You know your brand stinks when the government adds regulations

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued new rules for the airline industry including price disclosures and cash penalties for a variety of airline…

You have got to hit the customer

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

No, not literally! Although while hitting customers would obviously be bad for business, it would give you a chance to build a relationship with Bubba the Bail…

Help the front line right the wrong

by Jeanne Bliss — Founder, CustomerBliss

Alma Rettew bought a holiday gift for a friend, and asked L.L. Bean, whom she bought it from, to get it to her friend on a specific date (the company has a…

No teller of loyalty

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Got a surprising piece of news in the mail recently from my bank. Effective July 1, it said, I will no longer be able to earn reward points on purchases made…

Foursquare and American Express

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

I think a new day may just be beginning for location-based social media. Late last week Foursquare announced a new partnership with American Express…

US Airways suing for lower prices

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

A recent Miami Herald headline - "US Airways sues Sabre over pricing." According to the article US Airways isn't the only airline, American has a suit pending…

Always Wired: Why Retailers Should Offer Free Wi-Fi In-Store

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Mobile devices are the nexis of consumer purchasing power, as they now give consumers the ability to comparison shop, purchase, and share likes/dislikes from…

The Beauty of Soft Benefits

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

You can't sell a Rolex like a Ram Truck

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

More and more brands are opening their own retail outlets in an effort to make their brand stand out. But more importantly to control their image.

Taking search right to the shelf

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

If you’ve ever searched for a product on your mobile device that you wanted to find and buy right away, you know what you mostly get back are a mix of results…

MUJI, the 'unbrand'

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

I find this recent import from Japan to be an interesting retail branding story.

Thumping the sales slump

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

Just about any store or person hits a sales slump sometime in the year. Some slumps last a day, some last a couple days, and some last an excruciating amount…

Bloomsday Breakfast at Bryant Park creates buzz for Ireland

by Laurel Tielis — Author and Professional Speaker, Laurel Tielis & Associates

NEW YORK — With all of the less-than-happy stories in the news, how do you brand a country, create community involvement, and make people happy?

When all else fails, buy your competitor?

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Is AT&T's proposed purchase of T-Mobile good strategy? Or another form of denial?

Groupons in Plastic Instead of Paper? Not so Fishy

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

How much does it cost to be rude?

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

Consumer Reports July 2011 edition tells us that "Sixty-four percent of respondents said that during the previous 12 months they had left a store because…

Are your store operations preventing sales?

by Harry Friedman

Have you ever had someone ask you the reason behind one of your policies or procedures, such as not accepting any deliveries on Tuesdays? Or, maybe you've had…

Five tips for ruining a customer's experience

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

On a recent shopping trip to the local mall, it seems like everywhere I went some small but annoying thing happened that negatively affected my experience.

Scarcity mentality: Boon or bane?

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Actually it could be either, depending upon where it exists.

Putting on the Charm: A Look at Charming Charlie

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Charming Charlie is becoming the darling of shopping malls as it expands the number of store units nationwide.  The secret of Charming Charlie’s success is its…