AT&T offers customers location-based mobile advertising

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

Customers are concerned about charges for text ads and number of messages.

Mobile Monday: Coach Gift Finder

This special-purpose app's elegance is in how easily it helps customers find the perfect gift.

Integrating Social Media into Customer Service

Although there are more ways than ever before to engage with customers, keeping track of all of those conversations and providing a consistent message can pose…

The three key attributes of effective mobile retail apps

Very few successfully incorporate all three, and without all three, an app will likely be short-lived.

New study says creating emotional ties with consumers is a successful strategy

March 9, 2011

According to NRF.com, a recent research study by Kurt Salmon, a global management consulting firm, says that consumers feel a personality connection to the…

Starbucks 40th Anniversary

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

When Starbucks announced its new logo earlier this year, they said that it was just the start of something big. We got all a twitter about it, but I for one…

Why I continue to encourage higher prices

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

Even as I advocate higher prices, I understand that they will inevitably fall.In his book, The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley offers countless examples of how…

IBM report: The smarter consumer has arrived

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Growing numbers of people are "instrumented," using two or more technology channels to shop.

Herbal Essences launches Microsoft Tag displays

March 3, 2011

Herbal Essences recently launched a new retail campaign using the Microsoft Tag on in-store shelf talkers. The Tag help shoppers determine which collection of…

Have you outgrown your market?

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

When you've become the best of the best, what do you do next?I've recently begun working with a gentleman who has reached the pinnacle of his profession and…

D3 unveils custom LED digital display for new GUESS flagship store

March 2, 2011

D3 LED LLC, a provider of specialized LED (light emitting diode) digital display applications, has created a custom LED digital display for the brand GUESS.

Best Buy jumping on the free-delivery bandwagon

March 1, 2011

Best Buy Co. Inc. is now offering free delivery, haul-away service and no-interest financing on all its home appliance purchases, the company said on its…

Simplicity as a competitive advantage

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

Simplicity is a competitive advantage. Most people overcomplicate things, and when they do they lose their effectiveness. Here are some examples I've seen and…

In-store coupon kiosks saving grocery shoppers money

February 27, 2011

Customers at Food Lion supermarkets are using more coupons than ever since the grocery chain deplolyed coupon-dispensing kiosks inside stores.

Five rules of real-time marketing

Use new tools and tech to know your customers, and interact with them appropriately.

Panphonics Directional Audio Speakers installed in 7-Eleven in-store digital networks

February 23, 2011

Panphonics, a provider of directional audio speakers, announced Wednesday that its patented Sound Shower loudspeakers have been installed in the industry’s…

The communication station: are you making your connections?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

Savvy loyalty marketers know that deeper engagement and personalized communication are the biggest loyalty drivers for high-value customers, not mass e-mail…

What you can't teach buyers

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

There are some things you just can't teach buyers. Nor should you try.As sellers, we can educate buyers on:

Amazon offering unlimited instant streaming to Prime members

February 22, 2011

According to WSJ.com Market Watch, Amazon announced yesterday that it is now offering unlimited instant video-streaming of movies and TV shows at no additional…

Five barriers to building retail customer loyalty

Loyalty programs should be about companies demonstrating their loyalty to customers, not the other way around.