It’s never a good idea for stores to upset customers. Considering how important the holiday period is for retailers, right now is an especially bad time to get shoppers and employees agitated. Yet this especially big week for …
Retail
E-Retail Strikes Back: Amazon’s Latest Strategies in War for Holiday Shopper Dollars
Is the Daily Deal Model Dying a Slow Death?
As we enter the most deal-crazed time of year, daily deals sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial try to adapt to the changing marketplace — while facing the possibility that the original coupon model may one day soon be viewed …
Don’t Look Now, But Cyber Monday May Have Already Started
The leaking of Black Friday ads began weeks ago, building anticipation among shoppers seeking the season’s best deals. In some ways, though, Black Friday and its online counterpart, Cyber Monday, have already arrived.
The Hottest Section of the Department Store May Be Online
First and foremost, big brick-and-mortar retailers want to drive foot traffic into stores during the holiday period. But even when it comes to the old-fashioned department store model, retailers understand that boosting online …
Consumer Fatigue: Shopping Has Never Been Easier—Or as Mentally Exhausting
Hey shoppers, are you feeling overwhelmed? Burned out? Thoroughly confused? You’re not alone.
Does a Low Price Mean Good Value or Bad Quality?
While some shoppers pounce on rock-bottom prices without hesitation, others are tentative concerning “doorbusters” and eye-popping 80% off deals. After all, doesn’t a cheap price equate to cheap quality?
JCPenney’s Not-So-Black Friday
For most retailers, the upcoming Black Friday will be bigger (more deals, longer hours) than ever before. But what does a store do on Black Friday if it’s promised to stop using the discounts and marketing and sales gimmicks that …
Holiday Shoppers Can Look Forward to an Extra Bloated Black Friday
To get in on the Black Friday shopping deals in 2012, it’ll be necessary to skip dessert and miss the end of the football game on Thanksgiving night. Heck, you can start shopping the “Black Friday” bargains long before the …
What’s With All the Leaked Black Friday Ads?
Retailers generally avoid publicizing their Black Friday specials far in advance because of the potential of hurting sales before the big day arrives. Who, for instance, would buy a 42-inch plasma screen RCA TV for $450 today …
Election’s Over: Time to Buy a Gun!
President Barack Obama has been referred to as “salesman of the year” for the gun industry. The nickname is likely to stick around, considering that gun sales are expected to rise like a speeding bullet now that he’s been reelected.
PayPal Ups Ante in Holiday Season Price-Matching Wars
The battle for holiday shopper dollars continues with the launch of the most impressive-sounding price-matching policy offered yet. As it turns out, the policy isn’t being offered by a retailer, but the payment processor PayPal.