Worth Watching

Gary Ambrosino was surprised when he picked up his phone to solve a software problem, and the Apple representative mentioned it would be $75 for the call.

But the “a-ha” moment quickly followed: He was told if he went to the Internet, he could schedule an appointment at the nearest Apple store and have the issue serviced for free. Naturally, he did — and once in the store, he passed several items he wanted to purchase on the way to the service area in the back.

Retailers depend upon online advertisements to draw shoppers to stores and websites. Consumers encounter a plethora of such ads, stopping to read some while ignoring others. In-person eye-track tests can measure effectiveness but are often expensive and take time. Now, a new company uses the web to offer eye tracking with quick results and less expense.

Retailers competing for customers and facing declining profit margins have increasingly turned to loyalty and rewards programs in recent years. But as these offerings grow more ubiquitous, once-unique programs can get lost in a sea of relative sameness.

Rewards and advertising company Cardlytics has a platform that allows retailers take their offers straight to consumers’ online bank accounts. The creators of the program say it has the potential to revolutionize the rewards industry because it benefits participating banks, retailers and consumers.

Receipts, an integral part of retail transactions, remain one of the last holdouts in the push toward a paperless society. Several companies are working toward an online receipts solution that will also provide information for retailer marketing.