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…

New Nokia store designed for interactive retailing

February 12, 2008

Design Week: A new Nokia concept store is built around an interactive customer experience, with functioning handsets for customers to play with and a…

Software-as-a-service for in-store digital signage

February 11, 2008

The distribution model is one of the most important aspects to investigate when selecting digital signage software.

Inserts more influential than TV ads

February 11, 2008

BALTIMORE — Vertis Communications announced the tenth anniversary of its proprietary Vertis Customer Focus study, which has been analyzing the key trends…

More companies realize customer experience will be critical in 2008

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

February 11, 2008

Forrester Research has just published "Obstacles to Customer Experience Success, 2008," which distills the results of a survey of 287 customer experience…

Peter Luckett: 'Banish the bland'

Innovative grocer shares tips on building a great customer experience.

Adidas unveils new store design

February 10, 2008

DNR: Adidas unveiled a new store design for its Adidas Originals boutique in Soho on Feb. 2. The refashioned store also serves as the U.S. launch pad for the…

Borders analyzes efficacy of its email coupon program

February 10, 2008

Stores: Kevin Ertell, vice president of e-business at Borders Group, wanted a clearer understanding of how behavior differed between "coupon seekers" (shoppers…

Chocolate lounge invites customers to sit back and relax

February 4, 2008

Display & Design Ideas: In recent years, chocolatiers have picked up on consumers' fond sentiments for the cocoa bean and have begun opening chocolate…

Putting the 'world' in Wincor World

by Tracy Kitten — Editor, AMC

Steady growth, innovation mark German firm's annual self-service show.

Luxury consumer confidence hits all-time low

January 30, 2008

Display and Design Ideas: Luxury consumer confidence has never been lower, dropping 23.8 points from the third quarter to 63.6 points in the fourth quarter…

Shoe stores need new format to compete, says study

January 29, 2008

Design Week: Footwear retailers are suffering from high levels of competition from clothing chains, and should develop new store formats to catch up with…