Lessons in "goodwill" and the power of people

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Blogger and industry expert Chris H. Petersen explains why today's retail customer experience involves a foundation of "goodwill" that drives positive feelings.

India ripe market for Amazon grocery, household product sales

May 14, 2018

Grocery items and household products will likely account for over half of Amazon's India business in the next five years and are already the largest category…

Ulta Beauty tackles retail change by embracing change

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon says the world continues to have a need for human connection and inspiration within the retail environment and that her company…

Panera rolls out nationwide delivery

May 9, 2018

Panera Bread has expanded delivery across the United States with the service now available in 897 cities and 43 states. The service — which is entirely digital…

Survey: Most small retailers are digital-tool hungry

May 8, 2018

The small to mid-size retail business understands the importance of marketing but typically don't have tremendous resources and are "hungry" for tools to drive…

Taco Bell's digital transformation focus of ICX Summit keynote

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Rafik Hanna, senior director, All Access, at Taco Bell will share insight on how the brand is winning big with customers due to its digital transformation…

Kagan: How Best Buy transformed itself for success

by Jeff KAGAN — Wireless Analyst, Telecom Industry Analyst

Jeff Kagan explains why Best Buy is a model of success that struggling retailers may want to take note. The retailer saw what was coming and transformed to…

Sephora shares tips, insight on crafting a retail customer personalization strategy

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Mary Beth Laughton, Sephora's executive vice president for omnichannel, offers up insight on making the shopping experience more personal and that while…

Personalization gaining value in retail customer experience, study reveals

May 4, 2018

Personalization is paying off with nine out of 10 digital marketers reporting a lift in business but more than half describe personalization maturity level as…

Should retailers try to out-Amazon Amazon?

Wanda Cadigan, vice president, commerce, at Sitecore, says the fate of Toys R Us is a prime example of the slippery slope in partnering with Amazon. Brands…

Kmart: Bring your Toys R Us gift cards to us

May 1, 2018

As Toys R Us continues to move forward in its reorganization and bankruptcy process, fellow retail competitor Kmart is offering to help consumers who may be…

Why the best retail omnichannel experience is an invisible one

Joe Rabah, managing director for EMEA, RMG Networks, explains that while customers expect consistent brand interactions across all channels some companies have…

Connecting the dots between retail customer experience, profit

Amy Brandli, director of client services at Centriam, shares data insight on a recent survey that asked consumers what they want and retailers likely aren't…

Lord & Taylor embraces food trucks

April 26, 2018

Stamford, Connecticut, on Monday banned food trucks on Spring Street, where some trucks had set up shop after being forced off of Bedford Street last year…

The future of retail: More tech and even more human

Matt Matsui, senior vice president of products and strategy at Calabrio, says digital transformation isn't just coming — it's finally here and retailers must…

Amex shuttering Plenti loyalty program come July

April 25, 2018

American Express announced in a tweet Monday it would end the Plenti rewards program on July 10 and consumers will lose all accumulated points at that time.

Wayfair launches one-day Way Day retail shopping experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

There's Black Friday and Cyber Monday and now comes Way Day, which will take place April 25 at Wayfair.com. The retailer is launching its own retail 'holiday…

Sionic Mobile, FreedomPay join forces on mobile payments, rewards

April 24, 2018

Sionic Mobile and FreedomPay have entered into a strategic alliance agreement to deliver an enhanced mobile payments and rewards experience intended to help…

Saks Fifth Avenue window display now home to tattoo artist

April 23, 2018

In what has to be one of the most unique cross-brand strategies in retail, high-end luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue is taking a unique window display…

Walmart building, remodeling and tapping interactive displays

April 19, 2018

Walmart is building 20 new stores and remodeling hundreds of existing locations, mostly in Florida and Texas, with new designs on everything from aisle layout…