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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Should marketing have more control over pricing?
Traditionally, chief marketing officers have oversight over promotions to get products out, but not much influence on initial pricing as products come in. Should marketing play a larger role in…
Will a new store design turn Abercrombie & Fitch into a getaway shopping destination?
Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) has launched a new store design – The Getaway – that seeks to make “every day feel as exceptional as the start of a long weekend”…
Instacart offers tiered rewards to gig workers
Instacart has introduced a three-pronged tiered-rewards program, Cart Star, to drive loyalty among its shoppers (delivery personnel). Will Instacart’s Cart Star rewards program lead to greater retention of its independent…
Is Amazon’s deal for iRobot all about mapping Americans’ homes?
Amazon.com on Friday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire iRobot, the maker of the Roomba vacuum cleaner, in an all-cash transaction valued around $1.7 billion…
Walmart goes tiny to reach nature-loving vacationers
Walmart has partnered with Getaway, known for its quaint cabins across the U.S., to open a 75-square foot “The General Store by Walmart” store concept on wheels at select Getaway…
Can venture funds help retailers keep apace with technology?
Ulta Beauty has become the latest retailer to officially launch a digital innovation venture fund. The fund will invest $20 million in startups “unlocking new technology that fuels greater discovery,…
Will refurbished products deliver ‘good as new’ results for Walmart?
Walmart has launched a program selling refurbished appliances and consumer electronics that it says will offer high-quality products at a fraction of the cost of buying them new. Do you…
Is TikTok becoming a bridal shopping portal?
With the hashtag #weddingtok drawing for over 2.9 billion views, TikTok is earning a reputation as a go-to destination for brides seeking real-life inspiration from actual brides and fashion experts…
CVS plans to buy its way into the primary care business
CVS has arguably been the driving force behind America’s acceptance of health clinics in retail stores. Now, the chain is looking to take the next step with retail clinics staffed…
Is Walmart’s HQ reorg a good thing or cause for concern?
Walmart is laying off workers as part of a reorganization of its corporate staff. The decision comes on the heels of reducing its forecast for the current quarter and the…
New stores are opening in malls, inflation or no
Some say a recession is on the way; others say it is already here, but according to the biggest owner of U.S. shopping malls, the threat of an economic downturn…
Are grocers profiteering from inflation?
In a tweet Tuesday, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, a Canadian celebrity money expert, called for a boycott of Loblaws, encouraging followers to “join in sending a message to the Loblaws group that…
The Nordstrom tire return story is true
The Nordstrom tire return story, often thought of as a piece of fiction used to demonstrate the length the department store would go to serve its customers, is true. What role…
Will H-E-B’s self-checkout pilot take off?
The Texas grocery powerhouse H-E-B is piloting a new form of self-checkout at one location that might remind shoppers of a trip to the airport. Do you see the Fast…
How should influencer marketing be measured?
Linking influencer marketing to revenue is “the golden ticket,” Christina Westley, head of influencer marketing at PepsiCo Content Studio, says in Econsultancy’s “Influencer Marketing Best Practice Guide” study. What are…
Will Amazon deliver same-day results for GNC, PacSun and other retailers?
Amazon Prime members in 10 cities can now buy merchandise from local retailers in their market and get their orders delivered the very same day. Will same-day delivery for well-known…
Should the cryptocurrency crash scare retailers?
Nearly 75 percent of retailers plan to accept either cryptocurrency or stablecoin payments within the next two years, according to a new study. Have you become any more or less…
Comic-Con can teach retailers a lot about curation
Comic-Con International returned to downtown San Diego and smart local merchants created targeted strategies, offers and operations to deliver curated products and services to meet convention-goers’ needs. What lessons can…
Dynamic pricing may be ‘stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey’
An uproar ensued last week after fans of Bruce Springsteen found some tickets to his first tour in six years fetching prices in the range of $4,000 to $5,000 due…
Are Rent The Runway’s second-hand clothes the perfect fit for Saks Off 5th?
Saks Off 5th has partnered with Rent The Runway to sell previously-worn and rented fashions via its website, becoming the first off-pricer to enter the resale marketplace. Does resale make…
What will Glossier look like after a makeover with Sephora?
Glossier, the disruptive beauty upstart, has reached a deal for Sephora stores and Sephora.com to start selling its products in North America in early 2023, marking its first wholesale partnership. Do you…
