GlobalShop: Day 1 news roundup

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

March 17, 2008

CHICAGO — Today was opening day for GlobalShop 2008, the 16th installment of the trade show devoted to store design, visual merchandising and in-store…

AOL launches paperless coupon program

March 12, 2008

DULLES, Va. — AOL has launched Shortcuts, its free service for paperless online coupons. The first retail partner to endorse the program is The Kroger Co., the…

Convergence of digital signage, kiosks requires common strategy

March 2, 2008

The growing popularity of digital signage and the strong footprint already established by kiosks makes it impossible for businesses to ignore the two coming…

Customer satisfaction down overall, up online

February 19, 2008

Medill Reports: Another explanation for lackluster consumer spending emerged Tuesday when the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index…

Borders concept store includes digital services

February 13, 2008

USA Today: Borders' new concept store, located in its home town of Ann Arbor, Mich., features a digital center where customers can download music or books…

Up close and personal

February 12, 2008

Becoming familiar with customers builds lasting loyalty.

Online shoppers want user ratings systems

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 11, 2008

Forrester Research recently surveyed 5,000 online shoppers, asking them what they value most from an online experience. The overwhelming majority said they…

Wal-Mart launches online shopping tool for Valentine's Day

February 4, 2008

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart has introduced HelpaChickPick.com and re-introduced HelpaGuyBuy.com, online shopping tools that help customers identify the gift…

Online shoppers expect more from the experience

February 3, 2008

Marketing Charts: Some 67 percent of consumers say their expectations about the quality of their online shopping experience had increased from the previous…

Lack of channel integration creates inefficiency, customer confusion

January 27, 2008

NEW YORK CITY — As the Internet becomes more influential, companies are grappling with the best ways to integrate multiple channels to maximize the customer…

Office Depot adds customer product reviews to Web site

January 27, 2008

South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Delray Beach-based Office Depot, the world's second-largest office supply retailer, recently launched a new product review and…

Interactivity 'the future of customer service'

January 22, 2008

Nikki Baird with Retail Systems Research identified three areas of investment that retailers have eyes on for the coming year: cross-channel care, mobility and…

Retailers need to keep an ear on the phone

January 22, 2008

Scott Caldwell writes on Retail Design Diva about how retailers should keep the telephone in mind when planning their store layouts. Convenient access to…

Crossing channels

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

January 22, 2008

Making your online and in-store experiences consistent is more important than ever. Here's how to do it.

StoreXperience converts mobile phones into personal shopping assistants

January 14, 2008

NEW YORK — StoreXperience, a provider of mobile shopping solutions for retailers, brands and consumers, has introduced a new solution, the StoreXperience easy…

ARTS releases SOA blueprint for retail

January 13, 2008

NEW YORK — The Association for Retail Technology Standards, the standards division of the National Retail Federation, announced the release of the SOA…

Wincor Nixdorf bringing retail IT platform to the U.S.

January 10, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas — Wincor Nixdorf, supplier of IT solutions for the retail and banking industries, announced the U.S. introduction of its TP.net software…

IBM unveils new retail software architecture

January 9, 2008

ARMONK, N.Y. — IBM announced the IBM Retail Integration Framework, an enterprise software architecture designed to help retailers accelerate the…

Sears accused of violating fraud law

January 7, 2008

Reuters: Retailer Sears, Roebuck & Co has been hit with a lawsuit seeking class-action status that alleges a company Web site compromises customers…

Tommy Hilfiger Denim launches interactive storefront

January 2, 2008

LONDON — Customers at selected Tommy Hilfiger Denim stores can now join the Hilfiger Hall of Fame by adding their pictures to an interactive storefront…