IBM unveils new retail software architecture

January 9, 2008

ARMONK, N.Y. — IBM announced the IBM Retail Integration Framework, an enterprise software architecture designed to help retailers accelerate the…

Digital signs, original content coming to Wal-Mart Canada

January 8, 2008

LONDON, Ontario — EK3 Technologies Inc., a digital merchandising firm, has announced an original in-store program recently launched in Wal-Mart Canada stores.

NRF to focus on tech beyond the store

Show looks at relationship between retail, emerging technology.

U.S. retail sales rise 14 percent after the holidays

January 2, 2008

Reuters: Post-holiday discounts and shoppers redeeming gift cards helped boost retail sales 14 percent for the last full week of December, according to data…

Apparel brand loyalty 'a thing of the past'

January 1, 2008

Sify: For a brief while, apparel brands seemed to think they could ride on brand equity alone and consumers would lap up anything. Not anymore. With so many…

Retailers rebound from disappointing holiday

December 27, 2007

Business Week: After the most disappointing holiday sales season in five years, retailers are turning to "desperation discounting" to rescue bleak holiday…

Retailers brace for fiercely competitive 2008

December 26, 2007

The Kansas City Star: The new year is still days away but retailers have already decided how to rock your world in 2008. Expect a fiercely competitive year as…

The Tesco-Kroger connection

December 25, 2007

Wall Street Journal: Britain's largest retailer, Tesco PLC, opened its first stores in the U.S. last month, but Americans have already gotten a taste of the…

Independent merchants fight big retailers with selection, service

December 25, 2007

The Columbus Dispatch: This season finds independent retailers across the country dealing with a new set of economic challenges even as they still contend…

Home Depot launches project-oriented store

December 19, 2007

RICHMOND HILL, ON. — The Home Depot Canada is changing the way customers shop for home improvement projects with the opening of its first project-orientated…

Best Buy, Circuit City compete for NY holiday shoppers

December 19, 2007

USA Today: Consumer electronic rivals Best Buy and Circuit City are battling head-to-head in Midtown Manhattan this holiday season. The duel was set up when…

POPAI research: digital window signage increases footfall

December 18, 2007

Research commissioned by 3M and POPAI demonstrates the effectiveness of back-projecting dynamic promotional messages onto shop windows.

More gift cards going unredeemed

December 17, 2007

A Consumer Reports survey conducted in October found that among people who received a gift card during the 2006 holiday season, 27 percent of them left one or…

Let your customers break (fresh) bread

December 13, 2007

If Ron Wilkinson has his way, consumers are about to acquire a taste for very, very fresh bread. His Bread Bakery, a 7-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide machine, churns…

JCPenney launches 'Know Before You Go' campaign

December 13, 2007

If you can't beat 'em, integrate 'em: JCPenney recently unveiled a new initiative on its Web site, "Know Before You Go," aimed at bringing the online and…

The planning puzzle

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

For technology, intelligent planning makes all the difference.

Snag shoppers with self-service

Self-service is a key part of any smart multi-channel strategy.

Nike opens first NikeID Studio

December 10, 2007

Nike recently opened its first "NikeID Studio" in London, following similar installations in New York City, Paris and Osaka. The concept connects the in-store…

GameStop opens 'tournament center'

December 10, 2007

The Escapist: GameStop has announced the opening of its first combined store and "tournament center" in San Jose, Calif. The location is 4,000 square feet in…

The psychology of digital signage

by David Drain

A neuroscientist analyzes the effects digital signage has on the brain.