Top 100 Retail News & Media
54. Multichannel integration
The average customer may not be able to articulate the concept, but he wants it to be the case anyway: All facets of a retailer should be seamlessly…
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55. Palin/Obama and womens fashion
The history-making 2008 presidential election made waves in the fashion world, too. Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin turned heads with her rimless Kazuo…
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56. Kroger
This regional supermarket chain is giving customers what they want — and what they can really use. According to The Washington Post, Americans redeem only …
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59. Barnes & Noble
Customer satisfaction is a priority for Barnes & Noble bookstores, and customers are taking notice. The retail store came out on top in the specialty store…
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60. Fear about gift-card balances
With all the anxiety surrounding the uncertain economy, here's something else to worry about: What happens to the money on a gift card if a store claims…
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61. Self-service
Not long ago, self-service stations at grocery stores and airports elicited mostly negative reactions from consumers. But times change, and so do consumers…
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62. Celebrity fashion lines
What a difference a year makes: For much of last 2008, many celebrity fashion lines were flying high. But as the economy tanked, consumers fled in search of…
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63. Ethnic retail
The trend of segmenting regional and ethnic product selections continued in recent months. Walmart, which has a multiyear track record of offering Latinos…
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64. Uniqlo
Anyone who thinks "cheap chic" is an oxymoron hasn't been to Uniqlo. Japan's casual-wear behemoth has brought Gap-like styles and merchandising to about 82…
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65. Urban Outfitters
Some chains have done very well with a homogenized, cookie-cutter approach, but Urban Outfitters revels in supplying customers with sophisticated…
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66. Zoom Systems
Zoom Systems, the San Francisco-based provider of luxury-good vending machines, is poised to increase its U.S. and Japanese market presence. Customers can't…
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67. American Eagle Outfitters
From humble origins as an outdoor gear store, AE continues to soar as a top fashion destination for teenagers and young adults aged 15-25. They're drawn to the…
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68. CVS/Caremark
Now that CVS gobbled drug middleman Caremark in 2007 and West Coast regional Longs Drug Stores in 2008, the new CVS/Caremark is not only the largest U.S.
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69. Microsoft
How do you become a retailer if your most popular products are mainly sold through OEMs? That was the debate following Microsoft's announcement of plans to…
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70. Virgin Megastores
The reign of Virgin Megastores as tourist attractions came to an end with the closing of all six U.S. locations. The stores in general remained profitable, but…
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71. redbox
Retailers' ultimate dream is to create a totally new product or concept that's a commercial success, yet not overrun with competition. That's been the reality…
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73. Concierge services from non-luxury retailers
Most every shopper dreams of being treated like an A-lister, even when he isn't shopping in the luxury segment. Some savvy retailers are using shopper perks to…
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74. Deal of the day
Once Woot.com took the Internet by storm, it was only a question of time before deal-of-the-day specials became an online mainstay. Each morning, the site…
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75. Financial services at supermarkets
More customers are jumping at the chance to do their banking while polishing off the grocery list. In-store branches tend to be full-service locations that are…
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