A very pleasant, apparently random surprise awaited Al McClain when he checked into the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando recently. Should retailers and brands incorporate “random acts of kindness” into their customer experience and loyalty efforts or are untargeted efforts like this unlikely to return measurable ROI?
At last week’s National Grocers Association’s annual convention, Phil Lempert (the “SupermarketGuru”) offered some insights into food shopping trends. Based on the predicted trends, in what areas do you think regional and independent supermarkets should focus to better compete with national chains and discounters?
A new IBM survey of more than 30,000 consumers released at this week’s National Retail Federation convention shows that consumers are optimistic about the future and willing to spend, and that technology is part of the answer to personalized service. Have we finally reached the point where innovative technology can markedly improve customer service and retailer loyalty?
Holiday retail sales are expected to be well above those of last year but unemployment remains high, the housing crisis has not abated, and the average price of a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline continues to rise. Is the economic recovery strong enough to handle further rises in the price of gasoline and oil?
Over the years, we’ve had numerous discussions on celebrity endorsements and advertising on RetailWire, and most readers have felt that it’s not worth the risk. But here comes Michael Vick, one celebrity that seemed to be down for the count as a pitchman. Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance as a celebrity endorser?
Manufacturers and retailers might best think twice about some of the health claims they make for food products as a result of the recent Federal Trade Commission settlement with the Dannon Company over deceptive advertising of its Activia and DanActive products. Where do you draw the line between marketing and misleading when it comes to health-oriented food products?
The counterfeit product problem goes much deeper than product “knockoffs” and can have deadly consequences. Approximately two percent of all airplane parts are said to be counterfeit, for example. How concerned should U.S. retailers be about the counterfeit product issue?
Kevin Kelley, Founding Partner and Principal of Shook Kelley, reminded the audience at an FMI Customer Connect workshop this week that consumers still spend money when they really want something. Kelley advises recreating the shopping experience, re-engaging shoppers and encouraging shoppers to linger in more appealing spaces. Should supermarkets be redesigned to encourage shoppers to linger or to get them in and out more quickly?
At a Tuesday workshop at the FMI 2010 Customer Connect conference, Keely Wheaton of Target, Anne Johnson of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and Paul Hepperla of Verisae discussed what’s being done to advance the cause of sustainable packaging. What retail or consumer products environmental packaging initiatives are you aware of that are working?
According to Ken Kremar, Sara Johnson, and Laura Hodges on an IHS Global Insight webinar yesterday, the U.S. economy has turned the corner and prospects for the mid-term look pretty good, albeit with a number of caveats. Do you believe that the recession is over and is retail now in the midst of a recovery?
© 2023 RetailWire · Privacy Policy · Community Guidelines · Sitemap