Panera leader: Payment, mobile innovations boosting customer experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Panera Bread is still going full throttle in expanding payment strategies to reduce consumer friction points and enhancing the customer experience.

Report: Retailers aren't evolving fast enough

January 21, 2016

The increasing use of mobile shopping threatens retailers that fail to meet mobile users' expectations for more sophisticated shopping services.

Understanding a consumer's personality is key to engagement, purchase activity

January 11, 2016

Providing the best retail customer experience is tied to many things and one is knowing exactly who the customer is, what they’re looking for and where they’re…

Digital investments key factor in sales growth at J.C. Penney

January 7, 2016

Unlike its competitor Macy's, J.C. Penney is celebrating a sales spike despite warm weather that hindered apparel sales this holiday season and credits its…

Macy's revamp brings layoffs, store closings and deeper ecommerce investment

January 7, 2016

While it's eliminating thousands of job positions the legacy retailer aims to expand ecommerce investment given robust growth in online sales.

Kmart chief: We're focusing on the fun factor and meeting shopper needs

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Kmart's strategy is to provide every shopper, whether online or in a store, the best consumer experience and is relying on both old and new approaches to…

Manhattan Toys 'R' Us closes doors as new year arrives

December 31, 2015

One of New York City’s Times Square retail icons closed its doors this week, with children and adults alike not feeling very jolly about the prospect of never…

Why 2016 may be the year of the mobile website shopper

Next year may be the year of the mobile website consumer, and retailers need to be ready.

Retailers, online and off, enjoy robust holiday shopping experiences

December 29, 2015

The retail holiday sweet spot was furniture purchases as consumers were in a jolly mood to shop, with overall spending jumping 7.9 percent over last year and…

Click and collect: A hat trick retailers can't pull off?

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

'Sort of works' is not acceptable for today's omnichannel consumers.

Zappos’ Santa Claus feat leaves big shoes to fill

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

A recent act of kindness by Zappos has some wondering if it could spin its reputation for feel-good experiences into a marketing tool.

Study: Gift card popularity remains high, consumers eager for mobile storage

December 23, 2015

Gift cards are a popular retail consumer focus this holiday season but they’re also a last-minute gift purchase before the big day.

Year in Review: 5 insights on why data will remain critical in 2016

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Data, specifically given the looming Internet of Things technology ahead, will prove even more critical for retailers in 2016.

Retailers embracing Free Shipping Friday

December 18, 2015

Whether free shipping offers a competitive edge for retailers is a bit murky as the incentive is now pretty much an expected consumer benefit.

Year in Review: Top mobile news, strategy insight of 2015

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

There were two big 'm' words for the small and big retailer in 2015: millennial and mobile. Both factored big in strategy, merchandising, reassessing payment…

Speed, convenience are tops for retail consumers reveals new research

December 17, 2015

Retail consumers aren't very patient with slow loading online stores and are using their smartphones more than tablets this year when it comes to online…

Report: Big sales days reflect big smartphone, mobile consumer use

December 17, 2015

The top retail sales days of the holiday season reflect increasing consumer adoption and reliance on smartphone and mobile device use, according to a new…

Insight on kicking a 2016 retail strategy off on solid ground

by Ethan Whitehill — CEO, two west inc

It's a good idea to review consumer patterns and data from the past year to make sure retail strategy plans for the new year are on track from the start.

Shoes of prey: New time versus personalization trade-off

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

A case of when personalized means more than speed of delivery.

How To: Crafting a retail customer experience to lure millennial consumers

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Rodney Mason, Blackhawk group vice president of marketing, offers tips and insight on how retailers should approach developing and implementing a strategy…