'Extreme Couponing' should give retailers, brands and tech providers nightmares

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

I'm normally loathe to go anywhere near reality television — and has there ever been a more dishonest or inaccurate label for a genre than that one? — but I…

GlobalShop: Interbrand announces best retail brands of 2011

March 30, 2011

LAS VEGAS — Interbrand, a branding and design consultancy, revealed the findings of its most recent report, “Best Retail Brands 2011,” this week at the…

GlobalShop: Starbucks, Whole Foods localizing redesign efforts to increase community contact

by Kim Williams — Reporter, NetWorld Alliance

Community involvement, locally sourced and reclaimed materials are key to establishing and retaining customer loyalty.

Price Chopper to implement IBM data-warehouse platform

March 22, 2011

IBM today announced that Price Chopper, a Golub Corp. company and one of the largest supermarket and pharmacy chains in the Northeast region, will implement…

Walmart plans to open ‘Express’ stores across the country

March 20, 2011

According to Twice.com, Walmart is planning to open Walmart Express stores across the country, possibly totaling in the hundreds.

Some supermarkets eliminate rebates for reusable bags

March 15, 2011

According to the JournalGazette.net, some supermarket chains are eliminating reusable bag rebates because the incentive isn’t making enough of a difference.

Meijer announces $75 million investment in Michigan and Ohio stores

March 14, 2011

Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer with supercenters in five Midwestern states, will invest more than $75 million in a major remodel project for…

Improving the customer experience with smart technology

The Innovation Lane concept demonstrates how a checkout process based on Microsoft technology can morph checkout lanes into an extension of loyalty and…

Herbal Essences launches Microsoft Tag displays

March 3, 2011

Herbal Essences recently launched a new retail campaign using the Microsoft Tag on in-store shelf talkers. The Tag help shoppers determine which collection of…

In-store coupon kiosks saving grocery shoppers money

February 27, 2011

Customers at Food Lion supermarkets are using more coupons than ever since the grocery chain deplolyed coupon-dispensing kiosks inside stores.

Proposed legislation would eliminate price stickers in Michigan

February 27, 2011

According to The Detroit Free Press, shoppers in Michigan may no longer see price stickers on merchandise because of pending legislation supported by Gov. Rick…

Walmart's pricing strategy: Further evidence revisited

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Conflicting stories spawned further research. Did it change my message? A December 2010 Bloomberg Businessweek article cited in my "Further Evidence" article…

ACSI: Customer satisfaction weakens in biggest slump since 2008

February 14, 2011

Customer satisfaction as measured by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has not improved since the middle of 2009, and now registers its biggest…

ACSI falls: Biggest slump since 2008

Strong showings for Amazon, Netflix, Newegg, Publix, Nordstrom, Kohl's not enough to bolster satisfaction.

Five ways to win back new private-label shoppers

American consumers continue to switch to lower-cost, private-label goods across every supermarket category.

A missed opportunity to add loyalty value?

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

At COLLOQUY, we regularly discuss the benefits of using loyalty program data to improve customer relationships and targeted customer communication. But can a…

Walmart's healthy new turn: What it means for IT, competitors

The retailer's recent announcement represents yet another dramatic reinvention of the Bentonville giant.

DIY Should Mean Saving Money At Home and the Store

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

The latest grocery news is that the Kroger Co. is testing a new self-checkout technology. My question is: What’s in it for me?

ShopperGauge report examines in-aisle display effectiveness

January 6, 2011

The suppliers of the ShopperGauge technology have announced the release of a new case study targeted at answering one of the retail industry's top in-store…

Reduced Space Symbology increases efficiency, convenience at Dorothy Lane Markets

Revolutionary small barcode from the Uniform Code Council brings robust identification to produce and meat categories.