Opinion: 12 ways to maximize the customer during a recession

The author of Retail Business Kit for Dummies weighs in with tips on how to get more out of each customer interaction and drive repeat business.

Tough times drive retailers back to basics

The economy is prompting a number of retailers to drop their experimentation with millennial marketing.

Queue management targets the last stage of the purchasing process

Discipline blends design, engineering and technology to maximize efficiency and reduce walk-aways.

Discounters snag upscale customers, but do they build loyalty?

Newly frugal shoppers may love the savings at discount stores, but they're not loving the experience.

Research: Mobile retail apps have massive growth potential

A new survey reveals that while most online shoppers have mobile phones, only a fraction have used them while shopping.

Putting your best customers to work for you

The best retailers don't just serve their customers — they put them to work, on behalf of the organization.

Five ways retailers can use Microsoft Tag today

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Redmond's new mobile barcode app offers some incredible flexibility for creative marketing — and it is available and ready to use right now.

Globalshop 2009: The changing face of in-store marketing

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Next month's event will focus heavily on new trends in fixtures, screens and the store as media marketplace.

Six commandments for retailers to survive

The former executive vice president of Men's Wearhouse shares wisdom needed to make it through the coming months.

Wincor World focuses on service, automated checkout

by Tracy Kitten — Editor, AMC

Wincor Nixdorf says its latest innovations are enhancing the shopping experience for both retailers and consumers.

Move over TJX: Heartland data breach may be biggest yet

With literally tens of millions of card transactions at risk, malware found on the server of Heartland Payment Systems may make history.

NRF: Stu Armstrong on in-store digital media

At retail Big Show, the president of the Digital Signage Association delivered 11 reasons to deploy in-store media.

NRF sees green with eco-friendly concept store

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

At this year's Big Show, attendees got a glimpse of what a truly environmentally friendly store might look like, and how it would operate.

Microsoft opens new Retail Experience Center

The fully functional store environment will serve as an incubator for customer experience ideas and technologies.

NRF: Outgoing Wal-Mart CEO stresses opportunity

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

H. Lee Scott, Jr. emphasizes an upcoming period of opportunity for both the nation and the retail industry.

Shoppers willing to pay more for products they can touch

A new study suggests that consumer desire for a product is intensified at the moment of first contact.

Store traffic reporting - are new tools needed?

Commentator Judy Hopelain says retail traffic numbers are conflicting, and possibly part of a "massive undercount."

Photo gallery: The retail windows of Christmas 2008

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The retail window display is a fixture of holiday merchandising, and nobody does it better than New York City.

Five ways to reduce product returns

When customers return products, look to the source to find out why and put a stop to it.

Consumer desire driving green retail IT

Shoppers increasingly value transparency, sustainability when making buying decisions.