUs

Increasingly, less is more. Here are some tips on shaving your product assortment down to a more manageable, profitable size.

Amazon explores private label opportunity

The online giant, like many other retailers, is looking to strike gold with the introduction of a new private label line.

Economy presents a new reality for luxury brands

The downturn has forced a paradigm shift on luxury brand marketers, who are for the first time being forced to re-think their traditional approach.

Fighting online shopping cart abandonment

While most e-commerce sites measure conversion, many do not take a structured and proactive approach to abandonment.

The five myths of customer service: What you don't know is hurting your business

A wiser approach than just pushing sales is to harness word of mouth and improve customer experience.  

Is customer experience relevant in tough economic times?

Certain trends lead to the growth in customer experience attention and investment.

Making mobile work for retail marketers

Mall operator General Growth Properties is experimenting with SMS-based communication as a way to build loyalty and drive sales.

Apple receives patent for media distribution kiosk

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Will the wireless-enabled device bring iTunes into retail shops and airports?

Happy birthday, bar codes!

Next week marks the 35th anniversary of the first retail bar code scanner, installed in an Ohio supermarket.