While retailers have been trying varied promotional efforts to spur consumer spending, US department store Nordstrom has found a solution, which doesn’t involve delving into the mind of the customer. Rather, it has focused on itself.

Two new studies by Gartner and Deloitte on purchasing decisions has found social networks have become increasingly important shopping tools for consumers and retailers, with both groups highlighting the need for retailers to improve their social media presence.

This year has seen the launch of a raft of must-have devices; from the iPad to 3D TV's and smartphones to tablet computers, consumers have been scrambling to purchase the very latest in technology - all of which has left the Asian market seriously short of electronic components.

SEOUL: Korea will soon be hosting the IEEE NANO Conference highlighting the convergence of four key industrial technologies: nano, MEMS, printed electronics and laser machining.

A report of the resignation of David Jones CEO Mark McInnes was included in almost every television and radio news bulletin on Friday and made national headlines in the weekend papers. Meanwhile, the social web went wild with the news. In fact, the follow-up story of the naming of the woman who made the allegations Kristy Fraser-Kirk, was broken by the social media on Saturday.