The two types of retail leaders

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

What did your employees personally focus on yesterday to accelerate sales growth? Does each employee know what his or her next level of performance is?

From stock options to oranges: Whole Foods Rewards is a natural for growth

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Whole Foods is enjoying the fruits of its marketing labor these days, but its long-term success may rely more on its affinity for workers than affinity with…

Playing the JCPenney blame game

by Robert Passikoff — Consultant, Brand Keys

No, it's not a new promotion, but the latest excuse for holiday losses.

Customer service strategy: Deliver value with time

by Shep Hyken — CAO, Shepard Presentations

Your customers want you to know this: "Value my time and you value me." It's part of delivering amazing service.

Five innovative Barcelona retailers creating muy bueno customer experiences

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

When most people think of Barcelona, the first features that come to mind are its unusual architecture, rich history and Catalan cuisine. But the area is also…

Why customer service and branding are the same thing

by Andrew Sharpe — Retail Strategist, BRANDSPANK

If you aren't investing in customer service, you're omitting the most influential piece of your brand's story.

Teach, coach, and ride

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

The faster employees apply what they learn, and receive additional feedback, the faster they learn the skill and benefit from it.

Three micro-trends of the retail customer experience

by Jeannie Walters — Chief Customer Experience Investigator, 360Connext

There are several ways the retail customer experience is actually becoming smaller, and it seems to be a good thing for sales and customers.

Five ways to lose a customer

by Shep Hyken — CAO, Shepard Presentations

Customer service doesn't have to be terrible to drive shoppers away. Indifference and lukewarm attitudes are bad enough.

Is it time to draw a line in the sand for your underperformers?

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

The first time there is an issue with a retail employee, it needs to be addressed. If it happens again, you have a problem with the employee. If it continues…

Why merchants should adopt a mobile wallet strategy

by Michelle Evans — Head of Digital Consumer Research, Euromonitor

Michelle Evans, senior consumer finance analyst at Euromonitor International, states her case for why retailers need to have a way to reach consumers anytime…

Four ways to take advantage of Target Canada's loss

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

There are many things a loyalty marketing platform can resolve for a brand, but as Target recently demonstrated with its expensive failure in Canada, it cannot…

Customer service strategy: To serve and protect

by Shep Hyken — CAO, Shepard Presentations

If you strive to "serve and protect" customers by selling them what they truly need, you will earn their trust and confidence. And over time, that translates…

How Apple killed the digital wallet

Rick Oglesby, a senior research analyst for Double Diamond Payments Research, explains how Apple Pay changed the outlook for mobile payments.

Can you charge your customers for loyalty?

by Shep Hyken — CAO, Shepard Presentations

Are you so good that your customers are loyal to you even without the incentives of a loyalty program? Good enough that they would be willing to pay to belong…

Why most retail loyalty programs are failing

by Jeff Weidauer — Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Vestcom International, Inc.

In reality, most retail loyalty programs are little more evolved than a basic paper coupon.

Fueling the fire: Motivating your staff over the next week

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

Take a lesson from the 'age of rail' to keep your stores humming through this last week of holiday shopping.

How to ensure stellar customer engagement for 2015

by Jeannie Walters — Chief Customer Experience Investigator, 360Connext

Getting retail employees to engage with customers is tough. Here are four things you can do to help them succeed.

A retail marketing wish list, from wise men to golden rings

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Who knows? Someone may be watching.

How to align your loyalty program with your company's charitable works

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

It took Scrooge three ghosts and a long night to become a charitable man. For many loyalty marketers, it only requires the spirit of competition.