Rebuttal to Mary Hunt in Woman's Day Magazine: Retailers Don't Trick Customers

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Mary Hunt takes aim at retailers by telling Amiable personalities they are all wrong and should become like her, an Analytical. I hate this type of X-files…

If the Culture Fits

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

In the humorous commercials from California’s Milk Advisory Board, viewers are told that "great cheese comes from happy cows." Whether or not cheerful bovines…

Card Sharps: How Hallmark reinvented its loyalty value proposition

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

Hallmark is an American classic, a nearly 100-year-old, third-generation family-owned company with deep roots in Kansas City, Missouri. But even long-standing…

Wasting Time with Walmart

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

I have to run an errand to Wal-mart today and I’m dreading it. 

Generosity

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

The core behaviors of any business have a lot to do with their fundamental beliefs around generosity.  For some, generosity is a core value.  For others, it's…

No, Your Customer Can't Put Off the Purchase!

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

If you can't find the energy to explain why waiting is not an option, you'll never make a sale in this economy. And the more expensive the item is that you…

Ready for the hook plus line and sinker in the store?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

I needed to buy a down pillow. That’s how it started. I needed something softer than the hard, bouncy pillow I’d been sleeping on for months, so I thought…

A Dollar a Day

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Have we lost touch? 

Limelight Marketplace

by Jim Joseph — President, Lippe Taylor

If you live in NYC or plan to visit soon, you have to check out something really special. The Limelight Marketplace. For those of you who don't know The…

The Aspirational Tourist

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Remember your last out-of-town getaway?  You probably wandered into a few shops at your destination to browse, buy a few mementos, or just pass the time before…

Does Starbucks’ new free Wi-Fi offer really raise the loyalty bar?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

No one who loves Starbucks doesn’t love the fact that they’re now offering free Wi-Fi in its over 6500 locations, right?  My question is: How much will this…

Why Your Best Managers Have To Drink

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Driver personalities are the natural leaders.  When they are second-guessed, their motives and methods questioned and they are not allowed to shine, or made to…

Dollars and Sentiments. The Real R.O.I. on Social Marketing

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

With the rush to social marketing, some companies are falling prey to a few common pitfalls that are ultimately derailing their success.  In this article…

Sourcing Retail Store Fixtures from China

Sourcing fixtures from China can increase ROI, but a careful eye must be kept on hidden expenses and quality.

The Right Way to Rollout

When rolling out a fixture installation, companies can choose to use in-house staff or outsource to an experienced company. Learn the pros and cons of each…

Fuel perks plus retail equals savvy loyalty play

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

With an economy that is recovering slowly and still keeping millions of Americans unemployed and in a recession-based, purse-strings-tightening mode, it’s…

Privacy Is Dead... And It Could Be Great

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

Facebook recent announcement about its intentions to collect and store personal data has privacy advocates up in arms.  But could the move actually vastly…

Disney Store launching “magical new store design”

May 11, 2010

Disney Store announced today that it was launching "a magical new store design" in major markets across the United States and Europe this summer.

Walmart planning small for the future?

May 10, 2010

According to ProgressiveGrocer.com via FinancialTime.com, Walmart plans to open a miniature version of its Supercenter stores in the Los Angeles area. The…

NCR showcasing new era c-tailing solutions at FMI 2010

May 10, 2010

NCR Corp. will demonstrate its converged retailing — c-tailing — solutions for multichannel retailers in booth #1952 at FMI 2010, the largest food industry…