Toys 'R' Us adding FAO Schwarz boutiques

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

October 26, 2009

FAO Schwarz, which was acquired by Toys "R" Us in May, today announced that it is opening branded boutiques in 585 Toys "R" Us locations. The company also…

Analyst: Retailers, be afraid of e-books

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

October 26, 2009

Barnes & Noble's recently announced that the $259 Nook e-book reader will undoubtedly drive short-term revenue, but the company may be shooting itself in…

First Microsoft retail store could open next week

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

October 14, 2009

Next week is shaping up to be a big one for Microsoft: Not only is the company preparing to launch its Windows 7 operating system, but according to the Wall…

September retail sales see modest increases thanks to weather, late back-to-school sales

October 13, 2009

Consumers opened up their wallets last month to treat themselves to new Fall apparel and other discretionary purchases, helping September retail sales see…

The Flaming Lips to open pop-up store for one day

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

October 12, 2009

Avant-garde rock band The Flaming Lips is going into the retail business, for exactly one day.

Steve Jobs helping overhaul Disney Stores

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

October 12, 2009

It looks like some of the visionary thinking that went into the Apple Stores is being brought to the retail wing of the Magic Kingdom: The New York Times…

Neiman Marcus gets frugal for the holidays

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

October 6, 2009

A retailer whose name is perhaps antithetical to the concept of frugality is getting a little bit thriftier with its 83rd annual gift catalog.

Report: Store-based retailers see the most potential in mobile

September 30, 2009

RSR Research's latest report, "Online Commerce in 2009: The Model Has Changed — Have Retailers?" finds that store-based retailers see the greatest…

GNC opens new concept store

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

September 29, 2009

Health/nutrition retailer GNC has opened its new prototype store, which it says will serve as the template for future locations. The 3,000-square-foot store is…

Virgin Mobile woos shoppers with free beer

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

September 28, 2009

The new Virgin Mobile web site in Australia uses new nomenclature when describing its customers — in fact, they are no longer called customers, but rather…

Restoration Hardware attempts to differentiate — by raising prices

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

September 23, 2009

It's a move that raises eyebrows at any time, much less during a bad economy, but high-end furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware is raising its prices in…

Performance Bicycle selects 3point5.com for online retail training

September 20, 2009

Performance Bicycle, the nation's largest specialty bike retailer, announced that it has selected 3point5.com to provide online training for its retail…

Roots Canada adds social commerce features to web site

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 31, 2009

Roots Canada, a leading Canadian lifestyle retailer, announced it has added social commerce features to its e-commerce site at www.roots.com. The product…

Jeweler draws in shoppers — with a fully stocked bar

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 25, 2009

Jeff Weiss and his partners have launched an unusual jewelry store in Albany, N.Y., where the emphasis is on more than just buying gems. The 7,000-square-foot…

NRF: Most families slacking off on back-to-school shopping

August 24, 2009

Though school bells in some areas of the country have already started to ring, most parents have a lot of shopping left to get kids ready for the classroom.

Sam's Club, eSoles taking footcare kiosks on cross-country tour

August 24, 2009

Sam's Club and eSoles Custom Footbeds are taking eSoles' 3D TruCapture kiosk scanning systems to Sam's locations across the United States in a series of "road…

Chico's adds live help to its e-tail sites

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 24, 2009

Chico's, which operates three online retail brands (www.chicos.com, www.soma.com and www.WhiteHouseBlackMarket.com), is adding an integrated live help…

Luxury retailers need to personalize the online experience

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 13, 2009

Shopping a luxury retailer is a singular experience — the setting, the products, the (hopefully) excellent service. But most of those things go away when…

Thomas Pink, Warehouse merge channels with BT

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 12, 2009

British luxury shirt maker Thomas Pink and high-street retailer Warehouse have implemented the BT Expedite multi-channel solution to link their online and…

Microsoft unveils retail store logo

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

August 9, 2009

Late last month, Microsoft filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the image you see at the right. The class status for the…