Hilton teams up with Amazon in loyalty program strategy

November 10, 2017

Hilton Honors members can now link Amazon accounts to their Hilton account and shop Amazon using Hilton points, according to a TechCrunch report.

Harry & David pumps up brand, mobile, social to enhance customer experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Premier gourmet food and gift retailer debuts updated brand look, feel and tone, from its website to its catalogs and across social media. It's all focused on…

Consumers love retailers with multiple channels, reveals survey

November 8, 2017

The more channels available for customer service, the happier a consumer is, reveals a Narvar survey on shopper behavior.

UK customer experience is getting weak, claims study

November 6, 2017

Retail brands in the U.K. aren't meeting growing consumer expectations and are struggling to deal with consumer queries, reveals an Eptica study.

The new face of disruption: Retail in the digital age

David Rosen, digital transformation technologist and strategist,TIBCO Software, shares how industry leaders, like Amazon, are laser focused on innovating the…

Why is everyone so freaked out about automated customer service?

Nick Francis, CEO of Help Scout, shares how automation, if done well, can lead to higher customer satisfaction and a better experience. Instant gratification…

Don't be overwhelmed by omnichannel: A practical guide to implementation

Michael Ringman, CIO, Telus International, explains why omnichannel customer service isn't just about who has the longest list of 'contact us' options…

Outdoors retailer shuttering doors on Black Friday

October 31, 2017

For the third year in a row, outdoors retailer REI won't be open on Black Friday.

First Data expands availability of Clover via Apple retail stores

October 30, 2017

First Data has announced new initiatives with Apple designed to broaden the distribution of First Data's Clover devices and accelerate the expansion and…

Storis to introduce kiosk for home furnishings retailers

October 27, 2017

Storis, a retail software solutions provider, has announced a new kiosk solution that brings a key component of in-store technology to home furnishings…

Top 5 skills every frontline associate must have

Kevin Nix, CEO and co-founder, Stellar Loyalty, explains why tech-savvy frontline employees must have five specific skills and why retailers must invest in…

Lowe’s Orchard Supply Hardware refreshes brand to drive better customer engagement

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

The retailer is tapping a new creative platform developed by consultancy Persuasion Arts & Sciences to refresh the brand, build deeper engagement with…

Price not the only focus for consumers these days

October 25, 2017

While the price point will always be a top consideration for the consumer, other factors, from in-store events to great service, are also top of mind…

Understanding the why and how of the analytics plan

Tom Schoen, president and CEO, BTM Global, explains how there is often a gap between what a retailer wants to know and what's truly important to operations and…

Venmo acceptance comes to 2M online merchants mobile digital wallet pos

October 25, 2017

Venmo users can now shop on their mobile phone and make purchases at more than two million U.S. retailers via the mobile web, according to a press release.

United Airlines secures EZ Access certification for self-serve kiosks

October 24, 2017

United Airlines has incorporated EZ Access technologies into its self-service kiosks to better ensure that the kiosks are accessible to all travelers.

Delivering great customer service with a minimal customer support team

Scott Voigt, co-founder and CEO, FullStory, offers up best practices to keep customer support quality high and costs low while delivering a great customer…

Ikea vending machine offers kitchen tools

October 23, 2017

Ikea has installed a vending machine at a Stockholm subway station to sell small kitchen items such as a garlic press, an egg slicer and other tools, according…

Study: Retailers lack tools to tap customer data

October 20, 2017

More than half, 58 percent, of retailers don't have in-store tools to view and analyze customer data across touch points, and of those who do, just 64 percent…

Rent-A-Center's 'Inner Circle' is about meeting customer needs and much more

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

A mobile-first community and customer insight platform is not only booting customer engagement and interaction for the home furnishings retailer, but spurring…