Taming the loyalty card beast

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

New tools — both high-tech and low-tech — aim to liberate loyalty cards from the key chain.

What the Amazon/Zappos deal means for customers

Amazon has acquired Zappos.com in a deal that exceeds $800 million. From the customer's standpoint, is this a marriage made in retail heaven?

Real-time purchases take to the skies

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A new program allows airlines to conduct catalog sales transactions while in mid-flight. But will travelers want to shop in the air?

Amazon remotely deletes Kindle books that were legitimately purchased

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

In a move fraught with irony, the online bookseller has remotely removed copies of George Orwell books from paying customers' Kindles.

Fighting online shopping cart abandonment

While most e-commerce sites measure conversion, many do not take a structured and proactive approach to abandonment.

Making mobile work for retail marketers

Mall operator General Growth Properties is experimenting with SMS-based communication as a way to build loyalty and drive sales.

Apple receives patent for media distribution kiosk

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Will the wireless-enabled device bring iTunes into retail shops and airports?

Happy birthday, bar codes!

Next week marks the 35th anniversary of the first retail bar code scanner, installed in an Ohio supermarket.

PCI compliance dominates talk at NACStech

by David Drain

Data security is on the minds of retailers, and one of the themes of this year's show was "making scary go away."

Five underutilized features of the modern POS

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Today's point-of-sale systems are sophisticated business tools, but many retailers are still using them as glorified cash registers.

Why Microsoft's Project Natal could revolutionize in-store media

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Unveiled at the E3 show this week, the user recognition and tracking device could have a major impact on how shoppers interact with displays.

Commentary: Online retail over-analyzed, 'stripped of all brand soul'

A brand consultant argues that too much emphasis on search engine optimization has diminished the online shopping experience.

Witron system aims to fully automate shelf replenishment

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The experimental SRS concept could eliminate empty shelves and aisles full of product pallets.

Five viral marketing mistakes to avoid

There's a lot of buzz surrounding viral marketing — but retailers need to make sure to avoid these common missteps.

Solving the player-to-screen puzzle

How to make the right networking and connectivity choices when planning retail digital signage.

GS1 DataBar set to improve the grocery checkout experience

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The new barcode standard packs more info into a smaller space, creating opportunities for retailers and saving time for shoppers.

Live chat drives sales, satisfaction — but only when executed honestly

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

Web retailers that offer live text-chat assistance can increase conversion and generate word-of-mouth, but poor or dishonest execution can spell disaster.

Opinion: Loyalty is more than points programs

Building a perfect loyalty program requires a delicate balance between reward and customer effort — and online retailers are leading the way.

Microsoft's Retail Experience Center: It's all about connectedness

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The Redmond giant's retail test lab focuses on connecting all the moving parts of a retail enterprise, right down to the customer level.

What green can mean for a retailer's image

Properly leveraged, green initiatives can make customers feel better about shopping at certain stores.