Holiday e-commerce spending: $38.5 billion in 2010

More online deals means more shoppers will stay home on Black Friday, according to report.

An independent retailer's viral plea for business

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Here in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, one of the most iconic fixtures of the local retail scene for the past 25 years has been the music store Ear…

Target is testing shopkick

November 15, 2010

Target today became the first mass-discount retailer to make the shopkick mobile application available to its guests. Users of the app will receive points and…

Driven by social networking, retailers' 'owned media' set to rival paid media for primacy

November 14, 2010

Media Logic has published the results of a two-month study tracking the social media- marketing efforts of 100-national retailers. The study offers concrete…

J.C. Penney unveils two new brands

November 11, 2010

J.C. Penney Co. has launched the Growth Brands, a division that will pursue high-potential opportunities in the retail sector. Growth Brands' initiatives will…

Sears, Kmart unveil Facebook e-gift program for holidays

November 10, 2010

Giving the gift of a Sears or Kmart gift card has gone social as the retailers announced the introduction of eGifting on Facebook. The new Sears and Kmart…

Three-quarters of consumers plan to shop on Black Friday

Nearly two-thirds plan to make online purchases on Cyber Monday.

Target Marketing Hits Home With CoupSmart

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Marketers spend a lot of money tracking what we buy so they can tailor promotions to our specific needs. Now, we consumers can take that tracking into our…

Digby, Invodo partnership brings e-commerce video to smartphones

November 9, 2010

Invodo, a full-service e-commerce video partner for online retailers, and mobile commerce provider Digby announced that they have formed a partnership.

Kenneth Cole launches 'digital wish list'

November 9, 2010

Kenneth Cole is celebrating this holiday season with his "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR" campaign, kicking off the brand's first ever digital "Wish List" and…

CETW: Target exec hits the bullseye with CETWorld keynote

by Christopher Hall — w, t

Christopher Borek detailed Target's 8-point strategy for connecting with shoppers.

Black Friday: Great strategy or sheer folly?

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

Retailers have decided to move Black Friday, the day they begin their heavy holiday season discounts, up a month. Typically Black Friday is the day after…

MyMacy’s initiative customizes merchandise to boost loyalty

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

I was heartened by a recent Detroit News article that reported on a new Macy's initiative called MyMacy's, which allows managers to customize merchandise in…

Survey: Average holiday shopper plans to spend $845 on gifts

2010 is expected to have a more optimistic outlook for holiday gift spending when compared to last year.

Pricing for Social Entrepreneurs

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

In order to do good...

Execs from Macy's, Brooks Brothers, Disney, HSN headline NRF's 100th Annual Convention

November 1, 2010

When the National Retail Federation's 100th Annual Convention arrives in New York in January, 100 years of history will come along with it, as well as some of…

Best Buy expanding Magnolia program

October 28, 2010

Best Buy is opening Magnolia Design Centers, the company's premium home entertainment and electronics brand, in two more California locations.

Can Halloween scare up more retail sales?

Trick-or-treating can be just as indicative of consumer interest in holiday purchases as back-to-school.

Using assumptions as a problem-solving tool

Author shares a four-question approach to isolating and solving operational problems.

Cost of Loyalty – For Retailers

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Often times, as I cash in my CVS Extra Bucks or Nordstrom Notes, I wonder how much these loyalty programs cost retailers. For some, I imagine they are a…