Overstock launches private sale site Eziba

August 23, 2010

Overstock.com Inc. has announced the launch of Eziba.com, a private sale website. Eziba.com features exclusive deals on the latest home décor products from…

You can get most anything at a kiosk in Miami

August 23, 2010

The Miami Herald looks around South Florida and finds that automated kiosks have become pervasive with applications at movie theaters, medical centers, retail…

The psychology of retail marketing

From rounded corners to natural textures: Neurological research reveals why consumers react the way they do to the in-store experience.

Bank of America to pilot payments with mobile phones in New York

Participants will use their BlackBerrys and iPhones to pay for purchases at merchants who accept contactless payments.

Pricing: An Added Convenience?

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

Real World Inventory

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Nordstrom made a splash in the news this week with the announcement of offering real-time in-store inventory on the web.  In some ways, Nordstrom is ahead of…

Whole Foods unveils wellness app

August 22, 2010

Whole Foods Market has announced its Missions App is available on the App store. As a part of the company's ongoing mission to promote wellness and encourage…

Nordstrom Integrates Social Media on New Web Site

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

Nordstrom's new website is killer. It blends the best of efficiency and design in one site that's easy to use, feels great, and keeps the customer focused on…

Visa, B of A testing cell phone payments

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 19, 2010

Reuters reports that Bank of America and Visa have entered a partnership to begin testing a plan that will allow shoppers to make payments with their smart…

Choo-Choo! Shoppers May be Trading Up

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Chin-up, glossy-floored department stores. U.S. retailers may be experiencing a reversal of fortune, if a couple of recent earnings reports are an indication.

Survey: 43 percent of customers rely on shopping lists

August 18, 2010

A shopper experience study currently underway by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C Research revealed that 43 percent of general market shoppers always rely on a…

Average family has completed more school shopping compared to same time last year

August 18, 2010

Consumers got a jump start on their back-to-school and college shopping this summer as extreme temperatures drove them into stores and out of the pool…

Smartphones look to replace plastic as payment

Several wireless carriers are testing a system that allows consumers to pay for purchases with a wave of their smartphones.

Empowering store operations with analytics and business intelligence

Retailers can exploit BI, coupled with smart phone technology, to help store ops do its job.

We get a kick out of mobile loyalty

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

It’s gotten big buzz thanks to a new partnership with Best Buy, and the New York Times has already shown an appetite for this app, but here at COLLOQUY we…

Best Buy Geek Squad

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

If customer service is part of your brand proposition, then I've got a little "best in class" to share with you, IMHO.

Report: 15 percent of consumers use mobile to make purchases

August 17, 2010

Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc. company, and Demandware Inc., a provider of on-demand ecommerce, have announced the findings of a new retail study…

Public Media Works placing 7,000 DVD, game rental kiosks in c-stores

August 17, 2010

Sausalito, Calif.-based Public Media Works, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, EntertainmentXpress Inc., announced today an agreement with Modular…

Best Retail Customer Experiences 2010 winners announced

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

More than 1,000 consumers voted on the best retail experiences in eight segments and across multiple attributes.

Children's retailer Magic Beans adds mobile self-checkout

August 16, 2010

AisleBuyer has announced the launch of its virtual assistant and mobile self-checkout system. According to the company, AisleBuyer technology enables consumers…