Starbucks 40th Anniversary

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

When Starbucks announced its new logo earlier this year, they said that it was just the start of something big. We got all a twitter about it, but I for one…

Why I continue to encourage higher prices

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

Even as I advocate higher prices, I understand that they will inevitably fall.In his book, The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley offers countless examples of how…

IBM report: The smarter consumer has arrived

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Growing numbers of people are "instrumented," using two or more technology channels to shop.

Herbal Essences launches Microsoft Tag displays

March 3, 2011

Herbal Essences recently launched a new retail campaign using the Microsoft Tag on in-store shelf talkers. The Tag help shoppers determine which collection of…

Have you outgrown your market?

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

When you've become the best of the best, what do you do next?I've recently begun working with a gentleman who has reached the pinnacle of his profession and…

D3 unveils custom LED digital display for new GUESS flagship store

March 2, 2011

D3 LED LLC, a provider of specialized LED (light emitting diode) digital display applications, has created a custom LED digital display for the brand GUESS.

Best Buy jumping on the free-delivery bandwagon

March 1, 2011

Best Buy Co. Inc. is now offering free delivery, haul-away service and no-interest financing on all its home appliance purchases, the company said on its…

Simplicity as a competitive advantage

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

Simplicity is a competitive advantage. Most people overcomplicate things, and when they do they lose their effectiveness. Here are some examples I've seen and…

In-store coupon kiosks saving grocery shoppers money

February 27, 2011

Customers at Food Lion supermarkets are using more coupons than ever since the grocery chain deplolyed coupon-dispensing kiosks inside stores.

Five rules of real-time marketing

Use new tools and tech to know your customers, and interact with them appropriately.

Panphonics Directional Audio Speakers installed in 7-Eleven in-store digital networks

February 23, 2011

Panphonics, a provider of directional audio speakers, announced Wednesday that its patented Sound Shower loudspeakers have been installed in the industry’s…

The communication station: are you making your connections?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

Savvy loyalty marketers know that deeper engagement and personalized communication are the biggest loyalty drivers for high-value customers, not mass e-mail…

What you can't teach buyers

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

There are some things you just can't teach buyers. Nor should you try.As sellers, we can educate buyers on:

Amazon offering unlimited instant streaming to Prime members

February 22, 2011

According to WSJ.com Market Watch, Amazon announced yesterday that it is now offering unlimited instant video-streaming of movies and TV shows at no additional…

Five barriers to building retail customer loyalty

Loyalty programs should be about companies demonstrating their loyalty to customers, not the other way around.

Kmart offering discount flu shots, with loyalty card points

February 17, 2011

With flu season at its peak and the possibility of cases occurring as late as May this year, Kmart announced it is offering $15 flu shots, while supplies last…

Walmart's pricing strategy: Further evidence revisited

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

Conflicting stories spawned further research. Did it change my message? A December 2010 Bloomberg Businessweek article cited in my "Further Evidence" article…

The Enduring Allure of the Secret Handshake

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

The world is an increasingly inclusive place and as a society, we've grown to expect equal and open access to just about everything. Facebook has become the…

Mobile Monday: Bebe app

The Bebe app offers just about everything a customer would want, but can be difficult to navigate.

Tried and true, or tired and through

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

I was talking with a retailer Monday who discussed with me all of the changes and decisions she needs to make concerning her stores, including investing in new…