What does Facebook's app store mean for retailers?

The bottom line for retailers is this: Now, the way Facebook works can be customized to lift sales.

NYC to welcome first Piperlime retail location

May 10, 2012

Piperlime, the e-retailer that launched in 2006, is opening its first brick-and-mortar location this fall in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City.

Why customers seem scarce - part 2

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

Last week we discussed how to grow your revenues, profits and customer bases when facing the challenges of industry overcapacity or a dying industry. Both…

Where Best Buy went wrong

Experts discuss why the retail giant is shrinking and whether it can stage a comeback.

Ingenico, Saygent solution to help retailers engage shoppers at POS

May 9, 2012

Ingenico, a provider of payment solutions, and Saygent, a company specializing in mobile voice feedback, are partnering to give merchants on Ingenico's new…

Anything they can do, you can do better

by Aaron Shapiro — CEO, HUGE

Take a look at the first-class section on any airplane today; it's full of corporate leaders lugging around Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography, searching…

Two tales of retail showrooming

by Jeff Weidauer — Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Vestcom International, Inc.

By now most folks have heard about "showrooming," the relatively new activity where consumers visit a brick and mortar store, look at a product they are…

Converse opens largest mall location in Jersey

May 7, 2012

Converse Inc. has opened the doors to its first mall-based location in Westfield Garden State Plaza, the brand's fourth inline retail location in the United…

Why small retailers must work harder on customer service

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

This is a tale of two retailers, one of them a single-location local boutique shop, the other a major multinational corporation. One of them recently gave me…

Brick-and-mortar's inherent advantage: In-store relevance

Smart retailers make customers feel that their preferences, wants and needs are a priority from the minute they walk into the store.

Brand attachment: The Barefoot Bandit and our sense of self

What an 18-year-old on a crime spree teaches us about branding.

Why Customers Seem Scarce - Part 1

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

Far too many sellers suffer believe that customers are scarce and that they can't raise prices for fear of losing the customers they have.

This Mother's Day, say it with plastic?

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Every year we spend billions of dollars trying to find a way to thank our mothers for labor pains and unconditional love, but it turns out our primary display…

Sometimes, taking care of non-customers makes your customers happier

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

Caring about people isn't enough on its own to create a transformational customer experience. Without caring, however, treasured moments of genuine human…

Take your work seriously, don't take yourself seriously

by Harvey Mackay — Author, Mackay Mitchell

"Dilbert," which is carried in 1,100 newspapers, has helped us laugh at the crazy dynamics of the workplace. Now if we could only start laughing at ourselves.

Six retailers who blew it - BIG

When I give presentations, I typically like to use case studies to show customers best practices. However, it is frequently the object lessons of who blew it…

When to use customer service games in training

by Peggy Carlaw — VP, Impact Learning Systems

Customer service games can add spice to a training program. I ought to know, I wrote the book! Unfortunately, I've seen too many games used just because ...

Infographic: The evolution of customer experience

Sheridan Orr gives an overview and history of the ever-changing customer experience.

RCEES keynote speaker gives advice to Inc. magazine

April 23, 2012

What retailers should know about Google Glasses

Retail experts and techies debate the technology's feasibility and why retailers should care.