Back-to-school sales are up but spend not as high as last year

August 23, 2016

Good news for retailers as back-to-school sales grab traction: Sales are rebounding this year following sluggish growth in the past three years.

Pizza Hut digital leader Baron Concors talks mobile strategy, best practices

Baron Concors, Pizza Hut global chief digital officer, said the “focus on mobile is a focus on customer,” and that retailers must turn their mindset to…

The simple solution for retailers: Be channel agnostic

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Consumer journeys are neither the same, nor consistent. The term omnichannel is becoming ubiquitous. However, it may be one of the most misunderstood terms in…

Megastore on the bubble: What shrinking Target And Wal-Mart stores mean

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Smaller locations may have been the solution for shoehorning large-format retailers into densely populated cities. But the proliferation of digital shopping is…

5 tidbits from the CONNECT Mobile Innovation Summit

by Will Hernandez — Editor, NetWorld Media Group

No matter which way you turn these days, mobile (or mobility) is at the center of most conversations for banks, retailers, restaurants and any other…

Kiosk market to grow more than 4 percent by 2021

August 18, 2016

The global self-service kiosk market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.67 percent by 2021, according to a new report by Research and…

Retailers aren't texting enough and that's a bad thing

August 12, 2016

Retailers aren't texting as much as they should and it could be hurting the bottom line.

Tips for meeting Generation Z customer expectations

by Molly Wike — Intern, Networld Media Group

Questions about the trickiest group of consumers answered: Unlock the secret to effectively reaching Generation Z.

The empathic enterprise: What are your balance points?

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Key questions for winning by staying human in a digital age.

Bots, in-store tech top trends taking place in retail

The first half of the year boasted big changes for the retail industry, with beloved brands like Target completely redesigning their store, and the convenience…

In-store still beats online when it comes to shopping

July 29, 2016

In-store shopping still ranks top with consumers.

Why retailers should cater to deal-hunting college students

July 28, 2016

The research is clear: retailers offering back-to-college promotions and boasting a strong social media presence are bound for success.

Thinking inside of the box in order to sell better beds online

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

A couple of creative guys applied technology to get a mattress to fit in a standard carrier shipping box. From a purely product perspective, this innovation…

Mobile devices transforming customer experience, reveals study

July 25, 2016

More than three quarters of mobile consumer search efforts contain the word 'coupon,' and nearly as many include the search term 'sale,' according to a new…

Why retailers need to refresh business strategies

July 22, 2016

Consumers expect convenience, ease, and a compelling shopping experience and that means retailers need to re-examine business strategies.

Survey: Early bird back-to-school shoppers spend the most

July 21, 2016

A new survey on back-to-school retail shopping trends reveals early bird shoppers have larger spending budgets and are looking for recommendations and shoppers…

September is prime time holiday season kick-off time

July 21, 2016

Retailers aiming to cash in come the lucrative holiday sales season need to be getting in gear now as a new study reveals the arrival of fall is prime time to…

Retailers going mobile in big way, but no big payoff as yet

July 18, 2016

Today's retailers are more than embracing mobile apps, as more than two thirds have one in play. But the payoff isn't hitting big just yet.

CX design firm will read your mind

by Christopher Hall — writer, self

There's a glint of missionary zeal in Jean-Pierre Lacroix's eyes when he talks about the future of store design coming into view on the horizon with an…

Back-to-school study finds parents looking harder for sales, savings

July 11, 2016

It may be nearing mid-summer, but parents are already preparing for the back-to-school/college season in a different way than years past. According to a study…