How entrepreneurial employees boost profit, customer service during holiday season

For national chains a drive toward community presents the opportunity for front-line employees and local store managers to drive sales and profits. However, to…

5 rules for a retail town square: What Apple, Whole Foods Can Teach Us

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Here's a potential formula for retail of the future: One Apple squared equals a community experience minus the traditional sales space.

Predictions for retail, payments, and mobile in 2017

From mobile wallets to on-demand apps, and consumer demand for a more personalized and interactive shopping experience, merchants big and small are facing a…

Horseshoes, hand grenades and location data?

Gil Larsen, VP of the Americas at Blis, says retailers either win or don't - unless you're playing horse shoes or chucking hand grenades, neither of which many…

5 critical traits to be a future-focused retailer

Bill Chidley, a partner at ChangeUp, offers up the five critical traits required to be a future-focused retailer.

Consider a 'beyond digital' approach to power omnichannel experience

A successfully digitally transformed organization delivers superior digital experience around products and services. That, in turn, creates value and…

With omnichannel the devil is in the data

Retailers (and their suppliers) must leverage the omnichannel network to stay relevant and harness these rich cross-channel opportunities.

Black Friday: Gimmick, gone or more relevant than ever?

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Is Black Friday relevant, needed, necessary, or even a valuable marketing opportunity, or has it become a gimmick in the retailer's quest to grab consumers…

How technology can enhance the customer in-store experience

Rather than being a threat, technology can in fact significantly enhance the customer in-store experience.

Cyber weekend: A global opportunity for retailers

Cyber weekend – this year spanning Thursday, Nov. 24 to Monday, Nov. 28 – has clearly now become a global opportunity for online retailers.

Why 30 retailers are asking consumers to self-personalize the shopping experience this holiday

Personalization has long been touted as the Holy Grail for improved customer experience at retail.

Autumn comforts: Discovering your shoppers' comfort zone

Along with the falling leaves and cooler temperatures comes the desire for comfort. So, in this season of comfort, how can we ensure that the feeling…

7 critical questions traditional retailer metrics can't answer

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Traditional metrics of sales and share are not enough for omnichannel.

Redefining the customer reward strategy

Reward programs have been around since 1793, but it would be a mistake to believe we as businesses and marketers have mastered the concept.

1 of the greatest misses in omnichannel retailing

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

If retailers want to engage, they need more than products, pics and price.

5 tips for choosing a mobile POS

Shift4 systems architect Jeremy Fried outlines five key criteria for selecting the best mPOS system.

5 ways to optimize customer experience in store and online

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Consumers want online to be more like stores … and vice versa.

4 tips for crafting a valuable SMS marketing campaign

When building the SMS marketing list remember the old saw, patience is a virtue. Focus on building good relationships with a wide network of clients and…

3 ways retailers plan to protect customer data

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Requirements to install chip card technology in the U.S. has forced retailers to bone up on risk management in 2016, and they will continue to do so in 2017.

Cognitive computing: IBM's 'secret weapon' in transforming experience

Retailers already know they must embrace cognitive computing to better engage with shoppers, differentiate their offerings and adopt a culture of innovation.