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…

Adidas opens women-only concept store in Korea

March 14, 2011

According to Fibre2Fashion.com, Adidas has opened its first women-specific retail store in Korea, which focuses on customer service for a more personalized and…

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…

AT&T offers customers location-based mobile advertising

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

Customers are concerned about charges for text ads and number of messages.

Canadian entrepreneur developing RFID for smartphones

March 13, 2011

According to NBBusinessJournal.com, a Canadian entrepreneur is developing an RFID tag for use in big-box retail stores to help customers with product…

Integrating Social Media into Customer Service

Although there are more ways than ever before to engage with customers, keeping track of all of those conversations and providing a consistent message can pose…

New study says creating emotional ties with consumers is a successful strategy

March 9, 2011

According to NRF.com, a recent research study by Kurt Salmon, a global management consulting firm, says that consumers feel a personality connection to the…

Are interactive window displays the future of retail?

March 9, 2011

According to NewsElectronics.co.uk, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute are working on a prototype for…

Analysts say brick-and-mortar stores will live on

March 9, 2011

According to TheStreet.com, despite major retailers such as Blockbuster and Borders filing for bankruptcy, retail experts think the demise of brick-and-mortar…

Retailers using iPads to enhance shopping experience

March 8, 2011

According to InsideRetailing.com, more retailers are expected to begin incorporating Apple’s iPad into store operations. The shift seems to be retailers…

Mobile Monday: Alternative Apparel

This is a lifestyle brand that truly understands how brand and social media intertwine.

IBM report: The smarter consumer has arrived

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Growing numbers of people are "instrumented," using two or more technology channels to shop.

Opinions vary on IKEA store 'maze' layout

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

Some think the layout is meant to be intentionally confusing.

Herbal Essences launches Microsoft Tag displays

March 3, 2011

Herbal Essences recently launched a new retail campaign using the Microsoft Tag on in-store shelf talkers. The Tag help shoppers determine which collection of…

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…

IBM is testing biometrics technology for retail marketing

February 28, 2011

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) is testing technology that would use biometrics — automated ways of recognizing humans based on physical or…

Is augmented reality the future of retail?

February 28, 2011

 Global revenues from augmented reality (AR) applications and services are projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2015, according According to Pocket-lint.com.

Video: The Best Experiences in the World and What Makes Them Work

Why looking at a business from the customer's point of view leads to raving fans and a better bottom line.

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…

Proposed legislation would eliminate price stickers in Michigan

February 27, 2011

According to The Detroit Free Press, shoppers in Michigan may no longer see price stickers on merchandise because of pending legislation supported by Gov. Rick…