A View into Your Holiday Morning

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Regardless of the Black Friday hype, the holiday shopping season still has a long way to go. After all, the Saturday before Christmas is often the busiest…

The holiday retail frenzy begins, but what about long-term loyalty?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

Every year, the holiday retail frenzy seems to start earlier and earlier. This time around, it seemed like the Halloween decorations weren't even put up before…

Rumors of the Death of Aspirational Shopping Are Greatly Exaggerated

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

The goal of aspirational brands is to allow us to feel better about ourselves. That’s what we have always done. And always will do.

This Year, Let the Grown-Ups Have a Holiday

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Good news for retailers: Children may find actual brand-name toys – not recession-age oranges, IOUs or dollar-store coloring books – in their stockings this…

Yes Virginia, Retail Holiday Sales Will Suck... Again!

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Wherever you look from now until the first week of January, there will be one consistent message: retail holiday sales will suck. That's because the evidence…

Nordstrom Integrates Social Media on New Web Site

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

Nordstrom's new website is killer. It blends the best of efficiency and design in one site that's easy to use, feels great, and keeps the customer focused on…

Choo-Choo! Shoppers May be Trading Up

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Chin-up, glossy-floored department stores. U.S. retailers may be experiencing a reversal of fortune, if a couple of recent earnings reports are an indication.

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…

Retail summit will feature shop-a-long tour of Chicago's largest mall

July 21, 2010

Attendees at the Retail Customer Experience Executive Summit, August 1-3 in Chicago, will begin the event with a visit to Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in…

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…

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…

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.

6 Big Ideas for a New Decade in Retail

by Doug Stephens — President, Retail Prophet Consulting

The pace and volume of change is exponential.  We are witness to massive shifts in consumerism, technology, economics and sociology.  In this article, we…

Four lessons to learn from the success of Miracle Mile Shops

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The Vegas shopping destination has posted double-digit growth for four consecutive months. Here's how.

Mall of America going after luxury shoppers with remodel

April 25, 2010

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that a $5 million renovation to the iconic Mall of America is taking aim at luxury shoppers. Carpet is being replaced with…

Shopping center uses Facebook promotion to snag new fans

April 18, 2010

Upscale Houston shopping destination Uptown Park has announced a new Facebook promotion aimed at getting more people to interact with the company on the…

Malls filling empty space with entertainment options

March 30, 2010

A report from Oregon Live suggests that malls can make excellent use of their vacant space by putting in entertainment destinations, the kind of attractions…

Retailers tackling 'mountains of data'

January 3, 2010

A new report in the New York Times discusses the "mountains of data and whiz-bang technology" that today's retailers are wrestling with, in their ongoing…

7 keys to customer experience in 2010

True dedication to the voice of the customer will be pivotal for retailers looking to improve their customer experience in the coming year.