Amazon opening bookstores isn't as newsworthy as many may think

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Amazon opening bookstores grabs lots of attention but it's really just another smart strategy. After all Amazon is a book seller already.

In order to survive and thrive don't breathe your own exhaust

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Biggest threat to today's retailers lies within the walls of the ivory tower.

6 things every woman wishes retailers knew about her shopping basket

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

These six facts about a woman's shopping basket reveal what retailers including Nordstrom, Amazon and Tesco do to address them.

Hybrid cloud rains benefits on forward-thinking retailers

Cloud-based digital technologies are transforming the retail industry to provide digitally connected, time-pressed customers with the value they expect — and…

The expanding digital divide between consumers and retailers

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Consumers want it all … but just how much can retailers deliver?

What Dollar Shave Club knows: Getting an edge on utility

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

The Dollar Shave Club is one sharp example of how manufacturing supply chains are being disrupted. Yet its approach to winning market share is disarmingly…

9 things to know about retail loyalty programs

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

From the tangible value of data assets to stealth pricing, loyalty programs can offer retailers many advantages that are little understood. Here are nine…

How retailers are avoiding “Uberization”

In today's increasingly interconnected world, disruptive business models like those of AirBnB and Uber are thriving.

First rule in empathetic marketing: Know thy customer

One way brands are effectively engaging with customers is through empathy. A buzzword in the marketing world, empathy is the act of putting yourself in your…

The great Occam’s Razor paradox for retailing in 2016

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

The law of parsimony is great for consumers, but a burden for retailers.

5 New Year resolutions to drive smarter retail customer experiences

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

This past year has clearly been a year of advancement and enlightenment by retailers, and 2016 is likely not going to be much different. Here's a few…

Click and collect: A hat trick retailers can't pull off?

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

'Sort of works' is not acceptable for today's omnichannel consumers.

Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is equal product pricing across genders

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

From razors and clothing to toys and adult diapers, women are likely always paying more for a product than men.

Zappos’ Santa Claus feat leaves big shoes to fill

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

A recent act of kindness by Zappos has some wondering if it could spin its reputation for feel-good experiences into a marketing tool.

Mitigating cybersecurity threats to ensure customer experience is a safe one

Although the nationwide rollout of EMV technology is beginning to eliminate some security concerns, experts expect to see an increase in online fraud as…

Insight on kicking a 2016 retail strategy off on solid ground

by Ethan Whitehill — CEO, two west inc

It's a good idea to review consumer patterns and data from the past year to make sure retail strategy plans for the new year are on track from the start.

Critical reasons why retailers need a seamless product return process

Retail product returns, which appear to be a minor part of the customer experience, are actually a crucial component of the overall relationship between the…

Shoes of prey: New time versus personalization trade-off

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

A case of when personalized means more than speed of delivery.

10 tips for boosting customer service and inspiring a retail seasonal workforce

For many businesses, the holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. But it certainly is not the time to slack off on service.

Top 2016 marketing trends & why you need interactivity

by Casey Dubbs — Marketing Manager, Horizon Display

2016 is going to herald many changes to the marketing paradigm. Let's look at how interactive technology can help retailers utilize these trends.