If you’re hoping to get better customer service by posting questions to a retailer’s Facebook page, be prepared for disappointment, according to a survey released today. Major retailers including J. Crew, Victoria’s Secret …
retail
Some Stores Finally Decide It’s a Bad Idea to Spam Customers
Got an in-box clogged with ads from retailers? You’re not alone. In recent months, many stores have been sending customers promotional e-mails at a pace of more than one per day. Spam-happy retailers such as Neiman Marcus deluged …
Consumers Are Upset About High Gas Prices—But Not Enough to Stop Shopping
Plenty of drivers are worked up about the cost of gasoline. In a recent survey, 85% of Americans said that the government should take “immediate actions” to rein in fuel prices. But while there’s no denying people are agitated …
Shopping Spree: 10 Companies Doing Surprisingly Good Business
There are certain retailers and service providers that everyone knows are doing well in terms of sales. When Apple posts impressive sales figures, no one is surprised. Given the still shaky state of the economy, it’s also …
Retail Recovery: Solid 4th-Quarter Earnings from Saks, Macy’s
The holiday season might seem like the distant past, but fourth quarter earnings numbers released yesterday prove that top retailers adapted remarkably to lackluster sales that plagued most of last year.
Even Counterfeiters Are Trading Down These Days
Faux luxury goods have been a scourge of high-end manufacturers for years. Consumers who want the look but not the price tag of designer names like Gucci or Louis Vuitton would fork over a fraction of the price and get an …
Amazon Said to Be Opening Its First Brick-and-Mortar Store
It looks as if Amazon, which seemed like it would never set foot outside of the digital world, will open its own brick-and-mortar store later this year.
In Major Shakeup, J.C. Penney Promises No More ‘Fake Prices’
Less than 1% of J.C. Penney’s revenues come from items bought at full price. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of merchandise sold by the department store chain is discounted by at least 50% off. What this tells shoppers is that …
Target Doesn’t Want to Be a Showroom for the Stuff You Buy for Less at Amazon
The retail term “showrooming” got a lot of attention in early December, when Amazon offered special discounts encouraging shoppers to use brick-and-mortar stores merely as showrooms, allowing consumers to scope out items in …
Mild Winter Could Mean Best-Ever Deals on Winter Coats and Cold-Weather Gear
There aren’t many people who are complaining that this winter has been too warm, too storm-free, and altogether too comfortable. But there is one group griping the weather just isn’t cold or snowy enough: retailers that sell …
TV Prices Just Keep Getting Cheaper and Cheaper
The TV was one of the hottest-selling purchases over the holiday season. That would seem like good news for TV manufacturers and retailers, right? Nope. The main reason TV sales were strong is cheap prices—prices so low that …
Let the After-Christmas Sales Begin! December 26 Expected to Be Huge Day for Retailers
What with exchanges and shoppers eager to redeem gift cards, the day after Christmas is always a busy one for retailers. For a variety of reasons, including that December 26 falls on a Monday this year, retailers anticipate a …
