Hordes line up to cash in gift cards

December 25, 2007

The Arizona Republic: For those who love to shop, what happens Wednesday could be as exciting as unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day or during Hanukkah. Malls…

Report: 40 percent of shoppers rely on directional signage

December 19, 2007

A recent study conducted by M/A/R/C Research found 40 percent of shoppers rely on directional signs while shopping. The group polled almost 23,000 shoppers…

Retail Wi-Fi open to hacking

December 19, 2007

Security consultancy AirDefense recently published its "2007 Retail Shopping Wireless Security Survey," which found that most of the wireless devices in use…

Retailers: make customer experience 'more theatrical'

December 19, 2007

A new report from Datamonitor shows that retailers are seeking to win back market share by making the customers' shopping experience more theatrical, with…

Retailers to discuss 'green' initiatives at NRF

December 19, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Speakers at NRF's 97th Annual Convention and EXPO, January 13-16 in New York City, will teach retailers how to Dream Big and Dream Green.

One in five shoppers will favor 'green' retailers this season

December 19, 2007

USA Today: One in five people surveyed said they will buy more eco-friendly products this holiday and shop more at "green" retailers that make efforts to save…

NRF: U.S. should follow Europe's lead on 'hidden' credit card fees

December 19, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Retail Federation welcomed a ruling by the European Commission that hidden fees currently charged by MasterCard to process…

Measuring and managing the customer experience

December 19, 2007

Retailers must measure, manage and improve the experiences of their customers, in order to grow their businesses effectively.

Fossil integrates retail, wholesale operations

December 19, 2007

The global watch and accessory company wanted to integrate information systems for its growing retail operation with the SAP software environment that…

New retail trend: 'park-your-husband lounges'

December 19, 2007

Forbes: When men accompany their ladies on a shopping trip, the last thing stores — and women — want is a nagging, bored husband. After all, the more time…

What does online shopping really cost employers? About $7

December 18, 2007

Forrester Research released a composite overview of the "typical" multi-channel shopper - someone who shops online, through catalogs and in retail stores.

Survey: customer service trumps price

December 18, 2007

A recent benchmark survey on "The State of Retail Workforce Management," conducted by Retail Systems Research (RSR), and sponsored by Kronos Inc., indicates…

POPAI research: digital window signage increases footfall

December 18, 2007

Research commissioned by 3M and POPAI demonstrates the effectiveness of back-projecting dynamic promotional messages onto shop windows.

Customer satisfaction takes first dip in two years

December 17, 2007

Customer satisfaction is down for the first time since early 2005, according to the third quarter report of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Importance of casual web surfers on sales 'exaggerated'

December 16, 2007

In a private poll conducted at an annual conference of the catalog and multi-channel retail industry, key industry players revealed that a surprisingly low…

Let your customers break (fresh) bread

December 13, 2007

If Ron Wilkinson has his way, consumers are about to acquire a taste for very, very fresh bread. His Bread Bakery, a 7-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide machine, churns…

JCPenney launches 'Know Before You Go' campaign

December 13, 2007

If you can't beat 'em, integrate 'em: JCPenney recently unveiled a new initiative on its Web site, "Know Before You Go," aimed at bringing the online and…

The planning puzzle

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

For technology, intelligent planning makes all the difference.

Snag shoppers with self-service

Self-service is a key part of any smart multi-channel strategy.

Nike opens first NikeID Studio

December 10, 2007

Nike recently opened its first "NikeID Studio" in London, following similar installations in New York City, Paris and Osaka. The concept connects the in-store…