Borders adding teen sections, taking real estate away from music/DVD departments

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 21, 2009

Borders, the second largest bookstore chain in the United States, is taking away some floor space from its music and DVD departments in order to build new…

AT&T completes makeover of 2,200 retail locations

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 20, 2009

The Apple Insider blog reports that the massive makeover of more than 2,200 AT&T U.S. retail locations is complete. The stores now offer netbooks in…

Self-checkout and alcohol: A dangerous mix?

New research about minors, alcohol and self-checkout may prompt legislation in California.

Surprise: Low-income shoppers more willing to pay a premium for sustainability

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 19, 2009

In the prevailing cliché, it is the wealthy among us who care the most about the environment; they are the ones willing to pay a premium for products and…

Report: Online retailers focusing on the checkout experience

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 16, 2009

When an online shopping experience is analyzed, most of the emphasis is usually placed on the "front end" — how the site looks to the visitor upon entrance…

Mass Connections brings real-time promotional alerts to shoppers

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 16, 2009

Mass Connections, a California-based marketing company, announced in a press release the launch of its "Consumer Alert" program, a framework that allows…

Amazon remotely deletes Kindle books that were legitimately purchased

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

In a move fraught with irony, the online bookseller has remotely removed copies of George Orwell books from paying customers' Kindles.

E-tail clinic: The new CircuitCity.com

The electronics retail brand has been revived online by Systemax — so what is it like for customers?

Microsoft's retail stores will be 'right next door' to Apple's

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 15, 2009

Buzz for branded Microsoft stores has been building since February, when the company first announced its formal intentions to open its own brick-and-mortar…

Retailers taking 'Christmas in July' more seriously this year

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 15, 2009

The concept of "Christmas in July" is more than 100 years old, but this year especially it looks like retailers are using the poor economy to suggest to…

Cub Foods adding color-coded nutrition info program

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 15, 2009

Cub Foods, a part of the Supervalu family of grocery stores, is implementing a new program designed to make it easier for shoppers to make intelligent choices…

StoreNext to offer the LaneHawk shrink-prevention system

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 14, 2009

StoreNext Retail Technologies, a division of Retalix, announced that it will distribute the LaneHawk bottom-of-basket scanning system. The company will offer…

Retailers can weather economy by focusing on basics

Trusted brands and an enlarged pool of skilled workers provide leverage.

Safeway online coupon program coming to all stores

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 13, 2009

Drug Store News reports that Safeway is expanding its couponLink program, an interesting and innovative take on online coupons.

Food Lion expanding its Hispanic stores conversion

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 12, 2009

It's been about a year since Food Lion started its experiment with stores aimed at Hispanic shoppers, and it appears to have been a success. The company…

Higher-income shoppers embracing rent-to-own stores

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 12, 2009

Here's a surprising consequence of the faltering economy: The rent-to-own segment is performing very well, bringing in new customers that likely would have…

Whole Foods named 'most humane grocer'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 9, 2009

For many consumers, the recession has changed the criteria they use to select products: Fair-trade coffee and free-range chicken can quickly move from the…

Eight tips for better retail brand messaging

A New York City ad agency lays out a process to ensure retail communications reach their full potential.

J.C. Penney takes Manhattan

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 8, 2009

A staple of Midwestern malls, retailer J.C. Penney is getting ready to open its first store in Manhattan, and it's doing so with an edgier advertising push…

New research dissects what makes a 'wow experience'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 8, 2009

A new survey from The Verde Group and the Retail Council of Canada says that most shoppers — just slightly more than 50 percent — have had a great retail…