Top 100: 29. Zappo's

Zappo's rapid growth from a $70 million company to a $1 billion business was built on its exemplary customer service policy that includes free shipping for all…

Retailers turning to tech-enabled touch points

July 14, 2011

Seventy percent of retailers are empowering their employees with technology-enabled touch points — including digital signage and self-service kiosks — to help…

3-D DOOH network to launch new 3-D smartphone in UK

July 14, 2011

Inition, a 3-D production and technology specialist firm, announced today that it is rolling out what it says is "Europe's largest bespoke in-store…

Not So Pretty in Pink

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Customer experience: Southern hospitality at its finest

by Peggy Carlaw — VP, Impact Learning Systems

I live in the happiest place in America. No, it's not Disneyland, it's San Luis Obispo, California. At times, it feels like I'm in a small southern town where…

Xsilva Systems releases LightSpeed 3.5, rebrands

July 13, 2011

According to a press release, Xsilva Systems has released LightSpeed 3.5 featuring an open API that allows POS customization as well as an eCommerce connector…

Product enhancements mark Q2 for First Data

July 13, 2011

In a recent news release, First Data Corporation recapped second quarter product set introductions and upgrades that the company said would help merchants…

NRF: June retail sales mark twelve consecutive months of growth

July 13, 2011

Warm weather, lower gas costs and strong Father's Day promotions put consumers in a spending mood in June, boosting retail sales for the 12th consecutive month…

Whole Foods Market to talk store design, visual merchandising at IRDC

July 13, 2011

Whole Foods Market, VMSD magazine's 2011 Peter Glen Retailer of the Year, will get the spotlight in a special session at the 2011 International Retail Design…

Microsoft makes surprise decision to expand retail presence

July 13, 2011

A story at WindowsITPro.com reports that Microsoft will dramatically step up the pace of store openings over the next two years.

Study affirms importance of in-store technology

July 12, 2011

Retailers are turning to technology to boost customer satisfaction, productivity and multi-channel sales, according to a study co-sponsored by HP and RSR…

Walmart gas discounts: Will they change the fuel incentive landscape?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

That value isn’t necessarily derived from lower prices — though, of course, price is a strong loyalty motivator for consumers. As a giant retail leader that…

Making your retail business social in 2012

by Lynn Switanowski — President, Creative Business Consulting Group

People around the world are using social media for many reasons. They are meeting long lost relatives or high school classmates on social media sites…

Stop marketing already!

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

We live in an age George Jetson would consider futuristic (sans the flying cars, of course). We have pushbutton everything. Pushbotton marketing, pushbutton…

Connect with charities to brand and build your business

by Laurel Tielis — Author and Professional Speaker, Laurel Tielis & Associates

Whether it's in your business or your personal life, you can't have too many friends. A great way for all businesses to create friendships is by teaming up…

Pepsi Throwback

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

The cola wars are undoubtedly one of the most fascinating categories to watch in marketing - probably ever since the '80s.

NCR gobbles up Radiant Systems

July 11, 2011

NCR Corp. and Radiant Systems Inc. today announced a definitive agreement for NCR to acquire Radiant Systems, a provider of multichannel point-of-sale and…

Ten best practices for implementing mobile into retail operations

Mobile is the Internet of this decade, and devising a strategy to leverage it is a necessity.

Cash-flush retailers will spend on IT

July 11, 2011

Retailers have extra cash and nearly half of the top 100 plan to lay out some of it on technology, a Reuters news story reports.

Rosetta Stone launches 'experience store' concept

July 11, 2011

A Business Wire story at MarketWatch.com reports that Rosetta Stone has opened two new concept stores in West Hollywood, Calif., and McLean, Va. Both stores…