http://retailindustry.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2013-05-21T23:56:59Z Tue, 21 May 2013 23:56:59 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/05/23/pinterests-nearly-invisible-changes-for-the-retail-industry-how-pinterest-is-better-than-social-media-giants-facebook-youtube-and-twitter-at-monetization.htm <p>Yesterday I found an e-mail from Pinterest in my inbox with the subject line, "Introducing more useful pins," which was intriguing enough to get me to open it. The first line of the e-mail, "We're excited to introduce pins with more information!" which was intriguing enough to prevent me from immediately deleting it.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/05/23/pinterests-nearly-invisible-changes-for-the-retail-industry-how-pinterest-is-better-than-social-media-giants-facebook-youtube-and-twitter-at-monetization.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/05/23/pinterests-nearly-invisible-changes-for-the-retail-industry-how-pinterest-is-better-than-social-media-giants-facebook-youtube-and-twitter-at-monetization.htm Thu, 23 May 2013 02:12:49 +0000 2013-05-23T02:12:49Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/05/21/good-news-for-shopping-center-mall-managers-in-surveys-rising-occupancy-and-increased-traffic-not-good-news-for-mall-retailers-with-new-mall-marketing-challenges.htm <p>Surprising shopper surveys, mall repurposing, and global trends are just some of the things that more than 30,000 people have been talking about in Las Vegas this week. Reportedly the mall walking and talking is upbeat at the annual <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.icsc.org/">International Council of Shopping Centers</a> (ICSC) RECon convention this year as slowed U.S. mall development and rising demand for U.S. mall space are two important factors in a U.S. mall landlord's formula for happiness.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/05/21/good-news-for-shopping-center-mall-managers-in-surveys-rising-occupancy-and-increased-traffic-not-good-news-for-mall-retailers-with-new-mall-marketing-challenges.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/05/21/good-news-for-shopping-center-mall-managers-in-surveys-rising-occupancy-and-increased-traffic-not-good-news-for-mall-retailers-with-new-mall-marketing-challenges.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 23:56:59 +0000 2013-05-21T23:56:59Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/30/retailers-and-bloggers-work-together-to-create-social-media-bias-at-the-risk-of-losing-consumer-trust-and-long-term-customer-relationships-shld.htm <p>This coming weekend more than 200 bloggers and retail representatives will be meeting face to face in Bentonville, Arkansas with the purpose of collaborating and creating "collective bias" for certain retail brands on the Internet. Collective Bias is actually the name of the organizers of the event. "Effective leveraging of the social space" is actually the term being used to describe the collusion between bloggers and brands that is expected to be the result.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/30/retailers-and-bloggers-work-together-to-create-social-media-bias-at-the-risk-of-losing-consumer-trust-and-long-term-customer-relationships-shld.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/30/retailers-and-bloggers-work-together-to-create-social-media-bias-at-the-risk-of-losing-consumer-trust-and-long-term-customer-relationships-shld.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:46:06 +0000 2013-04-30T23:46:06Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/30/disappointing-april-retail-sales-blamed-on-boston-bombing-payroll-taxes-and-spending-sequester-may-be-the-result-of-bad-retail-management.htm <p>March retail sales in the U.S. retail industry were disappointing, and that disappointment is likely to extend to April when same store sales are reported next week. The New York Times attributes the recent retail sales slowdown to increased payroll taxes. The U.S. Bureau of Census points a fiscal finger at the government's spending sequester. Redbook Research blames it on the Boston Bombings.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/30/disappointing-april-retail-sales-blamed-on-boston-bombing-payroll-taxes-and-spending-sequester-may-be-the-result-of-bad-retail-management.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/30/disappointing-april-retail-sales-blamed-on-boston-bombing-payroll-taxes-and-spending-sequester-may-be-the-result-of-bad-retail-management.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:47:35 +0000 2013-04-30T14:47:35Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/29/2013-employee-satisfaction-studies-say-managing-happiness-is-a-big-challenge-sears-radio-shack-gamestop-and-rite-aid-need-more-happiness-aapl-f-rsh-shld.htm <p>More than 900 senior executives attended the 10th annual Great Place to Work Conference that was staged in Los Angeles last week to focus on the art and science of creating <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/od/frontlinemanagement/a/employeesupport.htm">workplace engagement</a>, job satisfaction, and happy employees. Just reading that sentence causes involuntary eye-rolling from plenty of leaders in the U.S. retail industry who either don't think it's necessary or don't think it's possible for a retail environment to be a "great" place to work.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/29/2013-employee-satisfaction-studies-say-managing-happiness-is-a-big-challenge-sears-radio-shack-gamestop-and-rite-aid-need-more-happiness-aapl-f-rsh-shld.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/29/2013-employee-satisfaction-studies-say-managing-happiness-is-a-big-challenge-sears-radio-shack-gamestop-and-rite-aid-need-more-happiness-aapl-f-rsh-shld.htm Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:56:57 +0000 2013-04-29T23:56:57Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/29/chicago-and-nyc-retail-industry-employee-wage-walkouts-likely-to-continue-how-retail-managers-prevent-workplace-mutiny-and-compensate-for-low-wages.htm <p>Where a growing number of retail workers stand on the federal minimum wage hike is not complacently behind a cash register wearing their company-issued polyester garb. Instead, where retail and restaurant workers are standing on the issue of increased minimum wages is on the sidewalks of Chicago and NYC - outside of the front door of their retail employer, with matching t-shirts and ponchos, holding protest signs. Unfortunately, where frontline workers have chosen to take a stand is on a picket line far beyond President Obama's proposed federal minimum wage line in the sand that lawmakers are unwilling to approach.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/29/chicago-and-nyc-retail-industry-employee-wage-walkouts-likely-to-continue-how-retail-managers-prevent-workplace-mutiny-and-compensate-for-low-wages.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/29/chicago-and-nyc-retail-industry-employee-wage-walkouts-likely-to-continue-how-retail-managers-prevent-workplace-mutiny-and-compensate-for-low-wages.htm Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:13:12 +0000 2013-04-29T01:13:12Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/27/retail-resale-trend-growth-tests-reselling-boundaries-google-tesla-and-therealreal-redefine-reselling-and-the-recycling-of-retail-goods-goog.htm <p>Retail resale is one of the fastest growing trends in the industry and the boundaries of reselling have been rigorously tested, defined, and redefined this month by the retailers that are working hard to carve out their own retail resale niche. The growth of retail resale is a real and present threat to the retailers of any kind of new merchandise as consumers are becoming more willing to forego the purchase of new products to participate instead in a retail reduce, reuse, and recycle program.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/27/retail-resale-trend-growth-tests-reselling-boundaries-google-tesla-and-therealreal-redefine-reselling-and-the-recycling-of-retail-goods-goog.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/27/retail-resale-trend-growth-tests-reselling-boundaries-google-tesla-and-therealreal-redefine-reselling-and-the-recycling-of-retail-goods-goog.htm Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:35:53 +0000 2013-04-27T22:35:53Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/26/news-on-the-leading-edge-of-fashion-retailing-from-the-2013-customer-favorite-retail-fashion-stores-nordstrom-kohls-macys-dillards-and-jcpenney-kss-m-dds-jcp.htm <p><img class="alignleft" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/retailindustry/1/H/Z/4/-/-/Nordstrom-mission-statement-vision-values-founders-trivia-history-headquarters.jpg" alt="Nordstrom customer fashion favorite retail store chain" /></p> <p>When Nordstrom was named the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/od/retailbestpractices/a/2013-Customer-Favorite-Fashion-Stores-Chains-US-Retail-Industry-Nordstrom-Kohls-Macys.htm">2013 Customer Favorite Retail Chain for Fashion and Apparel Shopping</a>, it was proof that you can't judge the success of a U.S. fashion retailer by sales alone. Nordstrom beat out much larger fashion chains like Kohl's (KSS), Macy's (M), Dillard's (DDS), and jcpenney (JCP) for the "customer favorite" designation because customers judged Nordstrom as having the best in-store experience, merchandise value, loyalty program, and customer service. Apparently these things have value to consumers who are still shopping for fashions in brick-and-mortar retail stores. Who knew?</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/26/news-on-the-leading-edge-of-fashion-retailing-from-the-2013-customer-favorite-retail-fashion-stores-nordstrom-kohls-macys-dillards-and-jcpenney-kss-m-dds-jcp.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/26/news-on-the-leading-edge-of-fashion-retailing-from-the-2013-customer-favorite-retail-fashion-stores-nordstrom-kohls-macys-dillards-and-jcpenney-kss-m-dds-jcp.htm Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:57:02 +0000 2013-04-26T23:57:02Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/23/2013-best-retail-franchises-growth-and-challenges-for-the-gap-smashburger-mcdonalds-burger-king-and-the-biggest-franchise-chain-gps-mcd.htm <p>April has been a busy month for retail franchise chains in the U.S. New franchise legislation in California and a push for changes in the national laws pertaining to franchised auto selling are seeking to redefine franchising parameters and relationships. The anniversary of the first <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/od/retailbestpractices/ig/Company-Mission-Statements/McDonald-s-Restaurants-Mission-Statement.htm">McDonald's</a> (MCD) franchise this month was greeted by a survey revealing dissatisfaction in the ranks of today's McDonald's franchisees. And several different rankings of the "best" U.S. franchises have returned notably different opinions about how "best" should be defined and which retail franchise best fits the "best" definition. Even though the franchising concept is 162 years old in the U.S., franchising continues to redefine itself both in the U.S. and internationally.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/23/2013-best-retail-franchises-growth-and-challenges-for-the-gap-smashburger-mcdonalds-burger-king-and-the-biggest-franchise-chain-gps-mcd.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/04/23/2013-best-retail-franchises-growth-and-challenges-for-the-gap-smashburger-mcdonalds-burger-king-and-the-biggest-franchise-chain-gps-mcd.htm Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:33:51 +0000 2013-04-23T22:33:51Z http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/03/31/birthday-clubs-loyalty-programs-grow-with-retailers-and-restaurants-even-though-birthday-freebies-arent-effective-in-buying-customer-loyalty.htm <p>I'm always reminded to do an annual survey of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/od/employeehiringtraining/tp/Best-U-S-Retail-E-Club-Freeibes-Coupons-Discounts-Specials-And-Deals.htm">customer loyalty programs</a> this time of year because this is when every retail and restaurant chain in America becomes my best friend, sending me well wishes and free gifts for my birthday. Happy Birthday to everyone who is willing to exchange personal information for discount coupons and more junk food than is advisable to consume if you want to live to see another birthday. for th</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/03/31/birthday-clubs-loyalty-programs-grow-with-retailers-and-restaurants-even-though-birthday-freebies-arent-effective-in-buying-customer-loyalty.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://retailindustry.about.com/b/2013/03/31/birthday-clubs-loyalty-programs-grow-with-retailers-and-restaurants-even-though-birthday-freebies-arent-effective-in-buying-customer-loyalty.htm Sun, 31 Mar 2013 22:49:35 +0000 2013-03-31T22:49:35Z