Is 'America-washing' the next big thing?

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

Walmart CEO Mike Duke surprised analysts last week by announcing that the majority of the products the retailer sells are made in the United States. The…

Sears announces plans to expand beauty department

April 12, 2011

According to DDI.com, Sears Holdings Corp. has announced plans to expand its beauty departments in more than 100 Sears locations and online.

NCR announces new growth strategy for retail industry in Brazil

April 10, 2011

As part of an initiative to strengthen its competitive position in fast-growing emerging markets, NCR Corp., a global-technology company and ATM manufacturer…

New 500,000-sq. ft. Shinsegae department store design opens in South Korea

April 3, 2011

With the first phase of its design unveiled late last year, CBX, the strategic branding and retail design consultancy, has announced that its Seoul, South…

GlobalShop: Interbrand announces best retail brands of 2011

March 30, 2011

LAS VEGAS — Interbrand, a branding and design consultancy, revealed the findings of its most recent report, “Best Retail Brands 2011,” this week at the…

Jones Lang LaSalle launches social media tool in retail sector

March 20, 2011

Jones Lang LaSalle Retail, a leading retail service provider, has added live retailer social streams on the websites of the centers it manages. The new…

Opinions vary on IKEA store 'maze' layout

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

Some think the layout is meant to be intentionally confusing.

Will new J.C. Penney logo succeed where Gap failed?

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

The retailer's new logo uses the Helvetica font - as did the ill-fated Gap redesign.

Retail installation designed for Puma on display at London’s Selfridges stores

February 24, 2011

According to WIDN.com, London’s Selfridges, a high-end department store chain, is presenting a retail installation for Puma, designed to showcase an…

STORES/BIGresearch survey says consumers investing in small luxuries again

February 22, 2011

New research released by STORES Magazine reports that consumers are slowly starting to enjoy some of the services or items they may have previously sacrificed…

MICROS-Retail announces XBR and Balance Sales Audit versions 7.0

February 21, 2011

MICROS-Retail, a division of MICROS Systems, Inc. and provider of retail technology, announced the release of XBR Loss Prevention and Store Analytics version…

Survey shows majority of shoppers motivated by brand loyalty

February 21, 2011

CrossView, a provider of cross-channel commerce solutions, recently released a survey showing that more than half of 177 shoppers surveyed are motivated by…

Walmart's pricing strategy: Further evidence revisited

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Conflicting stories spawned further research. Did it change my message? A December 2010 Bloomberg Businessweek article cited in my "Further Evidence" article…

ACSI: Customer satisfaction weakens in biggest slump since 2008

February 14, 2011

Customer satisfaction as measured by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has not improved since the middle of 2009, and now registers its biggest…

ACSI falls: Biggest slump since 2008

Strong showings for Amazon, Netflix, Newegg, Publix, Nordstrom, Kohl's not enough to bolster satisfaction.

Is the era of the printed mail-order catalog coming to an end?

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

JCPenney has shut down its catalog after 48 years, but other retailers are using theirs to strategic advantage.

How Much is that Downy in the Window?

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Heard the one about the fabric softener and the sleepwalker? The punch line takes place in a department store.

JCPenney shutting down catalog operations

January 23, 2011

In an effort to "focus on its highest potential growth opportunities by reducing investment in areas of the business that no longer contribute meaningfully to…

Target going into Canada, getting out of the credit card business

January 12, 2011

Target Corp. has announced that it has agreed to pay C$1.825 billion (U.S. $1.84 billion) to purchase from  Zellers Inc., a subsidiary of The Hudson’s Bay…

Target getting ready to start smaller-store experiment

January 3, 2011

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that Target, which has its headquarters in Minneapolis, has chosen 10 cities as possible venues for an…