Meredith Video Studios and PRN, Inc. partner to deliver video content in retail outlets

April 18, 2011

Meredith Corp. announced yesterday an agreement between Meredith Video Studios, its multiplatform and branded-entertainment division, and Premier Retail…

Walmart purchases startup Kosmix

April 18, 2011

According to NASDAQ.com, Walmart will acquire Kosmix Corp. to accelerate the company's social and mobile commerce offerings. Terms of the deal were not…

Mobile Monday: Meijer Find-It app

Mobile Mondays is a weekly column on mobile apps by retail customer experience authority Mike Wittenstein. Each week, you’ll get a test drive of a leading…

NRF: March retail sales indicate confident, but cautious, consumer

April 12, 2011

According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales in March increased across the board for the ninth straight month. For March, retail industry sales…

'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…