Philippe Matthews Show Guru Advice, Author Reviews, Tech Reviews, Entertainment News

Checking in with IBM, comScore, Mercent, and Envirosell to play Cyber Monday quarterback. Or, as IBM's John Squire calls it: "The best day ever." Cyber Monday, which was invented by the National Retail Federation in 2004, was little more than a marketing gimmick until this year

Forecasts predict modest growth this Christmas. Retail strategist Alison Levy recommends how independent retailers can stand out. The holidays are expected to bring only a modest cheer to business owners this year

Their work cut out for them, small businesses turn to customer service and experiences to differentiate this holiday shopping season. Holiday retail projections are upbeat, but what's a small business to do with competition from deep-discounting big-box stores and consumers who are focused on seizing deals? The National Retail Federation expects retail sales to increase 2.8 percent this year.