Top 100: 10. The future of the shopping mall

Once the Mecca of the shopping experience, the shopping mall has lost its prominence as both a cultural force and a practical necessity. In October of 2008…

Six best practices for managing local retail search results

Inaccuracies in listings across multiple local search platforms can result in a significant brand identity crisis.

Toys R Us unveils prepaid shopping card as layaway alternative

June 15, 2010

Recent financial hard times have led to resurgence in the use of layaway at retail, but Toys R Us is taking the concept one step further. According to a press…

Sears launches online platform for Blue Crew

June 15, 2010

Sears is taking its Blue Crew, "the trusted experts at Sears who help in-store customers get exactly what they need," onto the Internet.According to a press…

Excerpt: The Retail Doctor's Guide to Growing Your Business

How understanding the four types of retail employees can help you improve customer service.

Redbox to get Paramount DVDs on day of release

June 15, 2010

According to Andrew Stewart of Variety, Paramount Home Entertainment and redbox have announced a joint licensing agreement that will make Paramount titles…

Blockbuster competitor tests game kiosks

June 15, 2010

While NCR. Corp. and Blockbuster have been battling for inroads against redbox in Texas, the industry-leading DVD rentor is adding video games to its machines…

Q&A: CIT's Burt Feinberg

A leading provider of asset-based credit to retailers talks about the economic downturn and the months ahead for retail.

Top 100: 11. Zappos

"At Zappos.com, Customer Service Is Everything. In Fact, It’s The Entire Company."Known primarily as an online shoe retailer, Zappos clearly has its heart in…

Target executive to talk interactive multichannel at retail summit

June 15, 2010

The Art of Waiting

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

When Apple Computer announced the Apple Store, more than one industry pundit predicted the project’s demise. "Apple is a technology company," they said. "They…

Does Starbucks’ new free Wi-Fi offer really raise the loyalty bar?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

No one who loves Starbucks doesn’t love the fact that they’re now offering free Wi-Fi in its over 6500 locations, right?  My question is: How much will this…

AT&T deploys info kiosk in new store

June 14, 2010

According to stltoday.com, AT&T's new 5,900-square-feet store in Brentwood, Mo., will feature a new guided selling kiosk, which includes a rate-plan…

Why Your Best Managers Have To Drink

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Driver personalities are the natural leaders.  When they are second-guessed, their motives and methods questioned and they are not allowed to shine, or made to…

Flying Blind

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

Hannaford's new website offers shopping list, product recall info

June 10, 2010

Hannaford Supermarkets, which operates more than 170 stores in the northeast, has rolled out a new website that not only includes an interactive shopping list…

The Hershey Experience lets shoppers create their own candy bar

June 10, 2010

The Hershey Co. and Hershey's Chocolate World attraction have announced the grand opening of their newest experience, Hershey's Create Your Own Candy Bar, an…

Top 100: 12. Walmart

Retail giant Walmart has spent a great deal of energy recently testing smaller store formats and different branding. The chain launched a new logo and design…

After two-month shopping spree, consumers hold back in May

June 10, 2010

The spur in economic activity hit a small speed bump last month as the latest retail sales report shows evidence of a more timid shopper. According to the…

Unified Grocers selects Agilence’s POS video auditing solution

June 9, 2010

Unified Grocers, the largest retailer-owned grocery cooperative in the western United States, now recommends its retail customers consider Agilence’s POS video…