U.S. consumers making fewer shopping trips

March 18, 2008

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — U.S. consumers are making fewer shopping trips across most retail outlets as they look for ways to combine errands and save money in an…

Virtual friends

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

March 18, 2008

Build-A-Bear Workshop is the latest toy brand to connect products and online.

Marketing in motion

March 18, 2008

Gesture-based digital signage draws customers into stores.

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…

RFID a boon for retailers, bane for privacy advocates

March 16, 2008

Associated Press: The problem with RFID, critics say, is that the microchipping of products might have unintended consequences. With tags in so many objects…

Personas connect retailers, shoppers

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Fictional customers can lead to real-world improvements.

Freedom Shopping unveils RFID checkout solution

March 12, 2008

HICKORY, N.C. — Freedom Shopping Inc. announced the availability of an OEM offering that plugs into existing cash registers and point-of-sale terminals to…

Harris poll: Consumers expect retailers to know their preferences

March 10, 2008

Advertising Age: A Harris Interactive poll finds that a whopping 95 percent of people believe it is at least somewhat important that companies know "who I am…

Bergdorf Goodman named 2008's best customer experience

March 9, 2008

NEW YORK — High net-worth consumers rated Bergdorf Goodman the retailer that offers the best customer experience in the 2008 Luxury Customer Experience Index…

Fotozines revive novelty concept

Theme park favorites making their way into malls, cinemas.

Customer experience spending will intensify in 2008

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

March 5, 2008

According to a new report just published by Forrester Research, customer experience spending is about to take off to new levels.

Airport retail, foodservice trending toward more local flavor

March 4, 2008

The Salt Lake Tribune: Airports are responding to longer passenger wait times by improving the quality and focus of their retail and restaurant offerings.

Grabbing shoppers by the nose

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Intentional use of scents can profoundly impact the customer experience.

U.S. retailers just beginning to understand customer experience, report says

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 27, 2008

Forrester Research has published "The State of Experience-Based Differentiation," a summary of its recent survey of 287 customer experience decision-makers…

Starbucks closes 7,100 stores for training

February 26, 2008

Wall Street Journal: Starbucks Corp. retaught baristas how to make espresso shots, steam milk and hand drinks to customers while it shut down nearly 7,10…

Opinion: the shopping experience can be more important than the product

February 24, 2008

Advertising Age: Nordstrom executives long have made it their business to do whatever is necessary to please the consumer — everything from stocking every…

Blog: recession will be helped by 'reproduction mania'

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 21, 2008

Heather Strang, blogger for Retail Design Diva, isn't particularly worried about the effect a possible recession would have on retail. No, she says, there are…

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…

Starbucks to offer both free and paid Wi-Fi

February 13, 2008

Display & Design Ideas: Starbucks Corp. and AT&T announced plans to deliver AT&T Wi-FiSM service at more than 7,000 company-operated Starbucks…

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…