New survey app rewards consumers as it tracks their behavior

November 27, 2012

TrendSource Inc., a market research company, announced the launch of an interactive mobile survey app, wINput (Win By Giving Your Input), which is now…

The allure of low prices

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

I missed the irony on my first read of the email in which a marketing firm talked about pricing. The second reading left me laughing. It never ceases to…

Early promotions get credit for Thanksgiving online sales

November 26, 2012

According to analytics findings from IBM, U.S. shoppers once again took advantage of early promotions this holiday season, driving a 17.4 percent increase in…

Cyber Monday could see record number of shoppers

November 26, 2012

Cyber Monday is here, and if a survey for Shop.org by BIGinsight is correct, more than 129 million shoppers will turn to the Web today to search out retailer…

Tips for a safe and profitable Black Friday

From staffing and stocking to security, crowd management, and safety, the responsibilities are far-reaching.

Survey reveals consumers open to mobile payments at POS

November 20, 2012

According to a joint national survey conducted by Sybase 365 and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), mobile devices are playing a more crucial role than…

Mannequins may soon be the eyes and ears of retail

November 20, 2012

It sounds like a scene from the 1980s movie "Mannequin": The pristine face and absent eyes of the life-size model doll hiding some inner life, following people…

Report: For mobile shopping, personalization outweighs privacy concerns

November 19, 2012

Nearly three out of four (72 percent) of consumers aged 20-40 in the United States and the United Kingdom use mobile devices while in-store to compare prices…

Economist: 2012 will end with a disappointing holiday season

November 19, 2012

Retailers will not be getting a lump of coal during the 2012 holiday shopping season, but Santa won't be stuffing their stockings full either, says a Ball…

Four in ten retailers offering free shipping on Cyber Monday

November 19, 2012

Shoppers won't have to go too far to find great deals Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday; in addition to the plethora of in-store promotions, many companies…

Target and Walmart announce very different Q4 earnings

November 16, 2012

This week discount giants Walmart and Target announced fourth-quarter earnings, giving insight into how Americans will spend this shopping season.

Could Santa steal from your store?

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

While running errands with my children this past weekend the topic of shoplifting came up. When I said that just about anyone could be a shoplifter, my…

Fast Casual Executive Summit 2012: NEC

Fast Casual editor Cherryh Butler visits with NEC's Rich Ventura, to talk about menu and branding trends, at the 2012 Fast Casual Executive Summit.

I Saw Mommy Googling Santa Claus [Infographic]

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

U.S. holiday retail sales are expected to reach $586 billion in 2012. Online and mobile sales will account for larger portion of those sales than ever before.

NRF: 147 million shoppers expected for Black Friday

November 15, 2012

Not since 2007 has Thanksgiving come this early, but the calendar creep won't keep millions of eager holiday shoppers from visiting their favorite stores and…

Beating the Black Friday blues

by Jeff Weidauer — Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Vestcom International, Inc.

The term “Black Friday” is a familiar part of the holiday shopping season, with retailers going to great lengths to capture shoppers’ attention right after…

Hurricane Sandy, fiscal cliff impact October retail sales

November 14, 2012

For the first time in three months, retail sales ticked down slightly as consumers cooled discretionary spending in the face of inclement weather and…

Study shows U.S. consumers likely to splurge on luxury goods

November 13, 2012

Half of U.S. consumers are likely to make a small luxury purchase in the next six months, including 53 percent who are likely to purchase specialty food or…

Survey: Shoppers plan to spend less this holiday season

November 13, 2012

Retailers can expect a drop in holiday sales this shopping season, according to the second annual PersicopeIQ Retail Intelligence Survey. 

Women in the retail workforce can increase sales

November 12, 2012

Retailers looking to boost sales should consider bumping up the number of women on their workforce.