Predictions for retail, payments, and mobile in 2017

From mobile wallets to on-demand apps, and consumer demand for a more personalized and interactive shopping experience, merchants big and small are facing a…

Amazon boasts best-ever holiday weekend sales

December 1, 2016

The holiday weekend proved to be a sales bonanza for online retailer Amazon as it sold millions of its devices and sales were up double compared to last year.

Loyalty perks, security and return options key consumer wants, reveals study

November 28, 2016

Consumers expect three major elements when it comes to online shopping. They want smooth security, a choice in return options and loyalty perks, according to a…

5 critical traits to be a future-focused retailer

Bill Chidley, a partner at ChangeUp, offers up the five critical traits required to be a future-focused retailer.

Report: More than a few retailers not sure what marketing channel is most successful

November 24, 2016

When it comes to identifying the most successful and viable marketing opportunities more than a third of retailers, 36 percent, can't make the determination.

Consumers will shop, spend more on themselves this holiday season

November 18, 2016

Holiday season shoppers won't just be tossing items in the wagon for family and friends. A good portion, 58 percent, will be scouting out discount items for…

30 percent of consumers hate Black Friday

November 16, 2016

Black Friday apparently isn't so well loved by consumers despite historical big sales and price reductions on what has long been the busiest holiday season…

J.C. Penney store sales dip yet retailer is upbeat about holiday

November 16, 2016

Unseasonable weather and a strategy to put appliances front and center as the holiday sales season hits are two factors J.C. Penney is citing for a 0.8 percent…

IoT will spur mobile going forward, reveals study

November 15, 2016

Mobile will continue to grow in North America and a prime factor is the advancement of IoT adoption, specifically machine-to-machine and general digitalization…

Smaller discounts, fewer discounted products this holiday season

November 15, 2016

A new report predicts there will not be as many product discounts, or holiday promotional discounts, this holiday season and it's all part of a new retail…

Cash still most popular payment approach for consumers

November 11, 2016

While shoppers may be conducting more mobile payment transactions, cold hard cash is still pretty popular and is actually the most used, according to a new…

Wal-Mart, Target launching Black Friday deals way before Black Friday

November 11, 2016

Consumers won’t have to wait until Thanksgiving and the day after, Black Friday, to jump on retail holiday deals.

Millennial demand spurs fragrance market

November 8, 2016

Retailers selling fragrances can expect increasing sales thanks to millennial interest in perfumes.

2017 may be the year for supermarket digital experience

November 4, 2016

Next year may be the year online grocery activity hits its stride as supermarkets expand digital shopping options and more consumers are looking to buy more…

Study: Consumer expectations are driving new retail economic metrics

November 2, 2016

Taking a page from Oldsmobile's marketing genius, today’s retail economics are not anyone’s grandparents’ retail economics.

Macy's to open a bit earlier Thanksgiving Day

October 26, 2016

Not only isn't Macy's not following the trend of retailers closing on Thanksgiving, the iconic retailer is opening its doors even earlier this year.

Cognitive computing: IBM's 'secret weapon' in transforming experience

Retailers already know they must embrace cognitive computing to better engage with shoppers, differentiate their offerings and adopt a culture of innovation.

Why egift rewards during holiday season are a win-win

Retailers and consumers are leveraging egift rewards for holiday promotions and passing on checks.

How to keep your loyalty program from failing over the holidays

Whether you have a loyalty program or are working on creating one for the holiday rush, don't get caught making some common mistakes that end up doing more…

Examining the design-it-yourself revolution

Enabling self-expression leads to a deeper and more intimate connection with brands, which is the basis for emotional branding.