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.

PCI compliance dominates talk at NACStech

by David Drain

Data security is on the minds of retailers, and one of the themes of this year's show was "making scary go away."

Loyalty segmentation needs to extend into the store

When front-line employees are left out of the loyalty process, points programs miss the point.

Five underutilized features of the modern POS

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Today's point-of-sale systems are sophisticated business tools, but many retailers are still using them as glorified cash registers.

RetailWire Discussion: Most loyal customers aren't profitable

A recent Harvard Business Journal article suggests that few customers are profitable — and of the ones that are, most are not loyal.

Three specialty stores that stand out from the pack

When times are tight, experience counts more than ever. Here are three small retailers with singular in-store experiences.

Why Microsoft's Project Natal could revolutionize in-store media

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Unveiled at the E3 show this week, the user recognition and tracking device could have a major impact on how shoppers interact with displays.

Commentary: Online retail over-analyzed, 'stripped of all brand soul'

A brand consultant argues that too much emphasis on search engine optimization has diminished the online shopping experience.

Witron system aims to fully automate shelf replenishment

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The experimental SRS concept could eliminate empty shelves and aisles full of product pallets.

Five viral marketing mistakes to avoid

There's a lot of buzz surrounding viral marketing — but retailers need to make sure to avoid these common missteps.