Who Needs Retail Anyway?

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

Social media and networks have diminished our need for middle-men.  From publishing to advertising, brands and consumers have unprecedented access to one…

Survey: Despite economy, back-to-school spending holds steady

Households with school-aged children spend an average of approximately $404 per family on back-to-school items.

Analyst: redbox business model won't work long-term

Streaming, video on demand prompt analyst to call the peak of the DVD kiosk market in 2011.

Opinion: The recession is over, if you're paying attention to customers

A look at two retailers on the right track, and two that aren't, when it comes to satisfying core customers.

Samsung Gets It Right!

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

Update: Plastic bag ban fails in California

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

September 1, 2010

The Associated Press reports that California lawmakers have rejected Senate bill AB 1998, which would have banned the use of plastic shopping bags in retail…

What will bookstores look like in five years?

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The proliferation of e-readers is fundamentally changing the value proposition of bookselling.

California set to vote on plastic bag ban

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Proponents of the bill point to environmental benefits, while detractors decry possible loss of jobs.

Poll: Consumers divided on plastic bag ban

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 29, 2010

With the California Senate getting ready for a vote on AB 1998, which would outlaw the use of plastic bags in retail stores, we surveyed our consumer advisory…

Study: Eight out of ten consumers shop online at least once a week

August 26, 2010

Eighty-three percent of consumers are shopping online at least weekly, according to Compete's quarterly Online Shopper Intelligence Study.

Grocery theatricals put under the spotlight

Some in-store bakeries are used "merely to warm up bread made in industrial units hundreds of miles away."

Three mobile web marketing tips for the holiday shopping season

Bringing the online experience into the store, embracing cross-channel behavior are keys to success.

Survey: Retailer brand strength improves with gift card exchange

August 24, 2010

Gift card exchange Plastic Jungle has announced the results of a recent independent study examining the impact of gift card exchanges on retail brands. The…

Making the most of transactional emails

80 percent of the revenue generated from transactional emails comes from shopping cart recovery.

The psychology of retail marketing

From rounded corners to natural textures: Neurological research reveals why consumers react the way they do to the in-store experience.

Survey: 43 percent of customers rely on shopping lists

August 18, 2010

A shopper experience study currently underway by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C Research revealed that 43 percent of general market shoppers always rely on a…

Average family has completed more school shopping compared to same time last year

August 18, 2010

Consumers got a jump start on their back-to-school and college shopping this summer as extreme temperatures drove them into stores and out of the pool…

Report: 15 percent of consumers use mobile to make purchases

August 17, 2010

Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc. company, and Demandware Inc., a provider of on-demand ecommerce, have announced the findings of a new retail study…

Best Retail Customer Experiences 2010 winners announced

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

More than 1,000 consumers voted on the best retail experiences in eight segments and across multiple attributes.

How old-school catalogs drive up sales

Nine out of 10 of the top converting retail websites in the U.S. also have catalogs.