You don't need to be a jerk to give bad customer service

by Micah Solomon — president, four aces inc

Great customer service — what I call anticipatory customer service — requires more these days than simply not being a jerk and not hiring jerks. It means…

Walmart revamps layaway to please customers

September 5, 2012

Walmart announced yesterday a consumer-driven change to its holiday layaway policy, extending the program and cutting fees.

Six ways mobile payments can increase customer loyalty

Mobile payment is a channel that opens up huge loyalty opportunities for companies that do it right.

Retalix acquires Cornell Mayo Associates

September 5, 2012

Retalix Ltd., a provider of software and services for retailers, announced that it has acquired Cornell Mayo Associates, a U.S.-based provider of store systems…

AVT announces automated self-service shops

September 5, 2012

AVT Inc., an automated self-service technology company, announced today the development of a new version of its VendStore24 system. The Corona, Calif.-based…

How to increase demand, counter-intuitively

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

A July 30, 2012 Reuters report stating that "Two of the country's major airlines, Kingfisher and state-owned Air India, are reducing capacity, which helped…

Back to school shopping drives retail revenue up 11 percent

September 5, 2012

U.S. consumers took advantage of back to school shopping this summer, according to findings from IBM. Over the months of July and August sales grew by 1…

Coachella Valley store to open doors for pop-up retailers

September 4, 2012

Retailers in California's Coachella Valley will have the opportunity to test their concepts in a new pop-up "incubator," according to an article on…

Seven ways to maximize small retail spaces

September 4, 2012

Retail space is not cheap, and making the most of a small amount of square footage is often the ticket to success of many small businesses. An article on…

Around the world in 30 days, 7 retail stops along the way

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

I'm convinced that you don't plan an around the world trip ... they just happen. I get an amazing opportunity to deliver IMS Retail University workshops around…

The reality of retail therapy

September 4, 2012

Retail therapy could be the result of a mental disorder where people become addicted to shopping, according to an article in The Atlantic.

'What Would Tommy Do?' The straightforward question that defines the brand strategy at Tommy Bahama

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Defining a brand strategy that is differentiated, sustainable, and successful long-term is critical to retailer success. Tommy Bahama, a lifestyle company that…

Walmart tests iPhone self-checkout app

September 4, 2012

Walmart shoppers may have another self-checkout option if the retailer's latest pilot program proves successful.

Hershey kit to unify brand presence

August 31, 2012

The Hershey Company announced the release of its first complete travel retail merchandising system called the "kit-of-parts" that offers retailers a range of…

Retailers to make lingerie high-tech

August 31, 2012

Trying on lingerie may become passé if the latest retail technologies from Victoria's Secret and Ann Summers are a hit with consumers, according to an article…

The Internet just got more dangerous to businesses

by Brad Cyprus — Chief of Security and Compliance, Vendor Safe Technologies

Internet browsing is one of the most painful parts of managing a security program. We are constantly having to educate our own customers as to why we limit…

RCE Podcast episode 9: Inside the leaked Apple Genius training manual

An alarming new report suggests that a large number of shoppers would leave a bricks-and-mortar store and place an order online instead, if they stood to save…

The power of Pinterest to drive online sales

August 30, 2012

Recent studies on the selling power of Pinterest compared to Facebook and Twitter showed that the more recent social networking site does not have much of an…

Five ways to ruin a good sales force

by Harvey Mackay — Author, Mackay Mitchell

We've all read countless cautionary tales about once-mighty companies that lost their way. The horror stories usually blame products that haven't kept up, dumb…

Carmine Gallo on the five secrets revealed in the Apple Genius manual

The leaked training manual gives exclusive insight into how Apple succeeds at employee training and customer service.