Most Clicked ISA SmartBrief Stories
1. Gap maps a stylish turnaround strategy
ISA SmartBrief | May 03, 2012
After more than a decade of struggling to right its retail ship by cutting costs, closing domestic stores and focusing on global expansion, Gap has charted a new turnaround course that includes spruced-up stores, brighter colors and on-site stylists aimed at helping the retailer regain its fashion-forward reputation. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (04/28)
2. Survey: Signs drive traffic to small shops
ISA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
More than 75% of American consumers have stopped at a store simply because a sign caught their eye, and almost 70% have made a purchase because of a sign, according to a survey commissioned by FedEx. The results also reveal that sign quality matters -- more than half of respondents say they're less willing to enter a store where the signs are misspelled or poorly made. PrintWeek.com (U.K.) (05/17)
3. Belk invests millions to modernize older stores
ISA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Regional department store chain Belk is remodeling outdated stores in Chattanooga and Clarksville, Tenn., as part of an effort to bring older stores up-to-date. "The full-store renovation will provide customers with a modern retail layout, decor and merchandise presentation," said Chattanooga store manager Martin Nobles. Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, Tenn.), The (05/19) Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tenn.) (05/20)
4. Subway to open 1,200 new North American locations in 2012
ISA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
QSRWeb.com (05/18)
5. Dollar stores grow in Vermont, despite opposition
ISA SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
Chain store foes in Vermont have largely been successful at keeping out big-box retailers -- Wal-Mart has four stores in the state and Target has none -- but their fight is much tougher when it comes to dollar stores. The smaller footprint of Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar means that the concepts typically can't be excluded under anti-sprawl regulations; the chains have opened more than two dozen Vermont stores in recent years. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (05/13)
6. Remodeled McDonald's restaurants feature self-order kiosks
ISA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Self-order kiosks, digital menu boards and mobile ordering systems are part of McDonald's restaurant remodeling projects as the company modernizes its eateries around the globe. "We believe the company's remodeling program has been a key driver of the brand's global market share gains in the past decade," said analyst Bryan Elliott. Nation's Restaurant News (free registration) (05/21)
7. Delhaize to revamp U.S. Food Lion stores
ISA SmartBrief | May 10, 2012
Brussels-based supermarket retailer Delhaize Group plans to revamp an additional 510 Food Lion stores in the U.S. this year in an effort to boost sales. Delhaize, which makes about half its sales from U.S. operations, said revamped stores saw higher sales volumes in the first quarter. Wall Street Journal, The (05/03)
8. LCD technology turns cooler doors into translucent digital displays
ISA SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
Retail Customer Experience (05/14)
9. Stores add interactive services to draw customers
ISA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
U.S. retailers including Macy's, PetSmart and Coach are adding services and shaking up the merchandise mix at their brick-and-mortar stores in an effort to keep customers coming back. Only 31% of U.S. retail chains plan to add stores this year, according to National Retail Federation data, while many more are rethinking the ways they use their space. Reuters (05/21)
10. Beneful billboards fetch viewers with digital dogs
ISA SmartBrief | May 10, 2012
Beneful plays with pedestrians in a motion-activated outdoor display that encourages passers-by to interact with digital dogs. Beneful's brand manager, Jamin Hemenway, compared the display to playing Xbox Kinect. ClickZ (05/07)
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