Opinion: Why mobile coupons are not the answer

One expert says displaying a barcode coupon on a smart phone is a poor way to address consumer desire for value.

Survey: Outlook for back-to-school shopping season improving

July 26, 2010

Shoppers are putting down their pencils and turning to social networks and mobile phones this back-to-school shopping season, according to a new consumer…

Seven requirements for becoming customer-centric

Retailers are trying to embed customer orientation into their culture, but most are struggling to make real progress.

Competition, What Competition?

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

A tale of two Apple fans

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

I've so far resisted the urge to add to the number of electrons spilled over the whole iPhone 4 debacle, but a couple of very different reactions to the…

Sears, Kmart launch Facebook program for new college students

July 25, 2010

Getting ready for college is an exciting time, but it can also be an overwhelming affair for students and parents with so many important decisions to make. To…

Card Sharps: How Hallmark reinvented its loyalty value proposition

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

Hallmark is an American classic, a nearly 100-year-old, third-generation family-owned company with deep roots in Kansas City, Missouri. But even long-standing…

Sears, Kmart use loyalty program for charity

July 20, 2010

While many Americans have had to scale back charitable giving during these financially difficult times, their desire to give to those less fortunate has not…

American Eagle: Try on jeans, get a free smart phone

July 20, 2010

American Eagle Outfitters has announced a back-to-school promotion in which every customer who tries on a pair of AE jeans receives a free smart phone after…

'New movers' become big retail opportunity

A growing number of Americans are relocating for work, sun or family, creating a marked uptick in household spending.

Satisfying the substance shopper

Customers are reaching out to connect with the products they buy in more direct, personal ways.

Are Your Offerings Competitive?

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

New report spells out importance of multichannel marketing

July 18, 2010

New research launched this week by the Australian Centre for Retail Studies (ACRS) suggests that retailers could miss out on enormous sales opportunities if…

Generosity

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

The core behaviors of any business have a lot to do with their fundamental beliefs around generosity.  For some, generosity is a core value.  For others, it's…

Ready for the hook plus line and sinker in the store?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

I needed to buy a down pillow. That’s how it started. I needed something softer than the hard, bouncy pillow I’d been sleeping on for months, so I thought…

What Is Price?

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

What is Price? Ridiculous question... ...or thought-provoking insight? Ted Gorski, Executive Coach and host of The Business Advantage Radio Show at WKXL…

Facebook 'Like' widget affecting retail marketers

Like is rapidly becoming an index of content, based on mass popularity as opposed to an arbitrary Google algorithm.

Mobile barcodes continue march towards mass adoption

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

Using 2D barcodes as virtual loyalty cards that offer rewards is  a significant investment for large retailers, who must invest in special equipment to read…

What We Can Learn from Bankers

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

The manufacturer's role in shopper-centric category management

Manufacturers and retailers need to work together to get the most benefit from shopper-centric analytics.