Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

By Dan McKone

We are often asked for the “secret sauce” behind a successful loyalty program and whether we can provide a blueprint that can help retailers optimize their approach. In answer, there is no single generic “ideal program” -- the retailer-customer relationship is far too complex to dumb down in this way. The best program for one retailer may be absolutely the wrong plan-of-attack for another, depending on their starting points in terms of:

1. The depth and breadth of the customer relationship;

Bentonville, Ark. -- Heating up the holiday retailing war, Wal-Mart Stores announced Thursday that it will offer free shipping on nearly 60,000 online items -- with no minimum purchase requirement.

Wal-Mart's free shipping offer, which includes most electronics, jewelry and toys, will run through Dec. 20.

According to Steve Nave, senior VP and general manager of Walmart.com, Walmart is trying to help its cost-conscious shoppers "save money so they can bring home more for less this holiday season."
 

New York City -- Women’s apparel retailer Cache reported Wednesday that it narrowed its loss for the quarter ended Oct.2 to $5 million, compared with a loss of $6.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue rose 1.3% to $45.5 million, from $44.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Same-store sales were flat, as compared with a decrease of 21.7% in the prior year.

Hhgregg reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 dropped 20.4% to $3.9 million, compared with a net income of $4.9 million in the year-ago period.

The electronics and appliances retailer cited expenses associated with its Washington, D.C., market debut, as well as a dip in same-store sales, as partial reasons for the plunge.

Revenue surged 44.8% to $480.9 million in the period. Same-store sales decreased 1.5%, attributed to a weakness in appliance sales during the quarter.