Are independent hardware stores ready for a comeback?

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Do you remember being at a bowling alley or supermarket and seeing the old claw game? The one where you navigate the joystick in hopes of manipulating the claw…

Is Klout the new credit score?

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

Celebrities have long been known to receive special treatment. The best seats in the house, front of the line access to the hippest clubs and healthy discounts…

Why timeliness and responsiveness are crucial for retail

The best time for anything is the time that is best for the customer.

Gap's marketing strategy may be a mistake

March 14, 2012

Gap, which successfully marketed to young adults in the 1990s with classic khakis and swing-dancing ads, is hoping that demographic will again buy into its…

Nielsen: Shoppers prefer mobile web over apps

March 14, 2012

Retail websites are more popular than retail apps, according to a recent Nielsen survey, but no matter how consumers prefer to reach their favorite online…

NRF: February retail sales mark 20 months of consecutive growth

March 13, 2012

With a spring in their step, retailers marked 20 consecutive months of sustained year-over-year retail sales growth in February as unseasonably warm…

Report: Mobile promotions trump brand loyalty for consumers shopping in grocery, drug stores

March 12, 2012

The "Mobile Shopping Survey Series, Part 2: CPG Shopping Behavior" – the second in a three-part series on smartphone owners' in-store experiences sponsored by…

The dangers of cost-plus pricing

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

In the early years of my consulting work I picked up a client that had been losing money for two consecutive years and was experiencing severe cash flow…

Retail Bracket Madness - cast your vote!

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Which retailer provides the best customer experience? Cast your votes today!

Psychological secrets of Gen Y shoppers revealed

March 9, 2012

Retailers learned how best to market to Gen Y shoppers this week at the 2012 Shopper Marketing Forum. Consumer psychologist and author Kit Yarrow, PhD.…

Consumer acceptance of virtual gift cards on the rise

March 8, 2012

With the growth of mobile technology, consumers are embracing virtual gift cards delivered to their email inbox or mobile phone via text message now more than…

Big data's impact on retail customer loyalty

Many companies still invest 80 percent of their resources on customer acquisition, only 20 percent on retention.

GlobalShop 2012 round-up

In case you missed it, here's our coverage of this year's GlobalShop, in one convenient place.

GM: A premature celebration?

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

GM reported a record $7.6 billion profit for 2011. Politicians hailed this is as proof positive that the bailout worked. Is it truly a cause for celebration?

GlobalShop 2012: 5 consumer trends that retailers can't ignore

High gas prices and aging populations are changing how retailers market to consumers.

GlobalShop 2012: 8 ways the smartphone can help your customers love you

Mobile technology is not the brick-and-mortar retailer's enemy.

GlobalShop 2012: Why leveraging social shopping will lead to better sales

Retailers need to use social shopping trends to their advantage.

Fashion brand Boden puts focus on search and navigation for traditional and mobile e-commerce

March 1, 2012

SLI Systems has announced that Boden, a leading global retailer of men's, women's and children's apparel, has created a richer, more engaging online shopping…

GlobalShop 2012: Family Dollar using new technology to get 'on-site insight' to increase sales

Retailers can measure customer shopping patterns with ShopperGauge.

GlobalShop 2012: Consumers have a 'need for speed'

Retailers must be fast, flexible and mobile to succeed.