Fast Company names its 'Ten most innovative retail companies'

March 15, 2011

FastCompany.com posted its list of the Ten Most Innovative Companies in Retail yesterday, with Groupon topping the list. Reasons for the honor range from…

Apple praised for its role in helping the people of Japan

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Kevin Rose, the founder of Digg and a technology angel investor, published on his blog an email he received from an Apple employee in Japan. It tells a story…

Marketing and 'the wrong hero'

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

Marketing messages must be great stories ... about the true hero.I wish I could remember the source of this elegant language for the person certainly deserves…

Google to pilot NFC POS system

by

March 14, 2011

Google Inc. is looking to test a contactless, point-of-sale system allowing consumers to pay for in-store purchases using phones equipped with near field…

IBM announces new software and consulting services for businesses to help meet consumer demands

March 14, 2011

IBM has announced new software, as well as new consulting services dedicated to the emerging category of "Smarter Commerce," which is focused on helping…

Top 100: 75. Walmart

In addition to scaling down store footprints for entry into urban markets and placing Web-enabled workstations in its aisles to attract more sophisticated…

Top 100: 74. Walgreens

In years past, Walgreens executives affectionately characterized the company’s business model as a “hedgehog” that stuck close to its core competencies of…

Meijer announces $75 million investment in Michigan and Ohio stores

March 14, 2011

Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer with supercenters in five Midwestern states, will invest more than $75 million in a major remodel project for…

Target and Best Buy change political giving policies

March 14, 2011

According to WJR.net, Target and Best Buy have amended political spending policies following controversies surrounding the 2010 election campaign.

Adidas opens women-only concept store in Korea

March 14, 2011

According to Fibre2Fashion.com, Adidas has opened its first women-specific retail store in Korea, which focuses on customer service for a more personalized and…

Honor What Customers Care About

by Jeanne Bliss — Founder, CustomerBliss

CustomInk is a $70 million T-shirt shop that prints custom T-shirts for family reunions and group and business events. Because actual people at CustomInk…

A sweet rewards program

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

I'm not a big fan of traditional loyalty programs although I do belong to multiple grocery and drugstore programs. And that's exactly why I'm not a fan. If…

AT&T offers customers location-based mobile advertising

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

Customers are concerned about charges for text ads and number of messages.

Canadian entrepreneur developing RFID for smartphones

March 13, 2011

According to NBBusinessJournal.com, a Canadian entrepreneur is developing an RFID tag for use in big-box retail stores to help customers with product…

February brings more good news for retailers

March 13, 2011

Improvements in the U.S. economy bolstered retailers’ February sales, reflecting improved consumer sentiment as it relates to spending. According to the…

Interactive displays go 'to the window, to the wall'

Inside the Kiosk: Canadian company helps retailers transform tables, walls and floors into interactive displays.

Mobile Monday: Coach Gift Finder

This special-purpose app's elegance is in how easily it helps customers find the perfect gift.

Top 100: 76. Anthropologie

Anthropologie doesn’t push a particular category of products but instead focuses on creating a sensual experience (often enhanced by French café music and…

Improving the customer experience with smart technology

The Innovation Lane concept demonstrates how a checkout process based on Microsoft technology can morph checkout lanes into an extension of loyalty and…

Interactive displays go 'to the window, to the wall'

Interactive displays can literally surround consumers, thanks to Lusens Inc., a Toronto-based company that has developed a way to deploy the technology in the…