The financial discipline of customer experience

For the retail CFO, customer experience needs to shift from a "nice to have" to a "must have."

Secrets of high-concept retailers

Retailers such as American Girl that forge their own path thrive, despite tough times.

Altierre releases high-contrast displays for shelf-level digital signage

May 11, 2009

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Altierre Corp., a provider of digital signage and wireless dynamic pricing solutions for retailers, announced it has achieved a significant…

Avery Dennison announces mobile merchandising tool

May 10, 2009

PASADENA — Avery Dennison Corp. and Scanbuy Inc. have joined forces to produce a new mobile-merchandising solution that uses camera phone technology to enhance…

Solving the player-to-screen puzzle

How to make the right networking and connectivity choices when planning retail digital signage.

Opinion: Retailers giving lip service to customer service

Noted retail trainer and author discusses how the concept of customer service has been watered down by many retailers.

Rumor: Apple preparing download kiosks

May 6, 2009

Apple Insider: Apple has put some effort into conceptualizing a family of next-generation wireless iTunes kiosks that can be placed just about anywhere…

Sensormatic lets retailers openly, safely display high-theft items

May 5, 2009

SINGAPORE — ADT announced today a comprehensive new line of Sensormatic safers with Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) capabilities. Also known as…

Satisfying the customer whose credit has been denied

The retail credit scene is tough, but retailers don't have to bear the brunt of rejection.

KIOSKCOM: Virgin Megastore exec to discuss self-service

May 3, 2009

Don't let the fact that Virgin is closing its U.S. Megastores fool you: the high-tech, multi-department retailer rocked when it came to providing a cohesive…

IKEA lesson: DIY creates loyalty

May 3, 2009

Tampa Bay Online: The cult of IKEA can be explained through psychology. The Swedish retailer sells mountains of build-it-yourself furniture at modest prices…

Is price the only 'P' that matters?

Convenience-based value propositions are losing their appeal as people are repricing their free time.

Oracle introduces Oracle Retail Data Model

April 26, 2009

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. — To help retailers accelerate their design and implementation of an enterprise data warehouse, Oracle today introduced the Oracle…

HMV to trial cinemas

April 26, 2009

Retail Week (U.K.): HMV will open its first cinema this autumn as it continues to expand its reach beyond core entertainment retailing. It has entered into a…

New retail display system provides item-level intelligence

April 23, 2009

DIXON, Ill. — UPM Raflatac, Seeonic and Alliance have announced the deployment of a new generation of Alliance's MAXRPM, an inventory management system for…

Finding the financial value of the customer

When making customer service decisions, consider the lifetime revenue each customer provides — and their potential for sending referrals.

Tesco plans next-gen loyalty program

April 21, 2009

Marketing Week: Supermarket giant Tesco intends to create a next-generation loyalty scheme as a powerful weapon in its fight to prevent rivals eroding its…

Office Depot offering free resumes, faxing

April 19, 2009

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced it is offering customers free copies of their resumes and free faxing from April 19 to May 30, 2009.

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.

Mother's Day spending dips, but 'moms will understand'

April 15, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It's not easy having the hardest job in the world, but mom will likely understand the reasoning behind smaller, less expensive gifts for…