The Marsh Lifestyle store may well be the format that can reverse the traditional supermarket’s design. Built to put the focus on consumer convenience and the effective use of technologies, Marsh designed this store from the ground up and moved the “center of the store” out to the perimeter and separated these departments into mini-experiences for consumers.

Here's a look at how Food Lion's new Bloom grocery format utilizes the latest technologies: self-scan, portable scanners, wireless check stands and in-store kiosks to enhance the shopping experience for their customers.

When is technology a "deal-maker" and not a "deal-breaker"? In this video, the Sterling Group conducted a project for IBM to understand the retail environment from a consumer's perspective to help determine what role technology plays in the shopping experience. They met 18 shoppers at their homes, got in their cars, and went shopping...and this over the shoulder look at how a shopper buys is guaranteed to change the way you'll look at in-store consumer behavior.

Twenty years ago our produce departments stocked about 40 varieties, and today supermarkets proudly display over 400! Fruits and vegetables from all corners of the world have created a magnificent environment of colors and aromas that have become the center stage setting for the shopping experience, but even the most adept produce managers can sometimes be at a loss to describe just which exotic fruit is which.

IBM's new in-store display technology allows images and full motion video to be combined with touch capability bringing a new dimension to point-of-sale.

Among the suite of RFID applications that IconNicholson presented at NRF'S Retail Big Show was a customer hot spot, a next step in enhancing the customer shopping experience.

At the recent National Retail Federation Conference held in New York City , James Stafford of Marks & Spencer was a featured panelist in the forum titled Redefining Retail: RFID and its Future. Stafford shared with the 700+ attendees this video which was created to demonstrate Marks & Spencer’s RFID Program to its employees and stakeholders.

At the National Retail Federation’s BIG SHOW in January, Phil Lempert moderated a panel which focused on RFID and specific results from Marks & Spencer and Metro along with forecasting and analysis from some of the country’s leading RFID thought leaders.

Experience the Store of the Future! IBM is proud to be a partner with the National Retail Federation, and to sponsor this video presentation of X05. Here's what you'll see:

New technologies that build customer relationships with your store to help increase turnover

Interactive projected display technologies that lead shoppers to products without on-floor sales help for greater productivity

RFID technologies that bring the shopping (and marketing) experience to life

The creation of a unique retail environment that increases sales per square foot