This is a blog entry about a blog. Actually, it’s about the world of retail blogging. More retailers and other kinds of companies (including Roanoke’s Carilion Clinic) have created their own blogs in recent years, as a way to communicate with consumers who troll the Internet. Blogs are interactive online logs featuring everything from commentary and news to personal information.

Many online retailers are cultivating blog audiences, but I recently discovered one created by a Roanoke-based retailer, Fink’s Jewelers.

Fink’s created a blog on its Web site in October. The blog, which is not updated daily, appears to be a public relations and advertising medium for the company. Still, there are posts about jewelry trends and personal stories about store life, such as an entree written by a Fink’s manager at its Triangle Town Center store in Raleigh, N.C. Posts likely are monitored heavily by the retailer, so don’t count on this blog to divulge insider information. Fink’s has 14 locations total in Virginia and North Carolina.

I've still trying to reach Fink's to ask about the purpose of its blog, so I'll let you know once I find out more information.

Also, here’s the blog by Carilion Clinic that I mentioned above. This also is a public relations tool for the company.

A Wal-Mart blog, called checkoutblog.com, is an unusual example of how retailers put information out in the blogosphere. It has largely unedited entrees written by store managers and buyers for the retail giant. They often give insight about certain products sold at Wal-Mart, but not all of their reviews are positive.
This blog is a contrast to other corporate blogs where mostly higher level executives give a polished spin about the company.

Here’s a recent New York Times story about Wal-Mart’s blog.

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• Posted by Jenny Kincaid Boone in Miscellaneous
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