Discounting in the off season: Good strategy or slippery slope?

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

In one of my earlier blogs I dealt with the folly of discounting during peak selling season. I guess it was inevitable that I was asked, "What about the off…

Check out this Checkout: RFID-enabled kiosks deliver more than just a cool factor

Now more than ever, retailers are focusing on the customer experience at the point-of-sale in order to provide the best service possible to increasingly…

Tayloring for Everyone

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Holy pencil skirt! It looks like Ann Taylor might actually be too small for its "Julie"-cut trousers.

Netflix, Amazon, redbox don't need to lose sleep over this new competitor

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

This week, a very strange service is coming out of beta, a service that is taking on entertainment giants like Netflix and redbox with a business model that…

Giving to Tell About It

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

If a company makes a charitable donation and there aren't any news outlets to report it, does the contribution still count?I was again forced to ask this…

Apple praised for its role in helping the people of Japan

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Kevin Rose, the founder of Digg and a technology angel investor, published on his blog an email he received from an Apple employee in Japan. It tells a story…

Marketing and 'the wrong hero'

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

Marketing messages must be great stories ... about the true hero.I wish I could remember the source of this elegant language for the person certainly deserves…

Honor What Customers Care About

by Jeanne Bliss — Founder, CustomerBliss

CustomInk is a $70 million T-shirt shop that prints custom T-shirts for family reunions and group and business events. Because actual people at CustomInk…

A sweet rewards program

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

I'm not a big fan of traditional loyalty programs although I do belong to multiple grocery and drugstore programs. And that's exactly why I'm not a fan. If…

Starbucks 40th Anniversary

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

When Starbucks announced its new logo earlier this year, they said that it was just the start of something big. We got all a twitter about it, but I for one…

Online Marketing for that Sock Puppet Feeling

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

It has already been a full decade since I purchased my first holiday gifts online. In fact, in 2000 I made a point of purchasing ALL of my Christmas presents…

Why I continue to encourage higher prices

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

Even as I advocate higher prices, I understand that they will inevitably fall.In his book, The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley offers countless examples of how…

Nordstrom Privacy Policy Earns Interest

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Everyone equates Nordstrom with superior service, but the high-touch retailer is taking its attention to detail even to the bank.

Daniel Pink's Drive & The Surprising Truth About Retail

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

I finally picked up a copy of Daniel Pink's Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us due to all the press and read it cover to cover.

Have you outgrown your market?

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

When you've become the best of the best, what do you do next?I've recently begun working with a gentleman who has reached the pinnacle of his profession and…

Target and Top Chef

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

I was a big big fan of Top Chef when it first debuted, but I have to admit that I've lost interest over the seasons. No reason, really, I just don't watch that…

Unbendable Customer Experience Rule #5

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

Advertising is a tax brands without sufficient word-of-mouth support have to pay.

Simplicity as a competitive advantage

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

Simplicity is a competitive advantage. Most people overcomplicate things, and when they do they lose their effectiveness. Here are some examples I've seen and…

Groupon Earns Points in Latest Deal

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Finally, Groupon will be giving its loyal members Group-points.

Harvard Book Store simulates window-shopping online – and does it well

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Two years ago, Amazon tried something called Windowshop, an interactive Web app that aimed to make the online book-browsing experience more like the in-store…