More companies realize customer experience will be critical in 2008

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 11, 2008

Forrester Research has just published "Obstacles to Customer Experience Success, 2008," which distills the results of a survey of 287 customer experience…

Wal-Mart countdown clocks mark the minutes to digital TV deadline

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 10, 2008

On February 17, 2009, analog televisions in the United States will no longer be able to pick up over-the-air signals. Research done by the Nielsen Company says…

Wal-Mart launches online shopping tool for Valentine's Day

February 4, 2008

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart has introduced HelpaChickPick.com and re-introduced HelpaGuyBuy.com, online shopping tools that help customers identify the gift…

Putting the 'world' in Wincor World

by Tracy Kitten — Editor, AMC

Steady growth, innovation mark German firm's annual self-service show.

Shoe stores need new format to compete, says study

January 29, 2008

Design Week: Footwear retailers are suffering from high levels of competition from clothing chains, and should develop new store formats to catch up with…

Brand-sponsored events boost purchase intent

January 28, 2008

BrandWeek: A new survey shows in-person events can boost purchase intent by as much as 52 percent. According to the report, released this month by the…

Tesco plans department-style stores

January 23, 2008

Reuters: Tesco has plans to open multiple-level stores, revealing a new threat to store owners like Marks and Spencer and Debenhams. "Where land is premium we…

Interactivity 'the future of customer service'

January 22, 2008

Nikki Baird with Retail Systems Research identified three areas of investment that retailers have eyes on for the coming year: cross-channel care, mobility and…

NRF 08: emphasis on 'green'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Retail's Big Show saw a major emphasis on the environment.

HBO Shop named 2007 Store of the Year

January 20, 2008

Display & Design Ideas: The Gensler-designed HBO Shop was named the 2007 Store of the Year in the 36th annual Institute of Store Planners (ISP)/VM+SD…

German retailer testing RFID for apparel sales

January 20, 2008

New York Times: In the men's department of a Galeria Kaufhof department store in Essen, Germany, every clothing item except the shoes — about 30,000 in all …

Mizrahi parts ways with Target, joins Liz Claiborne

January 16, 2008

Associated Press: Apparel and accessories manufacturer Liz Claiborne Inc. says designer Isaac Mizrahi has been named creative director for the Liz Claiborne…

Ben Stein speaks at NRF

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Actor/economist gives state-of-the-economy address to retailers.

NRF board calls for economic stimulus

January 15, 2008

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The National Retail Federation Board of Directors has called on Congress and President Bush to enact legislation to stimulate the nation's…

Wal-Mart to open small-footprint grocery stores

January 15, 2008

The Arizona Republic: Just one month after Tesco opened its first smaller-scale Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, Wal-Mart Corp. is reportedly planning a…

Study: Pricey products trigger happy responses in consumers

January 15, 2008

MSNBC: The more we believe an item is worth, the happier we are with our purchase — at least for a short time, says a study released in Proceedings of the…

L.L. Bean No. 1 in customer service, according to NRF

January 15, 2008

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Satisfaction guaranteed is a mantra many companies live by, but customers say that none demonstrate that practice more than specialty retailer…

IBM unveils results of new retail loyalty survey

January 13, 2008

NEW YORK — IBM unveiled a new survey of 19,000 U.S. consumers which found that across multiple retail segments, only 21 percent of consumers are advocates for…

ARTS releases SOA blueprint for retail

January 13, 2008

NEW YORK — The Association for Retail Technology Standards, the standards division of the National Retail Federation, announced the release of the SOA…

Wincor Nixdorf bringing retail IT platform to the U.S.

January 10, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas — Wincor Nixdorf, supplier of IT solutions for the retail and banking industries, announced the U.S. introduction of its TP.net software…