Digital download tech takes aim at DVD rental kiosks

Warner Bros. and Paramount have become the first major studios to allow retail digital delivery. Does the agreement signal a new business model for movie…

Costco calls shoppers to warn them about recalled products

January 25, 2009

MSNBC: Jon Lowder usually disdains computer-generated telephone calls — "robo-calls," he grumbles — but when he got two this week from Costco Wholesale Corp.…

NRF: Stu Armstrong on in-store digital media

At retail Big Show, the president of the Digital Signage Association delivered 11 reasons to deploy in-store media.

Localization, not standardization, the new winning retail strategy

January 21, 2009

Wall Street Journal: With consumer confidence eroding and retailers seeing sharp declines in sales, Edeka is one of several Western European grocers taking…

New research reveals the best retail customer experiences of the year

January 19, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Retail Customer Experience magazine announced the publication of its inaugural Best Retail Customer Experiences report, a comprehensive…

Shopper marketing finally getting respect it deserves

January 18, 2009

Adweek: While 21 million people waltzed over to their sets to watch an average episode of Dancing With the Stars last year, and American Idol cast its spell on…

NRF sees green with eco-friendly concept store

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

At this year's Big Show, attendees got a glimpse of what a truly environmentally friendly store might look like, and how it would operate.

NRF: Clarity unveils POS 'Innovation Lane'

January 12, 2009

NEW YORK — Clarity Consulting today presented its "Innovation Lane" — a new POS technology concept system featuring Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 and unified…

NRF: Outgoing Wal-Mart CEO stresses opportunity

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

H. Lee Scott, Jr. emphasizes an upcoming period of opportunity for both the nation and the retail industry.

Stop & Shop expands scan-and-bag program

January 11, 2009

Progressive Grocer: Ahold-owned Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. yesterday completed the rollout of its Scan It! scan-and-bag system to 50 additional stores in…

Winn-Dixie unveils new store prototype

January 8, 2009

Display & Design Ideas: Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. recently opened a prototype store in its existing SaveRite location on…

Shoppers willing to pay more for products they can touch

A new study suggests that consumer desire for a product is intensified at the moment of first contact.

Kroger data-mining drastically increases coupon redemption

January 6, 2009

Washington Post: Although the recession has revived penny-pinching, Americans are still redeeming only one to three percent of paper coupons. In contrast, the…

Top 10 customer experience resolutions for the New Year

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

January 4, 2009

Bruce Temkin, customer experience blogger and vice president with Forrester Research, has just published his Top 10 resolutions companies should be making in…

Store traffic reporting - are new tools needed?

Commentator Judy Hopelain says retail traffic numbers are conflicting, and possibly part of a "massive undercount."

Grocery stores stepping into the financial services world

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Recent additions to Kroger's financial services product line see the company moving into territory traditionally dominated by banks.

Italian supermarket giant installs electronic shelf labels

SISA installing "epop" displays in 15 locations before Christmas.

Personal shopping devices prepare for tipping point in 2009

December 17, 2008

Retail Touch Points: Personal shopping devices for consumers are reaching their "tipping point." With at least one high-profile retailer signaling success with…

How retail can benefit from social media

December 17, 2008

The Gourmet Retailer: For some retailers, social media is proving to be a valuable tool for engaging consumers, driving sales and building customer loyalty…

Unbound releases mobile retailing platform

December 16, 2008

NEWTON, Mass. — Unbound Commerce has released its Unbound Mobile Presence platform for retailers, giving them the power to connect with their increasingly…