The amount of first-time homebuyers in the market is rather small compared to previous years. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), “the share of first-time buyers fell to its lowest point in nearly three decades and is preventing …

Consumers are increasing their gift-gifting this year, according to Deloitte’s 29th annual holiday shopping survey. This optimistic outlook has been shared with other analysts, but Deloitte details all aspects in its 32-page report. Below is a brief overview of the findings …

Online shopping has made ordering products easier, added new ways to advertise and promote, and has enabled customers to compare prices among different retailers. However, online shopping is still missing one thing—the in-store customer experience. In order to learn what …

The online retail realm allows for immense personalization and product displays. Product advertising and promotional content can be updated instantaneously. For brick-and-mortar stores, updating in-store displays takes more than a click of a button, therefore retailers must optimize their product …

Consumers’ wallets are growing—not from money but from loyalty cards. More consumers are joining loyalty programs, but are they joining because they love the brand or because they love the discount? The Love Matrix, a report by Bond Brand Loyalty, analyzes …

Inspired Home, a new website from the International Housewares Association (IHA), was launched mid-October as a resource for consumers to discover trends in home and housewares products. IHAInspiredHome.org, “delivers compelling information and ideas across a broad spectrum of home lifestyle …

Paid time off is a benefit that a majority of companies offer; yet a new study by Oxford Economics found that employees are not taking advantage of these vacation days. In 2013, Americans let 169 million days of paid time …

The future has arrived. Robots are helping customers shop, and we’re not talking about smartphones. In late November, Lowe’s will introduce its robotic shopping assistant to a California Orchard Supply Hardware store. The 5-foot tall OSHbot is bilingual, can display …