Here’s a simple tip that I learned which can help to keep you on top of what your competition is doing. One idea that’s been around for a while, and if you haven’t done it you should, is to go to Google Alerts and create an alert for the name of your business, your name, your employees’ names, your industry, and/or any of the important vendors you might carry and anything else that you would want to know if any news is written about them. 

Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Chairman and CEO

According to Dr. Marianne Bickle, Professor and Department Chair for South Carolina University’s Department of Retailing and author of The Changing American Consumer, perception is reality for American consumers, and everything from political campaigns to pop culture plays a part in how we spend.

Applicants weren’t deterred by the heavy rain that fell in San Francisco when local Jamba Inc. (JMBA) outlets opened their doors for the smoothie chain’s first nationwide summer job fair on March 27.

There is no question that major socioeconomic and technological shifts have changed the game of business. Business is now forced to play by a different set of rules. Those rules, according to popular OPEN contributor Barry Moltz, are reminiscent of how things work in a small town.

The year 2011 is showing great signs of retail growth due to solid Black Friday sales. Shoppers with pent up demand are now looking to open their checkbooks this holiday season and make up for the past few years of shying away from making discretionary purchases. However, 2012 will be a challenging year for inventors and retailers alike. When times are tough, people tend to stay close to home and gravitate towards things that are familiar and comforting to them.    

Retailers witnessed exciting new developments on both the industry and legislative sides in March 2012. This year’s unseasonably warm winter continued into March and helped give a noticeable boost to consumers’ moods and retailers’ sales. On the legislative front, Congress took steps in the right direction to reauthorize federal transportation funding, and the Senate held a hearing that would help boost travel and tourism to the states by reducing the visa application process – both welcome sights to NRF and retailers alike. Read on below to see what else was hot in March.

Retailers Look to the Department Store for Salvation

Department Stores May Have Ceded Power to Specialty Shops and Web, But Retailers of All Stripes Are Embracing Power of Bricks And Mortar

Whatever happened to the department store?

Americans are expected to spend an average of $145.28 for Easter candy, decoration, clothing and other items this year, an 11% increase from 2011, for total spending of $16.8 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. "Though the price of gas is on everyone's mind, Easter is one of the few holidays some consumers are willing to stretch their budgets, especially because many children look forward to treats and new outfits on Easter morning," said President and CEO Matthew Shay.