ShopperTrak acquires RapidBlue for in-depth analytics power

June 3, 2013

ShopperTrak, a company specializing in the analysis of retail foot traffic, announced today the acquisition of RapidBlue Solutions Oy, a European provider of…

Price-comparison app localizes data for bargain hunters

June 3, 2013

The Washington, D.C.-based startup Blue Tiger Labs launched a smartphone application aimed at helping shoppers find items for the lowest prices, at the stores…

Study finds delivery, return options key for online shoppers

June 3, 2013

Results from a new study by comScore and UPS reveal that consumers want more choices when it comes to shopping online. The UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper: A…

The problem with big data

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

What are you doing about big data? That is a question making the rounds with retailers today. Or turned around it’s, “What am I supposed to do about big data?…

How tablets and touchscreens are integral to the in-store experience

Retailers must incorporate technology that customers want in order to provide a seamless omnichannel experience.

Sears CEO highlights 'integrated retail' strategy

May 31, 2013

Sears' Chief Executive Eddie Lampert announced his plan to give the 120-year-old retail brand a facelift — and hopefully turn around its six-year sales slump.

Apple stores to offer payleven's card readers

May 30, 2013

European mobile POS provider payleven will see its chip-and-PIN reading devices sold through Apple stores. The readers will sell for approximately £99 with a…

Why retailers must excel in the 4 Cs instead of just the 4 Ps

Marketing 101 classes are being rewritten … by consumers.

Australian digital signage co intros Virtual Wardrobe to fight showrooming

May 29, 2013

Brisbane, Australia-based digital signage integrator Prendi has created a new product that it says brings the online experience that customers love so much…

Putting the 'custom' back in customer

A commentary on how to save brick-and-mortar retail with tailored in-store experiences.

What ails Carnival?

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

When we think of a carnival we think of fun and good times. Unfortunately that’s not the image that comes to mind for the cruise line's passengers. So what’s…

Changes to Microsoft's pre-owned games market could hurt retailers

May 28, 2013

According to mcvuk.com, with the upcoming launch of its new Xbox One game system, Microsoft plans to take ownership of the pre-owned game market in a way that…

Walmart to add automatic shopping lists to its mobile app

May 28, 2013

Walmart is building out the features of its mobile app, according to news from last week's CTIA Wireless event in Las Vegas. Techhive.com reported that Walmart…

High-low pricing method gets slammed in court ruling

May 24, 2013

Following a recent ruling in California's 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, retailers following a high-low pricing method (think JC Penney, Kohl's) could be in…

Target adds "Beauty Concierge" in SoCal stores

May 24, 2013

Starting today, 96 Target stores in Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif., will begin offering customers the opportunity to receive a personalized beauty…

Kroger proposal seeks to pull human trafficking from supply chain

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

A pile of honeycrisp apples in the grocery aisle isn't likely to get shoppers thinking about human trafficking, but some shareholders of Kroger Co. want it to.

More Hispanics shop via smartphone, survey finds

May 23, 2013

A recent survey by the Integer Group found that 16 percent of Hispanic shoppers are using their mobile devices to make purchases, compared to 12 percent of…

Carrefour Group implements location analytics

May 23, 2013

Technology provider Esri and its partner company Galigeo announced the implementation of an enterprise-wide marketing solution for the Carrefour Group, a…

At Best Buy, the best customer experiences come from employee buy-in

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Ask any consumer about his or her best buying experience, and you’ll hear it did not simply involve a product purchase, but an entire brand encounter. This is…

Should purchasing intent be used to alter prices?

Charging different prices to different people may be discriminatory for the same reasons "ladies' nights" have been banned in some states.