Annoying Customer Behaviors

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

February retail sales up, despite bad weather

March 11, 2010

At some point in February, almost every single state had snow on the ground, but that wasn’t enough to keep house-bound consumers from a little shopping…

GlobalShop: 'Consumerism has become activism'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Envirosell's senior vice president shares research-based insights on the new American shopper.

Report: Retailers must adapt to 'conscious, practical consumerism'

March 8, 2010

With new shopping behavior data and demographic trends indicating that an enduring shift has taken place as a result of the recent economic downturn, retailers…

Turning retail into a game

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

"Entertainment shopping" can be fun for shoppers and profitable for retailers, but it can also ignite controversy.

The evolution of private labels at retail

Half of consumers now say they seek out private brands over traditional ones.

RAMA Research reveals habits, preferences of social media users

March 2, 2010

The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, a division of NRF, released new research today at NRF’s Retail Innovation & Marketing Conference on the…

Changing consumer mindsets call for new approaches

New trends in technology and social media allow grocers to create a differentiated shopping experience.

The Discount Economy and its Implications for the Future

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

We’ve been in a discount economy for several decades. There are a number of factors contributing to this reality:

Rethinking retail in the age of the grounded consumer

New research from a cultural anthropologist offers timely advice for retail.

The pros and cons of concealing product prices online

Keeping the price tag somewhat hidden is part of a strategy by major brands to counter the Internet's tendency to drive prices down.

Why Generation Y isn't buying your products

A Gen-Y marketer offers three tips for reaching the most demanding, most technologically savvy demographic yet.

Benchmark in-store experiences to define, measure and boost results

Customer experience programs established in the first quarter can pay dividends year round.

The lost art of the loss leader

Traditional strategies for promotional discounting are being ignored, and retailers are losing revenue as a result.

Four ways to get online shoppers to contribute reviews

Most retail Web sites allow users to write product reviews, but building a vibrant community takes more than just the tools. A recent success story from Sears…

Retailers tackling 'mountains of data'

January 3, 2010

A new report in the New York Times discusses the "mountains of data and whiz-bang technology" that today's retailers are wrestling with, in their ongoing…

Report: Loyalty to nationally advertised brands is falling

December 28, 2009

Loyalty to nationally advertised brands has been falling over the past two years.   Decision Analyst's "Anatomy of the Recession" report, based on a survey of…

Study: Christmas shoppers trust social networking for gift inspiration

December 21, 2009

More than a quarter of consumers highly value their friends' recommendations via social networking sites when shopping for Christmas gifts, according to a…

The 5 biggest retail customer experience stories of 2009

Faced with a tough economy and shaky consumer confidence, retailers innovated when it came to customer experience this year.

Study: Promotional bundles devalue products, reduce long-term profit

December 16, 2009

The best things in life aren't free, especially for companies trying to lure customers by offering sweet deals on two complementary products.