Online retailers preparing for promotion-heavy holiday season

October 24, 2011

Online retailers have plenty to be joyous about this holiday season as new research shows companies are adjusting their holiday plans based on expected growth…

A brief reminder of a long-ago heist

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Almost 20 years ago I was the victim of a rather rudimentary form of identify theft. One of my credit card bills had been intercepted at the post office, my…

Commentary: Why low prices kill brand loyalty

Are low prices to blame for disappearing brands?

Desperate times, desperate measures?

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Earlier this year, Kristy Reynolds, marketing professor at the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Commerce, indicated that methodical shopping, or…

Gartner says more m-commerce than e-commerce by 2015

October 19, 2011

Analysts from research firm Gartner Inc. say the shift from e-commerce to m-commerce will reach something of a tipping point by 2015. According to Gartner's…

Hyundai's Buyer Safety Net: Real protection, or another marketing gimmick?

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

Hyundai recently announced a trade-in guarantee. Buyers of a new Hyundai will know immediately what trade-in value they'll receive on their next purchase.

NRF: 60 percent of shoppers are buying themselves gifts this holiday

October 18, 2011

Armed with savvy shopping skills and a renewed focus on value, consumers this holiday season will shop at a variety of locations and channels as they scope out…

NRF: Better-than-expected 5.8 percent September retail sales increase 'just what the economy needs right now'

October 13, 2011

Despite an economy that has many Americans on pins and needles, consumers were spending in September. According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales…

Survey: Online advertising lifts in-store CPG sales

October 10, 2011

Online metrics company comScore Inc. and brand consultancy dunnhumbyUSA have released results of multiple studies measuring the offline sales impact of online…

Your role is silent! The debacle of Netflix

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

I was one of the original adopters of Netflix. The simplicity of it all! Select the movies you want and they arrived in the mail.

Oh no, we forgot the children! Let's re-discover our precious Millennials.

by Mark Murray — Director, The Store Channel

Last week my daughter texted me – "I think grandma sent me a check. What do I do with it?" For the record, she only texted me after her friends threw their…

Lies, damn lies and statistics

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

A recent article in CPG Matters relates new findings from Campbell Soup Company that 80 percent of buying decisions are made before a shopper ever gets to the…

Survey: Retailers need to prepare for 'precision shoppers' this holiday season

October 9, 2011

Seventy-two percent of U.S. consumers expect their holiday spending to be "careful" or "controlled" in 2011, according to Accenture's annual consumer holiday…

NRF: High unemployment remains retail's primary concern for holiday season

October 9, 2011

Following the announcement that U.S. employers added 103,000 jobs in September and that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.1 percent, National…

What Whole Foods gained from its LivingSocial deal

The offer of $20 worth of products for $10 sold 'at a staggering rate.'

NRF forecasts holiday sales increase of 2.8 percent to $465.6 billion

October 5, 2011

According to the National Retail Federation, the 2011 holiday season can be summed up in one word: average. On the heels of a holiday season that outperformed…

How to cultivate long-term loyalty

by Peggy Carlaw — VP, Impact Learning Systems

I used to go to the same Chinese Restaurant weekly growing up. My family celebrated birthdays, graduations, and other fun celebrations at this restaurant.

Access does not equal value

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

A professional recently told me that he'd merged his firm with a larger firm. Then he went on to say that he'd sent his clients a letter stating that the fees…

Enhanced customer service increases retail sales

by Laurel Tielis — Author and Professional Speaker, Laurel Tielis & Associates

The best thing you can say about the economy, is that it's shaky. Prices are up for everything–from groceries to gasoline. The unemployed are looking for…

The 2011 holiday outlook for specialty stores

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

With Black Friday less than two months away, it's time to take a look at this year's holiday predictions. Here are some recent headlines about the upcoming…