Grabbing shoppers by the nose

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Intentional use of scents can profoundly impact the customer experience.

U.S. retailers just beginning to understand customer experience, report says

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 27, 2008

Forrester Research has published "The State of Experience-Based Differentiation," a summary of its recent survey of 287 customer experience decision-makers…

Opinion: the shopping experience can be more important than the product

February 24, 2008

Advertising Age: Nordstrom executives long have made it their business to do whatever is necessary to please the consumer — everything from stocking every…

Elf Yourself visitors skyrocket

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

What value did it actually bring to OfficeMax?

Blog: recession will be helped by 'reproduction mania'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 21, 2008

Heather Strang, blogger for Retail Design Diva, isn't particularly worried about the effect a possible recession would have on retail. No, she says, there are…

Customer satisfaction down overall, up online

February 19, 2008

Medill Reports: Another explanation for lackluster consumer spending emerged Tuesday when the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index…

Public still wary of retail health clinics

February 19, 2008

Wall Street Journal: The public's still pretty wary of the retail clinics cropping up in Wal-Marts and drugstores around the country. But there are enough…

Know your customer

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 12, 2008

See how personas help retailers shape the customer experience.

The Tao of wow

February 12, 2008

Analyze what customers want from your brand, and give it to them.

Inserts more influential than TV ads

February 11, 2008

BALTIMORE — Vertis Communications announced the tenth anniversary of its proprietary Vertis Customer Focus study, which has been analyzing the key trends…

Online shoppers want user ratings systems

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 11, 2008

Forrester Research recently surveyed 5,000 online shoppers, asking them what they value most from an online experience. The overwhelming majority said they…

Peter Luckett: 'Banish the bland'

Innovative grocer shares tips on building a great customer experience.

Misery loves retail therapy

February 10, 2008

Telegraph: Shoppers are more likely to indulge in retail therapy when they are down in the dumps, psychologists have confirmed. Those who were feeling dejected…

Borders analyzes efficacy of its email coupon program

February 10, 2008

Stores: Kevin Ertell, vice president of e-business at Borders Group, wanted a clearer understanding of how behavior differed between "coupon seekers" (shoppers…

Four key principles for retail store design

February 10, 2008

Inside Retailing (Australia): Brian Walker, who consults with retailers under the moniker "The Retail Doctor", has published four key elements of effective…

Wal-Mart countdown clocks mark the minutes to digital TV deadline

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 10, 2008

On February 17, 2009, analog televisions in the United States will no longer be able to pick up over-the-air signals. Research done by the Nielsen Company says…

Healthnotes program shown to increase shopper satisfaction, drive sales

February 6, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. — Healthnotes announced results of an in-store test conducted by an independent firm showing that the company's "Fresh Ideas" program drives…

Survey: grocery shopping can be enjoyable, sometimes

February 3, 2008

Progressive Grocer: For the folks who craft the myths and messages of a brand — professional marketers — grocery shopping can sometimes be significantly…

Retail clinics a symptom of change in patient demand

February 3, 2008

The Tennessean: The medical profession should not be surprised that small, convenient retail clinics are popping up as popular destinations for patients. The…

Online shoppers expect more from the experience

February 3, 2008

Marketing Charts: Some 67 percent of consumers say their expectations about the quality of their online shopping experience had increased from the previous…