CXPA announces Customer Experience Innovation award winners

May 14, 2014

The Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), an international non-profit organization created to guide and enhance the growing professional field…

Improving your culture by sharing your story

by Andrew Sharpe — Retail Strategist, BRANDSPANK

Over the past few years the concept of "storytelling," from a marketing and branding perspective, has gained tremendous momentum. To someone like me, I see…

How to be smart in a world of dumb retail mistakes

by Kristen Gramigna — Chief Marketing Officer, BluePay

There are no "magic bullets" that will instantly transform your retail store into a customer magnet. But there are steps you can take to avoid sabotaging…

The rise of the millennial and what it means for retail

by Clare Evans

Making up a fourth of the population and responsible for over $600 billion in annual marketplace spending, it is little wonder that retailers are racing to win…

The two sides of customer service training

by Shep Hyken — CAO, Shepard Presentations

Understanding what it means to deliver great customer service and being the type of person who can deliver it are two very different things. Anyone can read…

Speed and quality: Must they be mutually exclusive?

by Jeannie Walters — Chief Customer Experience Investigator, 360Connext

Speed vs quality: Which is more important to your customers? And what impact does each of them have on the customer experience?

Is the Apple retail model right for your company?

by Kristen Gramigna — Chief Marketing Officer, BluePay

With more than 9,000 stores at its peak, Blockbuster enjoyed a competitive advantage that no rival could duplicate. But with the ease and convenience of online…

Retail lessons for today, learned from PBS' Mr. Selfridge

It turns out that what was true 100 years ago in retail is still true today.

Creating a differentiated experience that customers actually enjoy

Too often, unfortunately, retailers' differentiated customer experiences blend together in a sea of sameness.

A boutique approach to loyalty, in four steps

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

When it comes to competing against low-priced giants, specialty shops should ignore the specials and focus on the personals.

What are you looking for: The cure or the story?

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Seth Godin is one of the most prolific writers and users of social media on this planet. He also writes very catchy headlines, like this one that caught my…

How to create a drama-free store

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

Staff drama can have a negative impact on morale, the customer experience, and sales results. Unfortunately, retail is essentially a petri dish for drama. Lots…

Customer service goal: We don't want you to come back

by Shep Hyken — CAO, Shepard Presentations

Do you ever get the feeling that some business' customer service goal is the keep the customer from coming back?

CFI Group receives statistical modeling patent for customer satisfaction research

March 28, 2014

CFI Group, a customer satisfaction measurement and analytics firm, announced it has been awarded Patent No. 8,666,515. According to the company, this patent…

What not to do when you lose a customer

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

A business owner's worst nightmare is learning they've lost their best customer.

NRF to host second virtual career fair

March 25, 2014

The National Retail Federation today announced it will host its second Virtual Career Fair, designed to connect students and young professionals seeking…

How to make a better wireless store experience

Expectations of wireless carriers continue to rise, not just coverage and pricing but also the in-store experience.

Retail roundtable: What could Radio Shack have done differently?

Is this once-great retailer going to go the way of Circuit City?

What retailers can learn from the hospitality industry

Transforming culture requires a shift in focus, where friendliness and helpfulness are emphasized as much as efficiency.

Three ways retailers should prepare for the 'Internet of Things'

Retailers must prepare now for the changes that are coming. Here are three ways to get a head start.