Big Brother is watching you shop

On the Web, every click and jiggle of the mouse helps online retailers customize sites and maximize the likelihood of a purchase. Brick-and-mortar stores have long wanted to track consumers in a similar fashion, but following atoms is a lot harder than following bits.

To get a better understanding of their customers, mall operators are monitoring shoppers’ behavior with devices that track mobile-phone signals and in-store security cameras.  The goal is to discover which variables affect a purchase, then act with Web-like nimbleness to deploy more salespeople, alter displays, or put out blue blouses instead of red.

BusinessWeek