Costco

How L.L. Bean, Amazon and Nordstrom Create Positive Service Experiences
January 11, 2011

For online retailers, a positive service experience relates to a consumerโ€™s ability to quickly find a suitable product; the accurate portrayal of goods in terms of features, colors and sizes; a speedy website; and how quickly questions about a product are answered. Letโ€™s look at how L.L.Bean, Amazon.com and Nordstrom have optimized their customersโ€™ web-based service experiences.

Will Postive Outlook of Same-Store Sales Continue?
January 5, 2011

The outlook for same-store sales continues the improvement trend begun in September, according to the December ForecastIQ. But with consumer confidence more than two points lower in December 2010 than December 2009, it's not certain if the continuing improvement trend will bring sustainable recovery.

July Retail Sales Prove Not as Hot as the Weather
August 6, 2010

The second half of the year is off to a slow start for retailers, who reported Thursday that sales at stores open at least a year were weaker than expected in July, increasing 2.9 percent from July of last year, according to a tally by Thomson Reuters.

Making a Name for Itself
August 1, 2010

Launched on June 23, 2009, as an online marketplace not unlike eBay, Alice.com enables CPG manufacturers to sell their household essentials โ€” think toothpaste, laundry detergent, trash bags, toilet paper, etc. โ€” direct to consumers. By making thousands of products typically not found online available for purchase, Alice.com has tapped into an underserved market, albeit surprisingly so to the company's founders.

Retailers Face Rising Shipping Costs as Cargo Space is at a Premium
July 28, 2010

Fighting for freight, retailers are outbidding each other to score scarce cargo space on ships, paying two to three times last yearโ€™s freight rates โ€” in some cases, the highest rates in five years. And still, many are getting merchandise weeks late.

Wal-Mart Beefs Up its Merchandise Assortment
July 13, 2010

Walmart's strategy is evolving, and would have evolved regardless of what managers are in place. "Taking merchandise out of the Action Alley and providing clear sight lines has been a successful strategy," Spokesman David Tovar said in an e-mail, but added, "We are constantly listening to our customers and some have told us they liked seeing the rollbacks on merchandise in the aisles. .... We have given more autonomy to our store managers to make the decisions on what is right for their customers."

Joblessness, consumer data give mixed signals on recovery
July 9, 2010

More than 450,000 people filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, as joblessness continued to hamper the U.S. economy and other new economic indicators reflected mixed signs about the recovery. The number of people filing new unemployment claims has fluctuated between 450,000 and 500,000 a week since January, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Although that is down from last year, it remains an indication of ongoing weakness, economists said. Other new figures showed that consumer borrowing fell again in May, suggesting that Americans remain nervous about the economy. June retail sales jumped 3 percent, though some analysts noted that

Costco June Sales Rise 4%; Miss Market Forecast
July 8, 2010

No. 1 U.S. warehouse club operator Costco Wholesale saw June sales at stores open at least a year rise 4 percent, marginally missing market expectations, as it was hurt by the Memorial Day holiday shift.

Letter-Rate Catalogs Are Right for Today
May 25, 2010

Retailers are pulling out all the stops to eliminate waste and reduce costs. Major catalog marketers nationwide have hopped on the โ€œtighten your beltโ€ trend, with an increased demand for smaller, letter-rate catalogs. Dropping millions of large catalogs to underperforming mailing lists is passรฉ, while green design and consumer perceptions are hot, and postage is at an all-time high. 

Dear Dr. pROfIt: Why Doesnโ€™t Twitter Work?
May 3, 2010

What are the best practices for generating sales using Twitter? Sometimes we need to frame questions a different way. Maybe the question needs to be, โ€œIs Twitter a viable way for brands to generate sales?โ€