Retail stocks dip after Penney's poison pill

October 17, 2010

According to MarketWatch, retail stocks fell today, led by JCPenney Co., after the midpriced department-store operator adopted a poison pill shareholder rights…

NRF: September sales higher than expected heading into holidays

October 17, 2010

As retailers closed the books on the summer selling season and looked ahead to the all-important holidays, September sales gains were better than expected…

Study: Small business outlook bright; customer demand driving growth

October 17, 2010

In spite of continued concerns over the economy, small businesses' hiring plans are stable compared with the spring, with one in four planning to hire over the…

Language That Sells

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

 When creating your marketing materials...

Wish list kiosks in Toys"R"Us makes wishes easy

October 11, 2010

Toys"R"Us announced the rollout of Wish List self-service kiosks in all its stores nationwide. Once a Wish List is created either in-store or online, holiday…

Stage Stores launches self-select beauty bar concept

October 11, 2010

Stage Stores Inc. announced it is expanding its cosmetics lineup with the launch of a new Beauty Bar, an assisted, self-select concept that is available in 10…

Groupon responds: 95 percent of merchants would do it again

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The deep-discount deal-of-the-day site says most retailers are thrilled with the results it delivers.

Coinstar, and redbox, still got plenty of action, drama, laughs to give

October 10, 2010

The stock of Coinstar is strong this year due to its mighty redbox DVD-rental kiosk, according to an Associated Press story that ran in the Boston Herald. As…

Opinion: Customers want relationships, not low prices

Retailers need to solve the customer's problem, but also deliver satisfaction on an emotional level.

This Year, Let the Grown-Ups Have a Holiday

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Good news for retailers: Children may find actual brand-name toys – not recession-age oranges, IOUs or dollar-store coloring books – in their stockings this…

Retailers combine digital signage, kiosks to create flagship store within a store

Attention-grabbing signs and self-service kiosks help build a destination for passersby and in-store shoppers.

Tesco to expand scan-as-you-shop program

October 7, 2010

Brand Republic reports that U.K. retail juggernaut Tesco is expanding its test of scan-as-you-shop devices, a test that has been in place at a Romford store…

Six marketing lessons from Sir Richard Branson

Customer engagement, tapping free publicity among the tips shared by the business luminary.

Global self-checkout market grew 23% in 2009: Study

October 6, 2010

Research firm RBR reported that the number of installed self-checkout (SCO) terminals worldwide totaled 111,400 at the end of last year, a 23 percent rise from…

NRF forecasts holiday sales increase of 2.3 percent

October 5, 2010

After a disastrous 2008 and a ho-hum 2009, this year's holiday season isn't expected to deliver retailers a lump of coal. Retail sales are predicted to…

Report: Black Friday shopping losing its appeal

Conversely, the popularity of online shopping continues to grow.

LIFT unveils suggestive selling tech for c-stores

October 5, 2010

LIFT Retail Marketing Technology announced the launch of its LIFT Station platform, an integrated suggestive selling point-of-sale technology for convenience…

Macy's New York adds 'magic mirror' experience

October 4, 2010

LBi, an independent digital marketing and technology agency, has relaunched, revamped, and reinvented its social retailing platform. In partnership with Macy's…

Discounting in Off Season?

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

Good strategy?

Yes Virginia, Retail Holiday Sales Will Suck... Again!

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Wherever you look from now until the first week of January, there will be one consistent message: retail holiday sales will suck. That's because the evidence…