Meet Black Friday’s cousin that not as many people talk about: “Blackout Wednesday” -- the day before Thanksgiving, which is one of the biggest days for alcohol sales in the U.S. It presents liquor brands with a prime opportunity to reach the coveted millennial audience,...
There’s never a good time for major retailers to falter, but recent struggles of major players in the space, such as Nordstrom and Macy’s, could arguably not come at a worse time as we head into the heart of the holiday shopping season. Can these...
In high fashion, sometimes the less functional a piece of clothing or accessory is, the higher its aesthetic prestige on the runway. However, when consumers are walking on the street or commuting to work, apparel isn’t just expected to be minimally cumbersome, but functionally complementary...
The payments landscape has moved light years beyond the traditional days of keeping cash on hand, in the till, ready to make the correct change to a customer who has in turn proffered legal tender in coins and bills. Now, retailers, merchants and their financial...
Companies can lower costs and boost innovation within payments functions, says the Hackett Group's Lynne Schneider -- all it takes is some nimbleness.
Tech’s fabled unicorns have had a rough go of it recently, and Square looks poised to join their trouble lot, amid muted expectations for its IPO and still-lofty valuations.
Free delivery? Buy online, pick up in-store? Different retailers are saying ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ to a number of different options for getting customers’ purchases into their hands. Which of the gambles are likely to pay off -- and which might have to be reconsidered before...
There’s no gift that says, “It’s the thought that counts,” quite like a gift card. The last-minute choice of harried shoppers and slackers alike, the gift card has taken on prominence in recent years as a particularly profitable offering for retailers during the holiday shopping...
The sharing economy is making waves right now. Have a car as well as some spare time? Drive for Uber. Have an extra bedroom in your apartment? Rent it out through Airbnb. Innovations such as these have given rise to on-demand consumerism, and now analysts...
