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Best in Retail Industry Customer Nominations Deadline Approaches - Submit Favorite Retail and Restaurant Chains for 2012 Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:19:59 +0000

The ultra-competitive retail industry is constantly finding new ways to measure itself and create comparisons between retail and restaurant chains in order to identify "the best." But the only "best" opinions that really matter are the opinions of the customers themselves, who have the ability to vote for the best with their dollars every day.

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Happy Retailers Celebrate Valentine's Day Spending Trends - Dining Deals, Unique Gifts, and Last-Minute Ideas Lure Lovers to Keep Spending All Valentine's Day Long

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:40:12 +0000

Valentine's Day is a big retail holiday and happy U.S. retailers will have something to celebrate if Valentine's Day spending predictions continue their upward trend. With Valentine's Day 2012 falling on a regular all-stores-open shopping day, retailers are preparing for an intense one-day spending surge with Valentine's Day deals, unique gift ideas, and last-minute gift offerings to lure lovers to keep spending until the bittersweet end.

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The Super Bowl XLVI Battle of New vs. New Is Also Car vs. Car Super Bowl Commercial Battle

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:54:00 +0000

> Click for Complete Rankings of the Best and the Worst of Car Company and Retail Super Bowl XLVI Car Company Commercials >>

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Amazon Profits Disappoint Short-sighted Profiteers, but Not Long-Term Internet Retail Leaders (AMZN, BBY, RSH, BKS, DKS)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:41:18 +0000

Analysts and investors were greatly disappointed to learn that the fourth quarter revenue of Amazon.com (AMZN) was up, but profits were down. The conclusion by the Wall Street Journal and others after hearing the news about Amazon's disappointing profit numbers was that Amazon is spending faster than it is earning, and therefore is not a very good investment. This reaction says a lot about short-sighted investment profiteers and nothing about the business savvy of the retail industry leader who has defined Internet retailing.

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Wal-Mart Greeter Changes Don't Abandon Customer Service Values, But Do Reveal a Flawed Price-centric Company Mission Statement (WMT, DIS)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:34:48 +0000

When Wal-Mart (WMT) announced that it would be repositioning its legendary Wal-Mart greeters away from the front of the store and station them instead in high-traffic areas inside the store, retail industry and customer service experts immediately took it as a sign that Wal-Mart was abandoning its customer service values, and the Wal-Mart customer experience would become one of a cold, big box store without a soul. The power that critics have assigned to one employee to set the tone in a a store the size of a typical Wal-Mart filled with the number of employees on duty in a typical Wal-mart is as laughable as the notion that Wal-Mart is anything besides a cold, big box store anyway.

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2012 New Store Opening Announcements and Predictions Are Low So Far - Complete 2012 New Store Openings Roundup

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:46:13 +0000

With high retail space vacancy rates, low commercial real estate prices, and the promise of economic recovery, store openings were the name of the retail game for the U.S. retail industry in 2011. (Click here for a complete list of 2011 store openings.) The predictions for the coming year, however, include economic uncertainty, political tension, and spend-wary consumers. So it's a wonder that any U.S. retail chain is brave enough to invest in any new store opening in 2012.

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Most Liked Retail Companies on Facebook - How Much Do Facebook Likers Really Like Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Other Retail Companies? (WMT, TGT, BBY)

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:36:18 +0000

When retail companies want to build their Facebook audience, a good bribe will usually do the trick. But when people declare they like a retail company only if there's a coupon, freebie, or special discount given in return, how much do those likers really "like" you? Actually they like you quite a bit, according to a recent survey by ComScore.

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Vote for the Best Retail Employer 2012 - Retail Industry Readers Choice Awards 2012

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:27:47 +0000

The Nominations are completed, and the finalists for the 2012 Best Retail Employer Readers' Choice Award have been chosen. Vote for the retail company that you think is the Best Retail Employer for 2012 below. Voting will close on March 21, 2012. You can vote once per day in this category, so bookmark this page and return each day to cast your vote for your favorite.

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Chili's Restaurant Customer Feedback Survey and Service Recovery Excels for Customer, But Fails for the Chili's Restaurant System (EAT)

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:56:26 +0000

After picking up a to-go meal at a Chili's (EAT) restaurant in Texas, I went online and filled out the customer feedback survey that I had been directed to by my Chili's restaurant receipt. The gist of my feedback was "Who spilled the salt shaker?" I expressed great dissatisfaction at the meal that was salty to the point of being inedible to anyone who was not a deer. I also answered affirmatively that my bad Chili's experience would have a negative influence on my decision to dine at a Chili's in the future.

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Oprah Winfrey's Views on Business Could Lead Retailers to Business Success of Their OWN - Quotable Quotes From Oprah Winfrey

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:20:04 +0000

If Oprah Winfrey opened her OWN retail operations (perhaps a chain of cute little "Favorite Things boutiques?") there's little doubt that it would be big, it would be successful, and it would quickly be global. But Oprah doesn't have her own chain of retail stores (yet). And Oprah has never been the CEO of a global retail organization (yet). So why would a retail industry leader care what Oprah had to say about anything?

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