The new travel trend: Shopping tourism

April 20, 2012

There's a new buzz phrase in the world of travel: Shopping tourism. According to Forbes, the trend is common, although its new name isn't yet widely known.

Opinion: Customization becoming essential to the customer experience

Far from being just a feature, customization is a product strategy.

Study: In-store messaging is top reason shoppers buy items not on lists

April 17, 2012

Despite a shopping list being a tool to stay on budget and eliminate unnecessary purchases, research shows that nine out of 10 shoppers still buy items not on…

A conversation about building great retail window displays

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

This weekend, MSNBC's "Your Business" ran a segment on the venerable retail window display, and how the basics of good window design are the same for everyone…

Apple partners with French designer Philippe Starck?

April 16, 2012

Apple is working with Philippe Starck, the famous French product designer, on a "revolutionary" project to be unveiled later this year, according to…

44Doors, QR codes and the art of mobile marketing

Tim Hayden, the CMO for mobile marketing company 44Doors, spoke with Mobile Payments Today at the Retail RAMP conference in Chicago. Hayden discussed how…

CXPA accepting CX innovation nominations

April 11, 2012

The Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), an international non-profit organization created to guide and enhance the growing field of customer…

Why pet stores are thriving

April 9, 2012

Pet stores are thriving, and some retail experts think it's because they are catering to pet owners who treat their animals like family members, Joanna Felder…

JCP's ads don't square

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

When JCPenney announced its new pricing strategy, I was one of the few who applauded the move. After seeing their ads, I'm not so sure I was right in doing so.

Can Penney's squareness lead to loyalty?

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Being fair and being loyal are not the same thing. But can one engender the other?

CETW12: Loyalty program uses tablets, smartphones for easy adoption

RewardMe makes it easy for retailers and consumers to embrace loyalty programs.

Canadian grocer launches apparel line to compete with Walmart, Target

April 2, 2012

Loblaw's Joe Fresh, Canada's biggest grocer, opened a flagship store last week on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, but instead of meat and produce, it's selling…

Sony moves to common pricing

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Sony's CEO, Phil Molyneux, announced a move to common pricing beginning April 1, 2012. What is common pricing? More importantly, what is the impetus for this…

Gamers must shop Walmart for full Angry Birds Space experience

March 22, 2012

Players of the newest Angry Birds game, Angry Birds Space, must go through Walmart to unlock the game's first round of bonus content, according to a story on…

Undressing an online loyalty trend

by Phaedra Hise — Senior Editor, COLLOQUY

Flash-sales online retailer Gilt recently announced that it would be offering discounts based on users' Klout scores. It's all very sexy, using online media to…

Angry Birds crashing into retail shelves

March 21, 2012

Angry Birds will be flying to retail shelves nationwide, now that the game’s creator Rovio has partnered with a major U.S. retail chain to put its branded…

Coinstar counting on new kiosk concepts to expand footprint

Movie rentals and coin counting aren't the only markets Coinstar hopes to dominate.

NRF: Easter sales to exceed $16 billion

March 20, 2012

Americans will shell out an average of $145.28 on everything from apparel and candy to food and decorations this year, up 11 percent from $131.04 last year…

The dangers of competitive pricing intelligence

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Many businesses, particularly larger businesses, feel that competitive pricing intelligence is essential to their success. Is that true? Or will their…

Is Klout the new credit score?

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

Celebrities have long been known to receive special treatment. The best seats in the house, front of the line access to the hippest clubs and healthy discounts…