Delivery or pickup? It’s a standard question when ordering a pizza or a Kung Pow Chicken dinner, and it’s becoming a standard question no matter if you’re ordering groceries or a new set of shelves. Even when shipping for online purchases is free—and this is increasingly the case, especially during the holiday shopping season—there …
Walmart
Why Stores and Shoppers Alike Are Embracing Layaway
Just a few years ago, layaway seemed near death. The old-fashioned payment program had fallen out of favor with the vast majority of shoppers, and only a few retailers thought layaway was worth the time and hassle to keep it …
With Early Layaway Promos, Holiday Shopping Wars Have Already Begun
It’s never too early for retailers to start battling it out for holiday shoppers. This year, an especially early competition concerns layaway. Despite the fact that Labor Day weekend just ended, the kids are barely back in …
Target Battles Walmart for Low-Price Supremacy
Target gets bragging rights in the most recent study comparing prices between the “Expect more. Pay less.” retailer and its “Save money. Live better.” competitor, Walmart. In the study, matching up costs of 150 similar items in …
PayPal-Discover Pact Boosts Mobile Payments Momentum
The mobile payments/digital wallet drama now unfolding is fascinating for three reasons: First, paying with your mobile phone is the most fundamental shift in retail commerce since the credit card was invented 60 years ago. …
A Huge Number of Americans Have No Financial Safety Net
More than three years after the Great Recession officially ended, two in five households are still living paycheck to paycheck. This grim statistic is part of a new survey conducted by CareerBuilder.com, and it’s not the only …
Back-to-School Bonuses: Free Gift Card Promotions Are in Season
Retailers and manufacturers often prefer to give consumers a little something extra rather than simply offering items at lower prices. When that something extra comes in the form of a gift card that must be used in a separate purchase, the strategy ensures that the shopper must return as a customer. So what seems like a bonus for …
The Latest Expansion of the Holiday Season: Layaway at Walmart Starts a Month Early This Year
We’re still in the middle of one of the hottest summers on record, but in less than a month, you’ll be able to put holiday items on layaway at Walmart.
Will Customers Love or Hate ‘Personalized’ Grocery Prices?
The concept of “personalized” grocery store deals strikes some consumers as inherently unfair. How would you feel, after all, if you were charged more than the person in front of you at checkout for the same exact item? Few …
Walmart, Target Challenge Google, Square as Mobile Payments Heat Up
Retail titans like Walmart, Target and Best Buy are challenging tech upstarts like Google, Paypal and Square for advantage as the mobile payments space heats up.
Online Vs. Brick-and-Mortar: Which Is Better for Back to School Shopping?
When it comes to electronics and big-ticket items, it’s assumed that while consumers may want to inspect merchandise in person before purchasing, they’ll ultimately find the best prices online. That’s what “showrooming” is all …
Big-Box Shrinkage: Retailers Embrace Sales on a Smaller Scale
While the big-box retail model is far from dead, stores such as Walmart, Best Buy, and Cabela’s are realizing that the enormous, one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for all shoppers—nor all locations. To grow, many …
