NRF's Sonic Bar highlights retailing innovations

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The high-concept concept store gave attendees a taste of retail's future — one that is available today.

NRF: Clarity unveils POS 'Innovation Lane'

January 12, 2009

NEW YORK — Clarity Consulting today presented its "Innovation Lane" — a new POS technology concept system featuring Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 and unified…

NRF: Torex unveils new customer loyalty system

January 12, 2009

NEW YORK — Torex Retail Holdings Limited today launched its Torex Loyalty system the NRF 98th Annual Convention & Expo. Torex Loyalty enables retailers to…

Smaller stores honoring gift cards from large retailers

January 5, 2009

The Toledo Blade: For the fourth year, Culture Clash, a Toledo, Ohio, store that sells CDs, records, and pop culture merchandise, is accepting gift cards of…

Pointer Media Network launches with data on 80 million shoppers

December 8, 2008

Ad Week: Armed with two years of purchase data for 80 million individual consumers, Catalina Marketing is this week launching a new in-store ad network called…

Meijer offers grocery discounts in exchange for general merchandise purchases

December 2, 2008

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer is rewarding holiday shoppers with a bonus of up to 20 percent off their grocery purchases when they buy general merchandise…

Cellfire wins mobile marketing innovation award

November 20, 2008

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Cellfire Inc., a nationwide mobile coupon and discount offer service, was honored by the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) with the MMA…

Marketing show heavy on innovation

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Fresh ideas from the In-Store Marketing Expo in Las Vegas.

Gift card balances are covered, FDIC says

November 16, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the entity that guarantees bank deposits, has issued an opinion stating that funds on gift cards and…

Connecting with conversational marketing

From "friending" to "tweeting" — social networking at retail.

Leveraging loyalty

November 2, 2008

Key ways you can use data to create an unforgettable experience

Four out of 10 shoppers influenced by social media

October 28, 2008

SEATTLE — Four out of 10 consumers have made a purchase based on advertising they saw on a social media site, and 76 percent welcome advertising on social…

Retailers get hands-on with new tech

Attendance at KioskCom, The Digital Signage Show up from fall.

NRF, Retail Customer Experience announce pavilion partnership

October 14, 2008

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — NetWorld Alliance, publisher of Retail Customer Experience magazine and RetailCustomerExperience.com, and the National Retail Federation…

Foot Locker sued over gift card dormancy fees

October 13, 2008

Associated Press: A New Jersey man is taking on athletic apparel giant Foot Locker over the store's gift card policies, charging in court papers that they…

KioskCom Europe: Lines blur between digital signs, kiosks

Integrated touchscreens, networked signage hint at convergence.

ATMs to dispense Amazon gift cards

October 5, 2008

MESA, Ariz. — According to a news release, Better ATM Services has reached agreements with Automated Cash Management Systems and APTUS Financial to dispense…

Opinion: Most loyalty programs use the wrong incentives

September 22, 2008

Wall Street Journal: The biggest problem with loyalty programs, according to two professors of management science, is that most retailers adopt a…

Customers want to personalize gift cards, study finds

September 7, 2008

Brandweek: Gift cards continue to gain favor as a practical gift-giving alternative. But to attract buyers, more retailers need to provide the option to…

Expert: Shoppers can't afford to be loyal

August 10, 2008

The Globe and Mail: Shoppers cannot afford to remain loyal, according to retail guru and "true-life sixties-era Mad Man" Don Watt. "They will remain loyal if…