Soon-to-be-released SWAGG mobile gift card app adds Crocs

October 20, 2010

Mobile commerce enabler Firethorn Holdings LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., has announced that casual footwear trendsetter Crocs Inc. is the…

Gap on new logo: Never mind

The retailer quickly backpedaled on its new logo design after customer furor. Was it all just a PR stunt?

Walgreens picks Bazaarvoice for social commerce strategy

October 19, 2010

Bazaarvoice, a provider of hosted social commerce applications that drive sales, recently announced that Walgreens has selected its social commerce platform…

Wincor Nixdorf expands BEETLE/Fusion line of POS systems

October 18, 2010

Wincor Nixdorf Inc. today announced that it has expanded its BEETLE/Fusion product line of touch-based point-of-sale systems.

NRF: Economy still a downer; blue skies on the holiday horizon

October 18, 2010

Though Americans are still operating with the recession in the back of their minds and many have fundamentally changed their shopping habits, some findings…

Educating Consumers

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

 Are you stimulating consumption...

The three 'R's of loyalty

Technology is taking the realm of loyalty marketing from evolution to revolution.

Retail stocks dip after Penney's poison pill

October 17, 2010

According to MarketWatch, retail stocks fell today, led by JCPenney Co., after the midpriced department-store operator adopted a poison pill shareholder rights…

NRF: September sales higher than expected heading into holidays

October 17, 2010

As retailers closed the books on the summer selling season and looked ahead to the all-important holidays, September sales gains were better than expected…

Study: Small business outlook bright; customer demand driving growth

October 17, 2010

In spite of continued concerns over the economy, small businesses' hiring plans are stable compared with the spring, with one in four planning to hire over the…

Language That Sells

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

 When creating your marketing materials...

Wish list kiosks in Toys"R"Us makes wishes easy

October 11, 2010

Toys"R"Us announced the rollout of Wish List self-service kiosks in all its stores nationwide. Once a Wish List is created either in-store or online, holiday…

Stage Stores launches self-select beauty bar concept

October 11, 2010

Stage Stores Inc. announced it is expanding its cosmetics lineup with the launch of a new Beauty Bar, an assisted, self-select concept that is available in 10…

Groupon responds: 95 percent of merchants would do it again

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The deep-discount deal-of-the-day site says most retailers are thrilled with the results it delivers.

Coinstar, and redbox, still got plenty of action, drama, laughs to give

October 10, 2010

The stock of Coinstar is strong this year due to its mighty redbox DVD-rental kiosk, according to an Associated Press story that ran in the Boston Herald. As…

Opinion: Customers want relationships, not low prices

Retailers need to solve the customer's problem, but also deliver satisfaction on an emotional level.

This Year, Let the Grown-Ups Have a Holiday

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Good news for retailers: Children may find actual brand-name toys – not recession-age oranges, IOUs or dollar-store coloring books – in their stockings this…

Retailers combine digital signage, kiosks to create flagship store within a store

Attention-grabbing signs and self-service kiosks help build a destination for passersby and in-store shoppers.

Tesco to expand scan-as-you-shop program

October 7, 2010

Brand Republic reports that U.K. retail juggernaut Tesco is expanding its test of scan-as-you-shop devices, a test that has been in place at a Romford store…

Six marketing lessons from Sir Richard Branson

Customer engagement, tapping free publicity among the tips shared by the business luminary.