Trade shows converge on Vegas

The Digital Signage Show debuts in April.

Retail application for Microsoft Surface unveiled

March 24, 2008

SEATTLE — Accenture and Avanade announced the availability of their first retail showcase application for Microsoft Surface, a 30-inch surface-computing…

Grocers turn to 'in-store theater' to attract shoppers

March 23, 2008

The Age (Australia): Supermarket customers can now get ready for a show in the shopping aisle. As the battle for the grocery dollar becomes more intense…

Ikea experience builds extreme brand loyalty

March 23, 2008

The Spokesman Review: Of all the home furnishers out there, none offers a comparably multifaceted experience to Ikea. Inexpensive bedding, tables and kitchen…

Email is the worst channel for customer service

March 23, 2008

SME Web: Email is officially the UK's worst channel for customer service, according to research. eService provider Transversal's third annual Multi-channel…

Country's largest Wal-Mart almost complete

March 23, 2008

Display & Design Ideas: Wal-Mart plans to open its largest Supercenter in the country in Albany, N.Y. The 260,000-sq.-ft. supercenter will combine a…

Customers may oppose charges for plastic bags

March 20, 2008

Marketing Week: Consumers are opposed to a "nanny state" approach to the use of plastic bags, according to research company Ipsos Mori, and they may oppose…

Think globally, sell locally

March 19, 2008

Cultural sensitivity can attract ethnic customers.

GlobalShop: A.R.E. award winners announced

March 19, 2008

Display & Design Ideas: A.R.E., formerly NASFM, hosted its annual Retail Design Awards at GlobalShop Tuesday evening. The Store of the Year award went to…

GlobalShop: Symon, Madix unveil screens at the shelf level

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

March 19, 2008

CHICAGO — A partnership between digital signage company Symon and Madix Store Fixtures and Displays was unveiled this week at GlobalShop.

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…

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…

Wal-Mart tweaks store for Arab-Americans

March 16, 2008

Associated Press: Shoppers at the new Wal-Mart in a Detroit suburb known as "the capital of Arab America" can now find the whole-wheat cookie Mamool on the…

Personas connect retailers, shoppers

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Fictional customers can lead to real-world improvements.

AOL launches paperless coupon program

March 12, 2008

DULLES, Va. — AOL has launched Shortcuts, its free service for paperless online coupons. The first retail partner to endorse the program is The Kroger Co., the…

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…

Kroger testing wireless coupons

March 9, 2008

Advertising Age: Five top package-goods manufacturers are using mobile phones in an effort to revive the art of coupon redemption. Procter & Gamble…

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.

Half of consumers would give up convenience packaging for green reasons

March 2, 2008

MILAN, Italy — According to a Nielsen Global Food Packaging Survey, nearly one in two global consumers would give up all forms of packaging provided for…