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Why self-checkout lanes don't work
Frances Frei Mar 30, 2012
Commentator Frances Frei says automation needs to improve the customer experience, not frustrate it.
Taking humans out of the supermarket checkout
Ann Heppermann Mar 27, 2012
Retail is getting more and more "robotified," and where it's most evident is the self checkout kiosks at supermarkets. Retail clerks are finding themselves displaced by the machines.
Celebrating Larry Stevenson, skateboard innovator
Stacey Vanek Smith Mar 27, 2012
The father of what we know as the mass-produced skateboard passed away at age 81. How has the industry grown since he first began to churn out boards?
Gap turns to big name designer for small customers
Mara Zepeda Mar 15, 2012
Diane Von Furstenberg creates a collection for GapKids in a move to build its brand among shoppers in training.
Federal Reserve meeting to focus on monetary policy
Juli Niemann Mar 13, 2012
The top policy makers at the Federal Reserve are holding a meeting today in Washington to decide what to do next when it comes to monetary policy. Will they shift their focus now that we have signs of economic recovery?
New light bulb lexicon
Eve Troeh Mar 2, 2012
New government guidelines are taking incandescent bulbs off the market, leaving us with compact fluorescents and LEDs. But now there's a new language for bulb shoppers to learn.
Bloomie's new calling card
Jennifer Collins Feb 24, 2012
Taking its cue from grocery stores and drug stores, Bloomingdale's will offer a loyalty card that is not tied to a store credit card. The cards go to shoppers, but the department store chain may reap the biggest rewards.
What retail earnings are telling us about the economy
Adriene Hill Feb 23, 2012
This week we're finding out how department stores have been faring. Macy's and Saks are in good shape; today, Kohl's says its yearly sales rose. Department stores can tell us a lot about the health of the economy -- at least part of it.
Walmart lures shoppers back -- at a price
Bob Moon Feb 21, 2012
Walmart boosted U.S. sales in the latest quarter, but shoppers were drawn to lower-priced products and that hit profit margins.
January retail sales lower than expected
Juli Niemann Feb 14, 2012
The government said this morning that retail sales inched up 0.4 percent last month. That was lower than expected.
