Sigma Micro unveils new software suite for multichannel retailers

June 15, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS — Sigma Micro, a software and outsourced e-commerce services provider for direct retailers, announced today the availability of SigmaCommerce 4.4…

Culinary retailer spices up customer experience with Pluris

June 15, 2009

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Pluris Marketing, a provider of marketing solutions, has announced that Sur La Table has chosen Pluris to develop its next-generation…

Five underutilized features of the modern POS

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Today's point-of-sale systems are sophisticated business tools, but many retailers are still using them as glorified cash registers.

RetailWire Discussion: Most loyal customers aren't profitable

A recent Harvard Business Journal article suggests that few customers are profitable — and of the ones that are, most are not loyal.

In-flight merchandising menu might bring shopping to the skies

June 4, 2009

The Denver Post: Air passengers soon could shop, reserve theater and theme-park tickets, and purchase vouchers for taxis and trains — all from their seats.

Victoria's Secret launches mobile site

May 31, 2009

Promo: Mobile is considered a highly personal medium, and intimate apparel retailer Victoria's Secret is raising that intimacy bar with the soft launch of a…

Krillion adds video games to local search index

May 31, 2009

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Krillion has added video games to its enormous local search index. Krillion's real-time product search technology, which already powers…

Unilever testing mobile coupons

May 28, 2009

The Wall Street Journal: Seeking to marry a ubiquitous device with a time-tested marketing technique in a sour economy, Unilever plans to begin a trial run…

Commentary: Online retail over-analyzed, 'stripped of all brand soul'

A brand consultant argues that too much emphasis on search engine optimization has diminished the online shopping experience.

Is Amazon considering bricks-and-mortar?

May 26, 2009

Tech Flash: Is e-commerce giant Amazon.com getting into the brick-and-mortar retail business? The online retailer was granted a patent on Tuesday for a…

Eileen Fisher selects Escalate for multi-channel

May 21, 2009

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Escalate Retail has announced that EILEEN FISHER, a clothing company with 44 retail stores and accounts at all major department stores, has…

Systemax relaunching CircuitCity.com

May 20, 2009

This Week In Consumer Electronics: Systemax plans to relaunch CircuitCity.com within the next two days, according to an announcement on the bankrupt retailer's…

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.

Systemax wins Circuit City e-commerce business

May 11, 2009

Reuters: Consumer electronics seller Systemax has won a bankruptcy auction for the e-commerce business and intellectual property of Circuit City Stores Inc.…

Study: Customer experience the lynchpin of multichannel success

May 7, 2009

Retail Week: IBM retail and consumer products industry leader for Northwest Europe Andy Park said that the promiscuity with which consumers switch between…

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…

Shop.org adds drugstore.com CEO as keynote speaker for annual summit

April 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shop.org has announced that Dawn Lepore, chief executive and chairman of the board of drugstore.com Inc., will keynote its Annual Summit…

Live chat drives sales, satisfaction — but only when executed honestly

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Web retailers that offer live text-chat assistance can increase conversion and generate word-of-mouth, but poor or dishonest execution can spell disaster.

Opinion: Loyalty is more than points programs

Building a perfect loyalty program requires a delicate balance between reward and customer effort — and online retailers are leading the way.

Webinar: Behind the fall of a retail giant: Seven things every retailer can learn from the collapse of Circuit City

The recent collapse of once-great electronics retailer Circuit City sent shockwaves through retail – but to many, it wasn't entirely a shock. Two former…