The Brain Exchange: Customer service training

At this year's Retail Customer Experience Executive Summit, Retail Doctor Bob Phibbs led a table discussion on customer service training. Here is his brief…

The Brain Exchange: Employee-driven results

At this year's Retail Customer Experience Executive Summit, Evencia Leite of Trendsource led a table discussion on how to drive employee-driven results. Here…

How to replicate Disney's first-class customer experience

by Gary Edwards — Chief Customer Officer, Emathica

The Walt Disney Company has been pleasing audiences with its multi-faceted approach to entertainment since 1923. The envy of marketing executives around the…

Forecast calls for big jump in seasonal hiring

September 23, 2013

According to the sixth-annual survey commissioned by Snagajob, more holiday seasonal jobs should be available this year compared to last year.

Whole Foods launches training program for aspiring butchers

September 18, 2013

Whole Foods Market announced that it is launching an in-store Meat Apprenticeship Program for its team members interested in mastering the age-old profession…

Turning a frown upside-down: How negative WOM can help your brand

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Why Jerry Seinfeld is a customer service consultant

by Micah Solomon — president, four aces inc

"We're craving the nondigital even more these days, the authentically human interaction," says Jerry Seinfeld, explaining (I would argue) not just live standup…

A brainstorming tool to use with your staff

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

Your employees are a tremendous source of information and insight. They can share how to deliver a better customer experience, or how to sell more. They might…

Jim Knight on how to find, hire and keep the right people

Training and business culture veteran Jim Knight was the opening keynote speaker at this year's Retail Customer Experience Executive Summit, held August 13-1…

NRF issues statement on employee strikes

August 29, 2013

Responding to today's low-wage retail workers strike (or "planned labor action" according to some), impacting chains such as Walmart, Macy's, Sears and Dollar…

NRF puts focus back on benefits of retail jobs

August 27, 2013

As wage discontent still looms over the retail and foodservice industries, brands from both sectors have begun fighting back with PR campaigns aimed at…

RCEES: Jim Knight talks about service that rocks

by Natalie Gagliordi — Editor of KioskMarketplace.com, Networld Media Group

The former Hard Rock trainer gives tips on how to treat your business like a band.

Report: Appliance customers seeking end-to-end experience

August 7, 2013

Appliance retailers need more than just a large selection of appliances or the best prices to satisfy their customers, according to the J.D. Power 201…

Apple is going to business school

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

There is always a lot of press about Apple. There are Apple stock forecasts, new product predictions and literally hundreds of stories about their stores. But…

Showing your appreciation (or not)

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

As leaders we sometimes do things that, entirely unbeknownst to us, have a negative impact on our staff. One example of that is how we come back into the store…

Empathy, emotion and the customer experience

Eighty percent of companies think they deliver great experiences, but only 8 percent of customers agree.

Commentary: Why retail must differentiate or die

Retailers can no longer be all things to all shoppers.

New solution helps control labor, inventory costs

WhentoManage has launched a new platform to help control inventory and labor costs, said Walker Thompson, VP of sales and marketing. The solution connects the…

Microsoft attempts to boost sales with Best Buy mini-stores

June 14, 2013

Microsoft has announced that it will open 500 mini-stores within existing Best Buy locations in the U.S., selling Windows-based tablets, computers and other…

ShiftNote: 'Post Its are so last year'

Leigh Ann Thompson of ShiftNote chats about how the company's digital solution makes communication easy for managers who need to pass on info to one another as…