Intelligent online marketing boosts purchases by 25 percent

Marketers must employ direct digital marketing strategies that demonstrate an understanding of how consumers use technology to make purchases.

Is Radio Shack rebranding as 'The Shack'?

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 2, 2009

Founded in 1921, Radio Shack is one of the oldest retailers in the electronics space, beginning its life as seller of high-end amateur radio gear.

How to catch male shoppers: Market to women

The men's grooming market is set to explode, and retailers can reach it more directly by marketing to women.

Opinion: Why customer satisfaction surveys don't work

With 95 percent of our cognitive processing handled by the subconscious, how much value is there in surveys that probe the other five percent?

MarketLive dashboards serve up real-time e-tail data

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 27, 2009

MarketLive announced the availability of its MarketLive Intelligent Insights solution, a SaaS business intelligence package that helps retailers "create…

Netflix CEO: We have no interest in DVD-rental kiosks

July 26, 2009

In the past, Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings has said the company won't be expanding its service to include DVD-rental kiosks, despite increasing…

What the Amazon/Zappos deal means for customers

Amazon has acquired Zappos.com in a deal that exceeds $800 million. From the customer's standpoint, is this a marriage made in retail heaven?

Jeff Bezos apologizes for Kindle/Orwell incident

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 23, 2009

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos knows his company raised a lot of eyebrows last week with its remote deletion of Orwell's "1984" and "Animal Farm" from Kindles of users…

Report: Online retailers focusing on the checkout experience

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 16, 2009

When an online shopping experience is analyzed, most of the emphasis is usually placed on the "front end" — how the site looks to the visitor upon entrance…

Amazon remotely deletes Kindle books that were legitimately purchased

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

In a move fraught with irony, the online bookseller has remotely removed copies of George Orwell books from paying customers' Kindles.

E-tail clinic: The new CircuitCity.com

The electronics retail brand has been revived online by Systemax — so what is it like for customers?

Retailers taking 'Christmas in July' more seriously this year

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 15, 2009

The concept of "Christmas in July" is more than 100 years old, but this year especially it looks like retailers are using the poor economy to suggest to…

Eight tips for better retail brand messaging

A New York City ad agency lays out a process to ensure retail communications reach their full potential.

Nielsen survey: Most people trust online product reviews

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

July 8, 2009

Notable exceptions notwithstanding — Tuscan Whole Milk, anyone? — it appears that most shoppers trust online product reviews.

Amazon explores private label opportunity

The online giant, like many other retailers, is looking to strike gold with the introduction of a new private label line.

Retailers localizing discounts

July 6, 2009

The Wall Street Journal: Retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot have taken on or expanded some form of "localized markdowns," rather than slash prices the…

HSN transformation a success, so far

July 5, 2009

Multichannel News: It was two years ago this month that HSN CEO Mindy Grossman completed what she hoped would be a transformation of the second-largest home…

Despite economy, largest retailers remain power players

June 30, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In spite of economic uncertainties, many of the nation's largest retailers held onto their coveted spots at the top of the retail ladder…

Fighting online shopping cart abandonment

While most e-commerce sites measure conversion, many do not take a structured and proactive approach to abandonment.

Supermarkets intensifying online non-food push

June 18, 2009

Retail Week: Supermarkets look likely to steal a further slice of general retailers' sales as both Tesco and Sainsbury's revealed plans to extend their…