Five viral marketing mistakes to avoid

There's a lot of buzz surrounding viral marketing — but retailers need to make sure to avoid these common missteps.

ICSC announces Best-of-the-Best Award winners

May 18, 2009

LAS VEGAS — The International Council of Shopping Centers Inc. (ICSC) has announced that four shopping centers have been chosen as ICSC's Best-of-the-Best…

The financial discipline of customer experience

For the retail CFO, customer experience needs to shift from a "nice to have" to a "must have."

Drugstore.com reports big uptick in online coupon usage

May 13, 2009

BELLEVUE, Wash. — drugstore.com, an online retailer of health, beauty, vision and pharmacy products, is experiencing a dramatic increase, up more than 7…

Kraft mobile site offers recipes, shopping lists

May 13, 2009

ClickZ: Kraft Foods has launched a mobile destination offering access to Kraft recipes "on the go." Last year, Kraft launched an iFood Assistant application…

Secrets of high-concept retailers

Retailers such as American Girl that forge their own path thrive, despite tough times.

Bloomingdale's veteran: We need to react to changing shopper attitudes

May 6, 2009

Retail Week: Retailers need to work harder to persuade shoppers to start spending again in what is the most difficult time in the sector's history. That was…

Opinion: Retailers giving lip service to customer service

Noted retail trainer and author discusses how the concept of customer service has been watered down by many retailers.

Report: Online retailers shifting marketing focus

May 4, 2009

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The economy is forcing online retailers to change their marketing tactics in order to acquire and retain customers, according to findings…

Walmart unveils first Hispanic concept store

April 30, 2009

Progressive Grocer: "We are introducing a new and authentic shopping experience that will better serve the needs of the community and will be more relevant to…

Is price the only 'P' that matters?

Convenience-based value propositions are losing their appeal as people are repricing their free time.

HMV to trial cinemas

April 26, 2009

Retail Week (U.K.): HMV will open its first cinema this autumn as it continues to expand its reach beyond core entertainment retailing. It has entered into a…

Finding the financial value of the customer

When making customer service decisions, consider the lifetime revenue each customer provides — and their potential for sending referrals.

Survey shows effectiveness of in-store cosmetics demos

April 21, 2009

GOLDENROD, Fla. — Cosmetic Promotions, a national marketing and promotion company, completed a six-month customer response survey on in-store demonstrations.

Tesco plans next-gen loyalty program

April 21, 2009

Marketing Week: Supermarket giant Tesco intends to create a next-generation loyalty scheme as a powerful weapon in its fight to prevent rivals eroding its…

Office Depot offering free resumes, faxing

April 19, 2009

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced it is offering customers free copies of their resumes and free faxing from April 19 to May 30, 2009.

Mother's Day spending dips, but 'moms will understand'

April 15, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It's not easy having the hardest job in the world, but mom will likely understand the reasoning behind smaller, less expensive gifts for…

Microsoft's Retail Experience Center: It's all about connectedness

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The Redmond giant's retail test lab focuses on connecting all the moving parts of a retail enterprise, right down to the customer level.

New app lets shoppers access in-store coupons on an iPhone, iPod Touch

April 9, 2009

FT. COLLINS, Colo. — Approved by Apple, the new Coupon Sherpa application is available at the iPhone App Store. Finish Line, Zales Jewelers, Coldwater Creek…

New research initiative to measure qualitative effectiveness of in-store marketing

7-Eleven, Ahold, Frito-Lay North America, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages, Walgreens are among the research participants.