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…

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…

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…

Ask the Experts: What are the fundamental customer service mistakes retailers are making today?

April 12, 2009

Today's expert is Shep Hyken, author of "The Cult of the Customer." We asked him to talk about some of the fundamental mistakes he's seeing at the front line…

New app lets shoppers access in-store coupons on an iPhone, iPod Touch

April 9, 2009

FT. COLLINS, Colo. — Approved by Apple, the new Coupon Sherpa application is available at the iPhone App Store. Finish Line, Zales Jewelers, Coldwater Creek…

Predictix launches SaaS suite for consumer-centric merchandising

April 9, 2009

ATLANTA — Predictix announced the official launch of its consumer-centric merchandising solution suite. The Predictix suite is delivered in a…

New digital signage network aimed at Hispanic shoppers

April 8, 2009

ORANGE, Calf. — Captive Media Marketing, a Scala partner, has developed CMM.LATV, a retail TV network catering to Hispanic shoppers. It allows manufacturers…

POPAI Display of the Year awards announced

April 8, 2009

LAS VEGAS — Displays for the brands Dr. Scholl's, Yellow Tail, the movie "Space Chimps" and retailer Best Buy received POPAI's coveted Display of The Year…

Checkpoint introduces source-to-store merchandise visibility solution

April 7, 2009

THOROFARE, N.J. — Checkpoint Systems Inc., a supplier of shrink management solutions, has announced the release of its Merchandise Visibility Solution, which…

POPAI announces digital signage award winners

April 7, 2009

LAS VEGAS — POPAI, The Global Association for Marketing at Retail, has announced the winners of its 2009 Digital Signage Awards.

Giant Food debuting c-store concept

April 7, 2009

Progressive Grocer: Giant Food Stores LLC plans to open its first convenience store, Giant To Go, on April 15 in Lancaster, Pa. The 4,422-square-foot store…

Maritz, Welcome Real-Time announce POS-based marketing and loyalty program

April 6, 2009

ST. LOUIS — Maritz and Welcome Real-Time have announced a partnership to launch a new loyalty solution in the United States and Canada. The offering, Maritz…

Brown Shoe adds Trusonic music service

April 6, 2009

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Fluid Music Canada's Trusonic Inc., a provider of Internet-delivered music and messaging services for retailers, announced that Brown Shoe…

BREAKING: Blockbuster may be on its deathbed

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

April 6, 2009

The largest chain of movie and video game rental stores in the world appears to be teetering on the brink of collapse, according to a new filing with the SEC.