The breakdown: Disjointed internal operations lead to disjointed customer experiences

Lauren Drexler, client director, Elicit, maps out three (fixable) hot spots where issues often surface and bleed into a negative experience for customers.

Economy boasts solid growth rate

January 31, 2018

The good news continues for the retail industry as the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the last three months of 2017.

Top Valentine's gift not something found on a shelf, reveals study

January 31, 2018

This Valentine's Day holiday will be a big one for retailers, although the top wanted, and given, gift isn't something that can be found on a shelf or a hanger.

Authenticity, change big focus points for retail start-up entrepreneurs

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

While five company founders sell everything from beauty products and pizza to retail items and ice cream, they share similar goals when it comes to delivering…

Target going a bit small on Long Island with new store

January 30, 2018

Long Island, New York, will get another small-store Target location come this fall.

Amazon pulls some children’s products after slogan backlash

January 30, 2018

A range of products featuring the slogan, "Slavery gets sh&t done," are now off the virtual shelves at Amazon following a backlash from anti-slavery…

A new era of content management, strategic collaboration

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Blogger Chris H. Petersen explains the changes relating to content and consumer behavior and expectations. Transformation from physical to digital retail has…

Walmart partners with Japan e-commerce player Rakuten

January 29, 2018

Walmart is teaming up with Rakuten, Japan’s biggest ecommerce retailer, on an online grocery effort in Japan, according to an NPR report.

Kroger, Alibaba in talks on partnership, claims report

January 29, 2018

Kroger and Alibaba are reportedly discussing a partnership, according to CNBC.

A CES lesson: Why more is not better — only better is better

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Chris Petersen explains why adding more technology does not mean consumers will come or buy.

Walmart layoffs to hit about 500 jobs

January 26, 2018

While it recently announced it was boosting its hourly wage, Walmart is slashing 400 to 500 jobs at its headquarters, according to a Fortune report.

Starbucks goes cashless at downtown Seattle store

January 26, 2018

Starbucks has gone cashless at one location in downtown Seattle as the coffee giant experiments with a growing trend among fast casual chains in the U.S.

Boxed.com may be focus of a bidding war

January 26, 2018

The Boxed.com start-up, which has been dubbed "Costco for millennials," is getting potential funding attention from some big names, including General Mills…

Why 1-800-Flowers, eBay, Cosabella are hot for AI

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Three successful and growing retailers share insight on why each is embracing artificial intelligence to drive the retail customer experience forward.

New York City Nike customer experiences rankle neighbors

January 25, 2018

The Nike store at 22 Mercer St., in New York City, is engaging with customers in a big way, but it's rubbing its neighbors the wrong way.

Toys 'R' Us shuttering 180 stores in bankruptcy strategy

January 24, 2018

About 180 Toys "R" Us stores will be closing their doors as the struggling retailer continues its reorganization strategy related to its bankruptcy in the fall…

CES 2018 reveals how retail is changing

by Jeff KAGAN — Wireless Analyst, Telecom Industry Analyst

Anyone attending CES 2018 this year couldn't but help notice the annual conference revealed one big truth, writes industry analyst Jeff Kagan. That big truth…

Consumers like self-service more than associate interaction, reveals survey

January 24, 2018

If consumers have a choice they're more likely to tap self-service technology versus interacting with a retail sales associate, according to a SOTI survey.

Diebold Nixdorf names Mark Brewer SVP, managing director for global retail

January 24, 2018

Mark S. Brewer has been named senior vice president and managing director, global retail, for Diebold Nixdorf.

Customer experience key to success, reveals survey

January 24, 2018

Retailers can do a lot of things to boost the business and bottom line, but the big key factor is delivering a robust and satisfactory customer experience.