More stores broadening selection in lieu of new-store construction

August 3, 2008

Chicago Tribune: Guitars at Best Buy. Frozen pizzas at Menards. Yoga pants at Walgreens. As the economy slows and the retail industry cuts back on investment…

Thirty-six million Americans now print online coupons

August 3, 2008

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The number of people turning to the Web for coupons has soared to 36 million in 2008. That's an increase of 10 million people from…

The changing face of the department store

The venerable retail institution rolls with the times.

Oft-quoted retail statistic doesn't give the full picture

July 30, 2008

NEW YORK — A new global shopper study, "Shopper Decisions Made In-Store" (SDMIS), reveals what's truly happening in the world's retail shopping aisles.

Report sheds light on value of loyalty programs

July 29, 2008

ATLANTA — Vesdia Corp., provider of loyalty marketing and merchant network services, announced it has underwritten the research report, "Responsive Customer…

Flagship stores vital for brand relationships

July 27, 2008

Business Day: Many run at a loss, but flagship retail stores play a big role in building a richer customer relationship with a brand, says global branding…

Online stores lean toward tailor-made services

July 27, 2008

San Jose Mercury News: An increasing number of online retailers have distinguished themselves from the pack by giving users a little something extra beyond…

Creating a brand with a life of its own

Cultivating the customer passion that top brands enjoy.

Study: Retailers willing to sacrifice efficiency to improve service

July 23, 2008

DENVER — According to a new RSR Research report, "The New Customer-Centric Retail Supply Chain: Benchmark 2008," better performing retailers (what RSR calls…

Opinion: Best Buy's new plan ignores customer experience

July 23, 2008

Blogger and Forrester researcher Bruce Temkin discusses Best Buy's new five-point plan for growth, and finds a glaring omission: None of the five initiatives…

Issue resolution key to repeat call-center business

July 21, 2008

TWICE: Resolving a customer-service problem on the patron's first call will entice that person to continue doing business with that company 49 percent of the…

More retail marketing dollars headed to new media

July 20, 2008

B to B: A 2007 survey conducted by the Association of National Advertisers and BtoB revealed that 70 percent of marketers have plans to shift money from…

More retailers testing the 'wisdom of crowds'

July 20, 2008

San Francisco Chronicle: Companies like Threadless, a T-shirt company in Chicago, and Ryz, an athletic shoe company in Portland, Ore., are making it possible…

Customer experience and IP

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Protecting crucial aspects of an in-store experience against imitators.

Tomax, CXA partner on tech for auto retailers

July 17, 2008

eWeek: Enterprise retail solutions provider Tomax and WHI Solutions, a specialist in technology for automotive retailers and wholesalers, are integrating key…

Staples expands video-assist program

July 14, 2008

SEATTLE — Experticity, provider of video-assisted customer support solutions, announced that Staples Business Depot, Canada's largest supplier of business…

Trying on Clothes, 2.0

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Do shoppers want high-tech dressing rooms?

Big-name retail comes to grips with online

July 9, 2008

CNBC: If there's one indisputable truth about retailing on the Internet, it's that the established retail cliques have consistently underestimated how it…

Calgary Co-op completes self-checkout install

July 8, 2008

DALLAS — Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Calgary Co-op) has completed a chain-wide rollout of self-checkout that has enhanced customer service and…

Building the perfect survey

Best-practices for crafting a survey that customers will complete.