Why retailers need to keep a laser focus on the customer

by Jeff Weidauer — Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Vestcom International, Inc.

I spent the first 15 years of my retail career in operations, i.e. working in and ultimately managing stores. Those years gave me invaluable first-hand…

Your price is too high!

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

These words strike fear into the hearts of CEOs and salespeople like no others. The reality is that this is the one statement we should long to hear. Why?

Online shopping up 8 percent in the week before Valentine's Day

February 14, 2014

IBM today released new data from its Digital Analytics Benchmark to capture online shopping trends during the week leading up to Valentine's Day 2014 (Feb. 7 …

NRF: Severe winter weather cripples retail sales

February 13, 2014

Consumers leveled off post-holiday shopping and spending in the beginning of the year due in part to severe winter weather in much of the country. According to…

Merchant Warehouse supports Isis SmartTap in Boston

February 13, 2014

Merchant Warehouse, a provider of payment technologies and merchant services, has announced it is bringing Isis SmartTap capabilities to the point-of-sale…

Sears offering curbside pick-up

February 12, 2014

Sears has announced that it is offering customers the ability to place mobile orders for products and receive them at the store within five minutes, without…

Five tips to make the most of your Valentine's Day retail experience

Only 54 percent of Americans are planning to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, compared to 60 percent last year.

POPAI releases 2014 Mass Merchant Study results

February 12, 2014

Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) announced it is officially releasing its 2014 Mass Merchant Study, a continuation of their Shopper…

NGA reveals Creative Choice Awards 'Best of Show' winners

February 12, 2014

The National Grocers Association has announced its Creative Choice Awards "Best of Show" winners in the Marketing and Merchandising categories at a special…

Retail imports expected to drop in typically slow February

February 11, 2014

Import volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to drop 8.4 percent in February from the same time last year as the shipping cycle…

CardLinx standard takes aim at return fraud

February 11, 2014

The CardLinx Association, a new association that facilitates the interoperability and growth of card-linked offers (CLOs), and Deem, a cloud commerce company…

At Marc Jacobs pop-up shop, customers paid with a tweet

The designer experimented with getting shoppers to trade social currency for their purchases.

Retail CFOs forecast 5 percent sales growth for 2014

February 11, 2014

Despite ongoing market uncertainty, retail chief financial officers are feeling more confident about the state of the consumer. According to a new BDO USA, LLP…

Kroger acquires digital coupon and promotions firm

February 11, 2014

The Kroger Co. today announced it has purchased the assets of YOU Technology Brand Services Inc., a Silicon Valley-based provider of digital coupons and…

Big Lots is now the official Hostess outlet store

February 11, 2014

Hostess shut down its 600 thrift store outlets in the summer of 2013, but the brand announced it is reviving the concept by placing its overstock inventory in…

New social media monitoring, analytics tool hits market

February 11, 2014

Market Force Information, a provider of customer intelligence solutions, is helping restaurants and other multi-location businesses provide better customer…

Victoria's Secret, Nike top retail brand engagement index

Brand Keys has published the results of its 2014 study of emotional loyalty and engagement in retail.

Michael's stores hosting live 'Pinterest parties'

February 10, 2014

Hometalk, a home and garden social network, has announced that its members will co-host Pinterest parties in 100 Michaels Stores nationwide on Feb. 16 from 1–…

Price and profit

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

A January 9, 2014 Washington Post/Associated Press article, "Retailers of all stripes sing holiday blues," states that seven retailers have cut fourth quarter…

Five ways to improve customer service with video

Video can help reduce customer service costs, and is more likely to get your customers engaged.