If the only discernable difference between you and Amazon is the sales tax, you never had a chance in the first place.

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

The recent launch of Amazon's price check app was greeted with everything from retailer outrage to government sabre rattling! Some even called it evil! Really?

3 things shoppers care more about than price

December 28, 2011

American consumers were less concerned with costs during the 2011 holiday shopping season than last year, according to the Foresee E-Retail Satisfaction Index…

Amazon's deadline extended! Quick, what thought pops into your mind?

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

I just received an email from Amazon. In big, bold letters it said "FREE Super Saver Shipping Deadline Extended." Quick, what thought pops into your mind?

It's Amazon's world, we're just living in it

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

It doesn't seem like all that many years ago when Amazon.com was touting itself as the "world's biggest bookstore." I remember listening to its radio ads in…

Waging war: Marketing vs. sales

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

Over the years I’ve seen and heard a lot of commentary about the roles of marketing and sales within organizations. Geoffrey James, a popular sales writer…

Tempt unveils in-store marketing center

December 19, 2011

Tempt In-Store Productions has completed a 100,000-square-foot, in-store marketing display and signage center in New Berlin, Wis. The facility more than…

NRF upgrades holiday forecast, expects sales to rise 3.8 percent to $469.1 billion

December 14, 2011

With just 10 days until Christmas, the National Retail Federation has revised its holiday forecast upward, expecting holiday sales to rise 3.8 percent this…

"I hate coupons!"

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

This from a woman who's been clipping coupons most of her life. What raised this angry cry?

Parents playing with the idea of Netflix-style toy rental

Is toy rental by mail a fad, or is it here to stay?

NRF: Most consumers have most of their gift shopping left to do

December 13, 2011

It's the final countdown. Over the next few weeks, millions of Americans will visit stores and websites in droves – some for the first time all holiday season…

PayPal to enter daily deal space with mobile product

December 13, 2011

A report from Bloomberg said that PayPal will be moving into the daily deal space to compete head-to-head with Groupon Inc. and LivingSocial.com.

NRF: November retail sales rose 4.5 percent

December 12, 2011

Strong promotions on holiday gifts helped a variety of retail categories draw in savvy shoppers as the 2011 holiday shopping season started strong. According…

Nokia India launches marketing campaign for new smartphone

December 8, 2011

In honor of its new smartphone, Lumia, Nokia India is giving more than 5,000 of its retail stores a new look.

Consumers aren't buying into discount promises

December 7, 2011

Despite research stating that most retailers are offering discounts better than or as steep as last year, consumers aren't buying it and are waiting as long as…

Is your marketing magnetic?

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

An interesting fact about magnets is that they can either attract or repel other magnets depending upon their polarity. Marketing also has the ability to…

Five ways digital marketing can improve loyalty programs

In too many cases, new digital channels and a retailer's loyalty program are disconnected.

Geo-fencing makes targeted text offers possible

December 4, 2011

Consumers who visit any of the 27 open-air malls owned by DDR, a commercial real estate company, can receive text messages offering deals from the retailers in…

Location-based marketing may increase in-store traffic

December 4, 2011

Foot traffic on the UK's high streets has seen its sharpest drop since last December's snow, falling 2.3 percent compared to the same period last year…

Price-matching guarantees

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

Target's third quarter profits are up 3.7 percent according to Andria Cheng in her MarketWatch article, Target profit rises better-than-expected, in the Wall…

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: How low can the extreme shopping go?

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

Just about every news story this Monday morning contained statistics relating to the health—or lack thereof—of the economy based on how much we shopped over…