Can you steal an experience?

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

"Stealing an Experience" is completely different at the consumer and professional levels. At the consumer level, it might mean watching two movies on one…

Canadian comm company Rogers redesigns stores

May 17, 2012

Rogers Communications, Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services, has launched its new retail store concept with the grand…

Despite reboot, JCPenney still struggling

May 17, 2012

It's not looking good for JC Penney despite its new look and goal to turn around sales. The company reported Tuesday that its first quarter loss was bigger…

Why customers seem scarce - part 3

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

In the previous two segments (1, 2) we learned how industry overcapacity, a dying industry and a perception that our competitors' offerings are superior cause…

Q&A with Bryan Pearson, author of 'The Loyalty Leap'

Pearson discusses the importance of relevance when it comes to building a loyalty program that people will care about.

NRF: Retail marks 22 consecutive months of growth

May 15, 2012

Unseasonably warm weather in February and March and an early Easter holiday shifted consumers' spending appetite last month, though retailers in April still…

Is Walmart losing out on deeper loyalty by not offering loyalty cards?

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Walmart remains one of the few giant retailers which does not yet offer a customer loyalty card. In the new book, Walmart: Key Insights and Practical Lessons…

What does Facebook's app store mean for retailers?

The bottom line for retailers is this: Now, the way Facebook works can be customized to lift sales.

Where Best Buy went wrong

Experts discuss why the retail giant is shrinking and whether it can stage a comeback.

Smartphone apps could be retailers' No. 1 ally

May 9, 2012

Smartphone apps could be the magic bullet of marketing for retailers, according to a December 2011 ABI Research survey of U.S. consumers. The study, "Mobile…

Portlogic develops mobile coupon delivery system

May 9, 2012

Portlogic Systems Inc., a mobile and Internet software developer and kiosk solutions provider, has launched its new proximity coupon push system. The…

Two tales of retail showrooming

by Jeff Weidauer — Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Vestcom International, Inc.

By now most folks have heard about "showrooming," the relatively new activity where consumers visit a brick and mortar store, look at a product they are…

7-Eleven using smartphones to launch interactive campaign

May 7, 2012

Thailand 7-Eleven customers can now use their smartphones to interact in real time with television, online and radio commercials. Powered by technology from…

How to help shoppers increase spend this Mother's Day

Mother's Day shopping can be big bucks for retailers, but there are still a few ways to get shoppers to spend even more.

Target to debut home collection from Nate Berkus

May 4, 2012

Nate Berkus, probably best known as Oprah's design guru, is Target's latest design partner.

Brick-and-mortar's inherent advantage: In-store relevance

Smart retailers make customers feel that their preferences, wants and needs are a priority from the minute they walk into the store.

Brand attachment: The Barefoot Bandit and our sense of self

What an 18-year-old on a crime spree teaches us about branding.

Why Customers Seem Scarce - Part 1

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

Far too many sellers suffer believe that customers are scarce and that they can't raise prices for fear of losing the customers they have.

This Mother's Day, say it with plastic?

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Every year we spend billions of dollars trying to find a way to thank our mothers for labor pains and unconditional love, but it turns out our primary display…

My two newest favorite terms

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

If you've read my book, then you know that I'm not a big fan of marketing buzz words. You know the ones: words that get used over and over, all day long, to…