Store makeover starts at Orange to improve customer care facilities

September 3, 2008

Mobile Today (U.K.): Orange is looking to boost the quality of customer service in its stores by giving new and existing stores improved customer care…

Gaps closing between consumer multichannel expectations, retailer readiness

August 25, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc. company, today released the results of a recent survey that shows that the gaps are closing between…

Using the VIP treatment as retail differentiator

August 24, 2008

The Age (Australia): Butlers, concierges, valets, stylists and personal assistants who will pick out a sweater for your pooch — these and more will be offered…

Customer-centric planning

Retailers must look at touchpoints from the shopper's point of view.

Circuit City brings tablet PCs to the aisles

August 20, 2008

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. and Circuit City Stores Inc. have announced that select Circuit City stores are empowering their sales associates with tablet…

The pursuit of pampering

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 17, 2008

The Lexus experience goes from the showroom to the waiting area. Result? Total luxury.

Neighborhood retail making a comeback

August 17, 2008

Springfield Business Journal: During the past 50 years, the commercial development industry has followed rooftop demographics as they moved farther out on the…

Grocery shopping more enjoyable now than in the 1950s, says shopper

August 17, 2008

Elizabethton (Tenn.) Star: Jeanette Hyatt says shopping for groceries in 1953 was like "being in slow motion" when compared to grocery shopping today. Grocery…

Madden 09 draws midnight crowd

Food, games and a live band used to get gamers to stay up late and shop.

Nine West pilots item-level RFID

August 11, 2008

NEW YORK — Jones Apparel Group Inc. announced that it has initiated a program to evaluate RFID technology in select Nine West retail locations. The goal of…

Expert: Shoppers can't afford to be loyal

August 10, 2008

The Globe and Mail: Shoppers cannot afford to remain loyal, according to retail guru and "true-life sixties-era Mad Man" Don Watt. "They will remain loyal if…

China shop boosts customer service with real-time location system

August 10, 2008

RFID Journal: When a customer is ready to make a purchase at high-end china retailer William Ashley, a salesperson runs an inventory check for the items via…

Future Shop unveils quadrant-based layout, central hub

August 10, 2008

The Vancouver Sun: Future Shop has unveiled its first new store format in eight years with a feature that has taken a firm grip on the interior design world …

Retailing to the digital native

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A new type of shopper requires a new level of engagement.

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…

Web merchants stepping up their customer service

August 3, 2008

Internet Retailer: A good call center agent who is courteous, knowledgeable and professional when the pressure is on is hard to find and even harder to keep.

The changing face of the department store

The venerable retail institution rolls with the times.

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…

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.