Ten best practices for implementing and fine-tuning retail metrics

Dashboards provide a clear picture of business operations, provided the metrics behind them are properly designed.

Survey: Despite economy, back-to-school spending holds steady

Households with school-aged children spend an average of approximately $404 per family on back-to-school items.

Analyst: redbox business model won't work long-term

Streaming, video on demand prompt analyst to call the peak of the DVD kiosk market in 2011.

Opinion: The recession is over, if you're paying attention to customers

A look at two retailers on the right track, and two that aren't, when it comes to satisfying core customers.

What will bookstores look like in five years?

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The proliferation of e-readers is fundamentally changing the value proposition of bookselling.

California set to vote on plastic bag ban

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Proponents of the bill point to environmental benefits, while detractors decry possible loss of jobs.

Grocery theatricals put under the spotlight

Some in-store bakeries are used "merely to warm up bread made in industrial units hundreds of miles away."

Three mobile web marketing tips for the holiday shopping season

Bringing the online experience into the store, embracing cross-channel behavior are keys to success.

Making the most of transactional emails

80 percent of the revenue generated from transactional emails comes from shopping cart recovery.

The psychology of retail marketing

From rounded corners to natural textures: Neurological research reveals why consumers react the way they do to the in-store experience.

Best Retail Customer Experiences 2010 winners announced

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

More than 1,000 consumers voted on the best retail experiences in eight segments and across multiple attributes.

How old-school catalogs drive up sales

Nine out of 10 of the top converting retail websites in the U.S. also have catalogs.

Opinion: 'New retail experts' are here to stay

To prosper in a buyer-dominant world, you must stop thinking like yesterday’s seller and start thinking like today’s buyer.

Seven requirements for becoming customer-centric

Retailers are trying to embed customer orientation into their culture, but most are struggling to make real progress.

'New movers' become big retail opportunity

A growing number of Americans are relocating for work, sun or family, creating a marked uptick in household spending.

Satisfying the substance shopper

Customers are reaching out to connect with the products they buy in more direct, personal ways.

Top ten people who influence American shoppers

Influential figures from entertainment, business and politics are promoting the era of "mindful spending."

Shaping customer experience a critical strategy as retail recovers

'Indistinguishable sameness' can alleviated by a cohesive experience plan.

The manufacturer's role in shopper-centric category management

Manufacturers and retailers need to work together to get the most benefit from shopper-centric analytics.

NRF: Three-quarters of online retailers are dialing up mobile strategies

One in five retailers boasts having a fully implemented mobile strategy in place already.