Ashley Furniture taps VR, AR to deliver an innovative customer experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

The national brand is rolling out a consumer augmented reality app and an in-store virtual reality experience come 2017.

3 tips to engage retail customers as they wait

by Neil Rieger — Director, Creative Services, SIGNET

Waiting time in the retail world is almost inevitable. However, it's also an opportunity for businesses to engage and connect with their audience through tools…

Watch out Twitter, Instagram is big love for marketers

December 8, 2016

Next year more marketers will be tapping Instagram over Twitter and marketers' love of Facebook will continue to climb in 2017.

Security vulnerabilities, potential hack attacks demand greater attention

December 8, 2016

Hackers have more opportunity to infiltrate retailer networks, according to a SecurityScorecard report, and that means retailers need to shore up security…

UPS holiday buying report: Tech gifts a top seller

December 8, 2016

High-tech lovers shopping for gifts are using their smartphones more than ever to buy tech gadget gifts and are more active in following retailers' social…

Study: Upsell fails lead to lost retail revenue

December 7, 2016

A new SkillSurvey reports a need for better customer service and sales as the lagging 'upsell' effort is resulting in lost revenue for retailers.

Shoppers expect to spend more this holiday, exceed budgets

December 7, 2016

Retailers will be happy to hear this news: nearly 60 percent of Americans expect to exceed holiday budgets by an average of $155, an 11 percent spike over…

Branded mobile pay bodes big promise for retailers

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Check out a webinar presentation featuring an IBM expert that offers up terrific insight and knowledge regarding the branded mobile payment solution now…

Social media ROI, loyalty and the customer experience

While marketers know in their gut that social media is important as customers are clearly there and sharing, they often lack the return on investment to prove…

How entrepreneurial employees boost profit, customer service during holiday season

For national chains a drive toward community presents the opportunity for front-line employees and local store managers to drive sales and profits. However, to…

Amazon Go promises no checkout, no lines, no waiting

December 6, 2016

Come 2017 Amazon aims to debut a no-waiting, no-line, no-checkout grocery store experience, called 'Just Walk Out', at its Amazon Go store in Washington state.

The 'ultimate bank customer experience': Are we there yet?

At the BCX Summit, CarrieAnne Cormier of Avidia Bank talked about the importance of serving customers with the right balance of high-tech and high-touch.

Slow lanes could boost supermarket experience, claims study

December 5, 2016

Supermarkets providing a 'slow lane' for the older and elderly shopper can offer the senior consumer segment a better customer experience.

5 rules for a retail town square: What Apple, Whole Foods Can Teach Us

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Here's a potential formula for retail of the future: One Apple squared equals a community experience minus the traditional sales space.

Dick’s Sporting Goods buys app to boost youth sport strategy

December 2, 2016

Sports merchandise retailer Dick's Sporting Goods is buying GameChanger Media, which makes an app offering data-based coaching information, instant game recaps…

Target debuts another small-format store in NY

December 2, 2016

Target has opened its second small-format store on Long Island, New York.

Howard Schultz resigning as Starbucks CEO to focus on retail innovation

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

December 1, 2016

Schultz said he personally asked COO Kevin Johnson to fill his shoes because he is a "true servant leader."

Predictions for retail, payments, and mobile in 2017

From mobile wallets to on-demand apps, and consumer demand for a more personalized and interactive shopping experience, merchants big and small are facing a…

Retail banking execs learn new ways to woo, wow and win customers at the 2016 BCX Summit

This fall, retail financial services executives from the US and beyond convened at the Bank Customer Experience Summit in Chicago to learn more about the…

Mobile a dominant payment force for PayPal

December 1, 2016

One third of PayPal transactions during the Thanksgiving holiday period were conducted on mobile devices and the biggest sales volume took place on turkey day…