Survey shows effectiveness of in-store cosmetics demos

April 21, 2009

GOLDENROD, Fla. — Cosmetic Promotions, a national marketing and promotion company, completed a six-month customer response survey on in-store demonstrations.

Zenhire, Associates Interactive offer pre-hire training tool

April 21, 2009

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Retail training firm Associates Interactive has announced that it will develop customized training programs for Zenhire Inc., a provider of…

Tesco plans next-gen loyalty program

April 21, 2009

Marketing Week: Supermarket giant Tesco intends to create a next-generation loyalty scheme as a powerful weapon in its fight to prevent rivals eroding its…

NCR buys DVD kiosk operator TNR

April 21, 2009

Home Media Magazine: NCR Corp. has bought the remaining equity in TNR Holdings Corp., which operates The New Release and MovieCube kiosks. NCR had been a…

J.C. Penney rolling out 'smart fixture' kiosks

April 21, 2009

The Dallas Morning News: Penney is melding its online and in-store presence with something it calls a "smart fixture," a device which hasn't been given a…

Live chat drives sales, satisfaction — but only when executed honestly

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Web retailers that offer live text-chat assistance can increase conversion and generate word-of-mouth, but poor or dishonest execution can spell disaster.

Study: Shoppers trading down, changing shopping patterns

April 19, 2009

Progressive Grocer: The recession and related consumer financial concerns are driving dramatic change in shopping and eating behavior. Recent Retail Forward…

Office Depot offering free resumes, faxing

April 19, 2009

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced it is offering customers free copies of their resumes and free faxing from April 19 to May 30, 2009.

Opinion: Loyalty is more than points programs

Building a perfect loyalty program requires a delicate balance between reward and customer effort — and online retailers are leading the way.

Virtual shopping trips yield real results

April 16, 2009

Brandweek: Despite the flash-in-the-pan success of virtual reality mediums like Second Life, marketers are flocking to VR—for research purposes. Computerized…

Denver retailer is half gallery, half store

April 15, 2009

The Denver Post: Part gallery and part retail shop, Composition offers what owner Jennifer Roberts calls "curated rotational retail." The themed shopping…

Mother's Day spending dips, but 'moms will understand'

April 15, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It's not easy having the hardest job in the world, but mom will likely understand the reasoning behind smaller, less expensive gifts for…

Gamefly debuts video game rental kiosks

April 15, 2009

The Daily Toreador (Texas Tech Univ.): GameFly, an online video game rental service, recently launched its G-Box Kiosk, the first of its kind at colleges and…

Luxury vending machine sells Bentley convertibles, condos

April 14, 2009

Chicago Tribune: In the market for a Bentley sports car, a Jean Paul Gaultier dress or a cell phone, but don't feel like dealing with a pesky salesperson?

Gift cards a bright spot for retailers

April 14, 2009

Progressive Grocer: Shopping survey experts National Research Network (NRN) and leading consumer anthropologists The Hartman Group have announced data results…

Webinar: Behind the fall of a retail giant: Seven things every retailer can learn from the collapse of Circuit City

The recent collapse of once-great electronics retailer Circuit City sent shockwaves through retail – but to many, it wasn't entirely a shock. Two former…

NRF: March retail sales disappoint as retailers wrap up first quarter

April 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Several months of stronger-than-expected retail sales provided hope that the industry was poised to bounce back, but March retail sales…

Microsoft's Retail Experience Center: It's all about connectedness

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The Redmond giant's retail test lab focuses on connecting all the moving parts of a retail enterprise, right down to the customer level.

Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren to speak at Shop.org Annual Summit

April 12, 2009

WASHINGTON D.C. — Shop.org announced today the addition of Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and chief executive of Macy's Inc., to its list of Annual…

Handheld scanners boost sales by 10 percent

April 12, 2009

The Hartford Courant: Stop & Shop has deployed new hand-held scanners in several of its Connecticut stores. The purple devices allow customers to keep a…