News

As might be expected from a retail chain that serves as an extension of a technology brand, Microsoft stores are sleek and futuristic. Store layout is open and interactive, with a wide variety of opportunities for shoppers to engage with technology. However, customer-facing technology is limited to products on display, without IT features such as self-service kiosks or electronic shelf labels that can be found at many other stores.

Interactive Promotional Display

Domestic same-store sales at AutoZone for the fourth quarter ended Aug. 31 increased 1% — below expectations. The company did have reason to ride high, however, because it also posted its 28th consecutive quarter of double digit growth in earnings per share. 

Diluted earnings per share increased 23.2% to $10.42 per share from $8.46 per share in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, net sales were $3.1 billion for the quarter, a 12% jump from the same quarter last year. 

New York – Barnes & Noble, Inc. is offering Member Appreciation Days, a special savings event for new and current Barnes & Noble loyalty members. Starting Sept. 26 through Sept. 29, members will receive a 20% in-store discount on products in Barnes & Noble stores nationwide including books, gifts, toys, games, movies, and café items.

Members already receive a 10% discount on most purchases, as well as 40% of hardcover books and online savings.

nGage Labs, a leading provider of in-store shopper engagement solutions for retailers, has appointed Kelly Gibson as the company’s director of retail engagement solutions.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is rolling out its Target Ticket digital video service nationwide. The service allows users to download and view digital video content on their personal digital devices and channels.

Stratacache, a leading provider of scalable, high-performance digital signage, content distribution and enterprise video acceleration technologies, has announced its Optika specialty display division has opened a new, state-of-the-art optical bonding and display enhancement facility in Huber Heights, Ohio. 

The 25,000-sq.ft. facility will be home to Optika’s bonding, resizing, lighting and advanced testing operations, along with a new outdoor digital signage research and testing area. 

Franklin, Tenn. – The dollar value of transactions performed at self-service kiosks in North America surpassed $822 billion in 2012 and should reach more than $1 trillion by the end of 2014. Self-service kiosks are currently used in more than 100,000 checkout lanes at North American retailers.

By Joe Easley, Sr. Director, Business Development & Product Strategy, Kobie Marketing

As retailers continue their quest for deepening customer engagement, they’ll often turn to a loyalty program. Yet high membership numbers are deceiving because engagement levels are actually stagnant. This poses the question, are loyalty programs right for every brand? How do brands choose the right strategy for customer engagement and the overall integration of the loyalty program within the brand?