11 ways to improve customer loyalty
Acquiring a new customer costs 6-7 times more than retaining an existing one, so cultivating loyalty is clearly good for business. Find out what you can do. Read more …
Independent Supermarkets Rank Higher on Customer Service
Independent supermarkets performed better than national chains in customer service, according to the results of the National Grocers Association’s consumer trends study. Read more …
The risks and rewards of in-store Wi-Fi
Offering free wireless connectivity to in-store shoppers is quickly becoming a customer expectation, but the amenity is not without risk. While Wi-Fi networks can enable enhanced customer experiences, improperly implemented systems can leave businesses and consumers open to fraud and other security issues. Read more …
States pushing to collect online sales tax
A federal appeals court has upheld a Colorado law that would make it easier to collect sales tax owed on online purchases, and a dozen other states are moving ahead with efforts of their own rather than waiting for Congress. But with a vote promised later this year in...
9 ways retailers can cut back on food waste
America wastes a whopping 40 percent of our post-harvest food supply. Yikes! As a retailer committed to keeping people and the planet healthy, you’re already making solid efforts to avoid wasting food in-store. But is there even more you can do? Read more …
What virtual reality brings to physical stores
Virtual reality has the potential to liven up the retail experience and drive traffic to stores, Laura Heller writes. The technology offers a host of new possibilities, from seeing a home-improvement project before it happens to virtually trying out athletic gear in environments that closely resemble the outdoors. Read...
5 stores that illustrate the evolution of retail
Leading retailers around the world are responding to shifting consumer preferences and rapidly changing technology. Planet Retail has identified five store concepts from retailers like Whole Foods, Waitrose and Amazon that exemplify the changing face of the industry. Read more …
Disrupt yourself or be disrupted by the competition
Consumers are changing and adapting quickly, and expect retailers to keep pace. What can retailers — from established multichannel brands to young digital companies — learn from the startups and small businesses that are rethinking e-commerce? Digital stars from SoulPancake, Zappos, Bebe and J.C. Penney explain why agility is...
Experience keeps shoppers coming back to independent stores
Shopping experience and a focus on customer service keep consumers coming back to independent retail stores, despite competition from national retailers. Ellen Ward, co-owner of Georgia-based bookstore FoxTale Book Shoppe, said her store’s sales have grown between 15% and 25% annually since its opening in 2007, even though it...
How social media is driving grocery shoppers’ behavior
Grocery shoppers are three times more likely to ask for opinions from others before making a purchase than they were in the days before the rise of social media, according to an analysis from Integer Group. The number of consumers who make lists before hitting the store has grown...