Retailers: Ask your customers for permission to market to them

You can legally add a customer's email to your mailing list without asking. Here's why you shouldn't.

Report: Moms win out over the economy

Mother's Day spending poised for a five-percent increase, according to new research.

Men shop too: The four key factors for marketing to men

Reaching the male shopper takes more than merely transforming colors, fonts and packaging.

Retail e-mails: Treading the fine line between marketing and spam

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A retailer's opt-in list is one of its most valuable assets, but reaching out to it too often can result in brand backlash.

Fatto a mano: The seductiveness of luxury

A stroll through the streets of Florence highlights the true meaning of luxury in the post-recession world.

Two-thirds of Facebook users say it influences purchase decisions

A new report details how users of the social networking site use it to interact with brands and retailers.

Loyalty programs: what works, what doesn't

Perhaps not surprisingly, the least costly methods of building and maintaining loyalty are often the least effective.

Survey: Low prices replace customer service as primary loyalty driver

Walmart dominated the 2010 COLLOQUY Retail Loyalty Index, in results that reflect a reality of the Great Recession.

Informal poll bodes well for kiosks in retail

Better economy and improved public opinion are pushing more retailers to self-service.

Report: 'We are seeing a multichannel revolution'

Nearly one-third of consumers use three or more channels to browse, research and purchase products.

Overcoming the sameness of retail

These four practical tips can help retailers rediscover their brands, and stand out from the competition.

GlobalShop 2010 roundup

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

This year's GlobalShop event in Las Vegas was well-attended, well-staffed and full of great insights. Here's a quick recap of some of the stories we brought…

Executive roundtable: HP on retail in 2010

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Two top-level executives with HP discuss what retailers need to focus on in the coming years.

Seven principles for marketing to women

A cognitive anthropologist explains how men and women form emotional relationships with brands and retailers differently.

GlobalShop: 'Consumerism has become activism'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Envirosell's senior vice president shares research-based insights on the new American shopper.

Turning retail into a game

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

"Entertainment shopping" can be fun for shoppers and profitable for retailers, but it can also ignite controversy.

The evolution of private labels at retail

Half of consumers now say they seek out private brands over traditional ones.

Changing consumer mindsets call for new approaches

New trends in technology and social media allow grocers to create a differentiated shopping experience.

Rethinking retail in the age of the grounded consumer

New research from a cultural anthropologist offers timely advice for retail.

The pros and cons of concealing product prices online

Keeping the price tag somewhat hidden is part of a strategy by major brands to counter the Internet's tendency to drive prices down.