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.

Global e-commerce sales to hit $1.5 trillion, driven by growth in emerging markets

Asia-Pacific leapfrogs North America to become world's largest regional e-commerce market.

January retail numbers: Shoppers battle the weather for good deals

Shopper traffic and window conversion showed improvement over last year for yet another month.

NGA launches digital media center

February 4, 2014

The National Grocers Association has announced a new partnership with Media Solutions Corp. to launch the NGA Digital Media Center. According to the companies…

Gallery Furniture to refund $7M to customers after Seattle Super Bowl win

February 4, 2014

Seattle's Super Bowl XLVIII win meant a great deal to more than 1,000 Houston families who purchased furniture from Gallery Furniture leading up to the game.

Caribou Coffee installs larger-than-life Pinterest board at Mall of America

February 4, 2014

To celebrate the launch of its new Real Inspiration blend, Caribou Coffee has installed a 64-foot-tall "Living Pinterest Board" in the rotunda of the Mall of…

Consumers likely to be frugal for Valentine's Day

February 4, 2014

On the heels of a healthy yet modest holiday shopping season, cautious consumers aren't quite ready to splurge on Valentine's Day this year, continuing to keep…

Shoppers increasingly want in-store experience to mirror online

February 3, 2014

Even as online shopping continues to grow, more U.S. shoppers are planning to make purchases from physical stores, according to the results of the latest study…

89 percent of moms are regularly prompted by coupons to buy new food items

January 31, 2014

A study of more than 2,200 moms who primarily buy food for their family at supermarkets reveals that an overwhelming majority (89 percent) are regularly…

Infographic: BLE vs. NFC

This infographic compares the key similarities and differences between Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and Near Field Communications (NFC) in how they are…