Shorter shopping season cuts into online sales, comScore says

December 27, 2013

E-commerce spending from desktop computers is up 10 percent over a year ago, according to comScore. Shoppers spent $42.8 million during the first 52 days of…

New Burberry concept offers digitally enhanced in-store experience

December 27, 2013

Burberry has opened a new retail concept in London that uses personalized physical and digital experiences, according to Marketing magazine. The Burberry…

Retailers hope day-after sales drive post-Christmas surge

December 26, 2013

You might wonder who has any energy left to go shopping. Retailers will find out today.

Late flurry of online sales nails UPS, retailers

December 26, 2013

A number of large retailers that promised to deliver goods before Dec. 25, including Amazon, Walmart and Kohl's, missed some of their deadlines, and the finger…

What the future holds for retail iPad apps

From low-bandwidth video to eco-friendly communication, the tablet will transform retail even more than it already has.

Is digital signage enough to deliver great retail experiences?

A creative director offers three ways to do more with your in-store screens.

UK retailers could see a very green Christmas Day online

December 23, 2013

U.K. shoppers waiting till the 11th hour and 59 minutes could result in a record-breaking online Christmas Day shopping splurge, with 117 million visits to…

Three ways to improve local customer experiences during the post-holiday rush

For many retailers, the post-holiday rush can be just as challenging as the holiday shopping season.

Report says Millennials find holiday promotional 'games' deceitful and manipulative

December 20, 2013

It's an opportunity for progressive retailers to connect in a more relevant manner to a new generation of shopper. Consumer attitudes about holiday retail are…

Sports Authority goes live with shopkick

December 20, 2013

Shopkick has announced it has partnered with Sports Authority, one of the largest full-line sporting goods retailers in the United States. All shopkick users…

Study says shopper satisfaction up 23 percent since 2008

December 20, 2013

Motorola Solutions has unveiled the results of its seventh annual Holiday Shopping Study which found that overall in-store satisfaction has grown 23 percent in…

Target reports massive card data breach, as many as 40 million affected

December 19, 2013

Target released a statement this morning acknowledging that it was hit by a massive card data breach between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. According to the statement…

Report suggests that private label, national brands must work together

December 18, 2013

About one year ago, Information Resources Inc. predicted that private label in the United States had hit a proverbial glass ceiling. This prediction has proven…

Eight in 10 retailers to end standard shipping deadlines before Dec. 20

December 18, 2013

It's the final stretch for holiday shoppers, and retailers are preparing for the ultimate shipping rush that's very likely to occur in the coming days.

Marketing budgets focused on increased customer engagement in 2014

December 18, 2013

New research from StrongView shows that marketers plan to increase their budgets on activities that increase customer engagement in 2014. However, according to…

Saying no, thank you, to bad customer relations

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Consumers today are accustomed to earning points for their purchases, but coins for being courteous? How Nice.

Retailer John Lewis rolls out new in-store tech for the holidays

December 18, 2013

The upscale retailer John Lewis, which operates 43 department stores throughout the U.K., has announced three new in-store technology initiatives it is taking…

Eyeing omnichannel growth, Macy's to build major new fulfillment center

December 18, 2013

Macy's has announced it will build a major new direct-to-consumer fulfillment center near Owasso, a city in Tulsa County, Okla., to support continued sales…

Declaring that you are omni-channel does not make it so

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

You have to be living under a rock if you haven't seen the seismic shift in consumer shopping patterns. While US retailer stores did OK on Black Friday…

Amazon rumored to acquire mobile payments startup Gopago

December 17, 2013

Italian media is reporting that Amazon has moved to expand its mobile presence by acquiring the mobile payments startup Gopago. The Silicon Valley-based firm…