Shoppers look to store staff as economic barometer

September 22, 2008

Reuters: U.S. consumers are doing their own research on just how bad the economy is faring, checking to see how well-staffed their favorite stores are as a…

Opinion: Most loyalty programs use the wrong incentives

September 22, 2008

Wall Street Journal: The biggest problem with loyalty programs, according to two professors of management science, is that most retailers adopt a…

Two-thirds of young U.K. shoppers use catalogs

September 21, 2008

Hellmail: According to research carried out by Royal Mail, almost two thirds of young consumers in the UK use a catalog to shop. In fact, 54 percent of all UK…

Shopping bags that matter as much as what is in them

September 21, 2008

Boston Globe: Over the past two years, a growing number of merchants have increased their investment in shopping bags, selecting heavier, more durable…

Short may not be sweet for online product descriptions

September 18, 2008

SMART COMPANY (Australia): A recent online retail customer experience survey found that around 60 percent of top e-commerce sites used very brief product…

Diebold provides support for Catalina's checkout printers

September 17, 2008

NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Diebold Inc. is providing on-site service and support for Catalina Marketing's network of point-of-sale printers in more than 25,00…

Frito-Lay uses fake store to watch customer behavior

September 11, 2008

BNET: When Frito-Lay wants to see the impact of a packaging change or an end-cap display, the Dallas salty snack purveyor no longer has to wait for sales…

Online shopping experience tweaked with analytics software

September 1, 2008

New Brunswick Business Journal: Shoppers who are wary of going online may soon find the experience less daunting. Many retailers are using analytics software…

Gaps closing between consumer multichannel expectations, retailer readiness

August 25, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc. company, today released the results of a recent survey that shows that the gaps are closing between…

Using the VIP treatment as retail differentiator

August 24, 2008

The Age (Australia): Butlers, concierges, valets, stylists and personal assistants who will pick out a sweater for your pooch — these and more will be offered…

The pursuit of pampering

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 17, 2008

The Lexus experience goes from the showroom to the waiting area. Result? Total luxury.

Grocers shift strategy to fight discounters

August 14, 2008

Business Week: Executives at mid-market grocery giants such as Safeway, SuperValu and Delhaize Group have cut their growth projections recently amid slowing…

Expert: Shoppers can't afford to be loyal

August 10, 2008

The Globe and Mail: Shoppers cannot afford to remain loyal, according to retail guru and "true-life sixties-era Mad Man" Don Watt. "They will remain loyal if…

Retailing to the digital native

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A new type of shopper requires a new level of engagement.

Tweens search for products online, get parents to buy them in-store

August 6, 2008

Marketing Daily: According to new data from Performics, including search marketing in the media mix is crucial to snagging the attention and influence of…

Despite customer qualms, retailers ready for contactless

August 4, 2008

RFID Journal: Just as one study found British consumers to be uncomfortable with the idea of contactless payment cards, other unrelated research determined…

Thirty-six million Americans now print online coupons

August 3, 2008

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The number of people turning to the Web for coupons has soared to 36 million in 2008. That's an increase of 10 million people from…

The changing face of the department store

The venerable retail institution rolls with the times.

Oft-quoted retail statistic doesn't give the full picture

July 30, 2008

NEW YORK — A new global shopper study, "Shopper Decisions Made In-Store" (SDMIS), reveals what's truly happening in the world's retail shopping aisles.

Flagship stores vital for brand relationships

July 27, 2008

Business Day: Many run at a loss, but flagship retail stores play a big role in building a richer customer relationship with a brand, says global branding…