The five online commerce features that create loyalty

Product images, speedy search among the most desired features for online shoppers.

Black Friday: Great strategy or sheer folly?

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

Retailers have decided to move Black Friday, the day they begin their heavy holiday season discounts, up a month. Typically Black Friday is the day after…

Rumors of the Death of Aspirational Shopping Are Greatly Exaggerated

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

The goal of aspirational brands is to allow us to feel better about ourselves. That’s what we have always done. And always will do.

Survey: Average holiday shopper plans to spend $845 on gifts

2010 is expected to have a more optimistic outlook for holiday gift spending when compared to last year.

Execs from Macy's, Brooks Brothers, Disney, HSN headline NRF's 100th Annual Convention

November 1, 2010

When the National Retail Federation's 100th Annual Convention arrives in New York in January, 100 years of history will come along with it, as well as some of…

Study: Most grocery shoppers want more information on healthy eating

Despite healthy-eating consumer initiatives, shoppers have not changed their old buying habits, behavior and perceptions.

Can Halloween scare up more retail sales?

Trick-or-treating can be just as indicative of consumer interest in holiday purchases as back-to-school.

Emerging technology and data trends in customer loyalty

Social networking is adding volumes of attitudinal data that complements behavioral transactional data.

Educating Consumers

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

 Are you stimulating consumption...

Language That Sells

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

 When creating your marketing materials...

Groupon responds: 95 percent of merchants would do it again

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The deep-discount deal-of-the-day site says most retailers are thrilled with the results it delivers.

Opinion: Customers want relationships, not low prices

Retailers need to solve the customer's problem, but also deliver satisfaction on an emotional level.

Six marketing lessons from Sir Richard Branson

Customer engagement, tapping free publicity among the tips shared by the business luminary.

NRF forecasts holiday sales increase of 2.3 percent

October 5, 2010

After a disastrous 2008 and a ho-hum 2009, this year's holiday season isn't expected to deliver retailers a lump of coal. Retail sales are predicted to…

Report: Black Friday shopping losing its appeal

Conversely, the popularity of online shopping continues to grow.

Discounting in Off Season?

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

Good strategy?

Yes Virginia, Retail Holiday Sales Will Suck... Again!

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Wherever you look from now until the first week of January, there will be one consistent message: retail holiday sales will suck. That's because the evidence…

Why big luxury retailers are falling behind online

Luxury brands are slow to translate store success to e-commerce.

As consumers spend less, they expect more from retailers

A focus on long-term relationships, customer advocacy can protect against price erosion.

I'm Worth It!

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

 Why do buyers pay premium prices...