Report: More holiday shoppers will pay with debit, cash

November 16, 2009

It's the year for a little more green and a little less plastic. According to NRF's 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by…

Report: Four ways Millennials will impact retail in coming years

November 16, 2009

Millennials — Americans born between 1979 and 1989 — are one of the largest demographics in the country and will soon be entering a strong growth period in…

Kroger kiosk lets shoppers try wines before they buy

November 16, 2009

Progressive Grocer reports that an innovative new program being tested at a Kroger in Columbus, Ohio. The WineStation kiosk is a temperature-controlled system…

Five things any retailer can learn from Apple

While most retailers can't lean on Steve Jobs for help with reinvention, there are lessons that all can learn from the Apple/Disney partnership.

After last year's tragedy, Walmart prepares for traffic on Black Friday

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

November 10, 2009

With Black Friday on the horizon, Walmart is taking steps to make sure last year's tragic trampling death doesn't happen again.

Altierre introduces out-of-stock sensor tool

November 9, 2009

Altierre Corp. today expanded its line of wireless products with the introduction of the Out-of-Stock Sensor Solution, which alerts retailers when it's time…

NRF releases crowd management guidelines for retailers

November 8, 2009

As one of the busiest shopping days of the year approaches, retailers are focusing on one key component of their holiday plans: crowd control. With the help…

ResponseTek CEM upgrade adds SMS surveys, new reports

November 5, 2009

ResponseTek, a provider of on-demand customer experience management (CEM) software, has announced the Fall 2009 release of its ResponseTek:CEM solution.

Study: Brands more influential than price

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

November 4, 2009

Times may be tough, but that isn't stopping shoppers from buying the brands they prefer. That's the finding of a new study by the Grocery Manufacturers…

Cooking network coming to checkout screens

November 4, 2009

Premier Retail Networks, Inc. (PRN) and Rouxbe Video Technologies Inc., an online cooking school, announced an agreement to present customized cooking…

Customers are buying down, and opportunities are rising, part 3

by Mike Wittenstein — Customer Experience and Service Designer, Storyminers

Customer-centric experience design is explored in this final installment of "Where's the Opportunity?"

Walmart under fire for sick leave policy

November 2, 2009

Punishing workers for taking sick leave puts Walmart on track to be a major spreader of swine flu this fall, according to a new report by the National Labor…

NRF updates 'buyer beware' product list

November 2, 2009

The National Retail Federation has added new products to a consumer alert about common household items being sold through some online auction sites, warning…

Survey: Returns fraud will cost retailers $9.6 billion in 2009

October 28, 2009

Though return fraud continues to plague the retail industry, changes in policies have helped companies see improvements in some areas. According to NRF's…

Digital Signage Association to host free webinar on future trends

October 28, 2009

The Digital Signage Association (DSA) is holding a free webinar entitled "Digital Signage Future Trends" on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 12 noon Eastern time. In this…

Smart retailers fight walk-aways at the checkout

An average of 1.6 percent of customers leaves the checkout queue — and the store — without completing a purchase.

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…

Freakonomics co-author to speak at NRF 2010

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Journalist Stephen Dubner has been added to the roster of "retail's big show," taking place this January in New York.

ISME: Design of the Times 2009 award winners announced

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

At this week's In-Store Marketing Expo, a panel of 100 experts picked the year's best retail marketing initiatives in 16 categories.

ISME 09: Seven tips for marketing to families during a recession

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A fundamental shift in consumer spending has led to new rules for marketing to moms, the "Chief Purchasing Officers" of the modern family.