Experiment on customers to get more from your self-service pilot

In our house, spring means two things: Chicago Cubs baseball and the school Science Fair. As I was helping my son sort out whether or not a cheese sandwich…

What great looks like

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

Over the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to work with some great retailers. Of course I'm biased, but I also see the very things that make them great.

Check out this Checkout: RFID-enabled kiosks deliver more than just a cool factor

Now more than ever, retailers are focusing on the customer experience at the point-of-sale in order to provide the best service possible to increasingly…

Apple praised for its role in helping the people of Japan

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Kevin Rose, the founder of Digg and a technology angel investor, published on his blog an email he received from an Apple employee in Japan. It tells a story…

Marketing and 'the wrong hero'

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

Marketing messages must be great stories ... about the true hero.I wish I could remember the source of this elegant language for the person certainly deserves…

Honor What Customers Care About

by Jeanne Bliss — Founder, CustomerBliss

CustomInk is a $70 million T-shirt shop that prints custom T-shirts for family reunions and group and business events. Because actual people at CustomInk…

Have you outgrown your market?

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

When you've become the best of the best, what do you do next?I've recently begun working with a gentleman who has reached the pinnacle of his profession and…

Simplicity as a competitive advantage

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

Simplicity is a competitive advantage. Most people overcomplicate things, and when they do they lose their effectiveness. Here are some examples I've seen and…

Harvard Book Store simulates window-shopping online – and does it well

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Two years ago, Amazon tried something called Windowshop, an interactive Web app that aimed to make the online book-browsing experience more like the in-store…

What you can't teach buyers

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

There are some things you just can't teach buyers. Nor should you try.As sellers, we can educate buyers on:

Walmart's pricing strategy: Further evidence revisited

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

Conflicting stories spawned further research. Did it change my message? A December 2010 Bloomberg Businessweek article cited in my "Further Evidence" article…

The Enduring Allure of the Secret Handshake

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

The world is an increasingly inclusive place and as a society, we've grown to expect equal and open access to just about everything. Facebook has become the…

A missed opportunity to add loyalty value?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

At COLLOQUY, we regularly discuss the benefits of using loyalty program data to improve customer relationships and targeted customer communication. But can a…

Penetration pricing: Good strategy or self-inflicted wound?

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

Penetration pricing is a strategy in which a company offers lower prices to garner market share. Is this a viable strategy? If so, when will it work?To answer…

Don’t Discount the Effects of Snow

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Much of the country is buried under snow banks. America's retailers, meanwhile, are trying to dig out from a pile of inventory.

Retail At Risk From Technology

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

We need to address the real concerns facing retail instead of looking to technology for a quick fix. This Manifesto can spur you to change the way your retail…

How Much is that Downy in the Window?

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Heard the one about the fabric softener and the sleepwalker? The punch line takes place in a department store.

Triggering An Avalanche

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

 Will social media marketing...

Price: An Economic Indicator?

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

 Can pricing...

Educating the Buyer

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

If you want leverage in a sales call...