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DSW finds ‘narrower and deeper’ to be the right fit for its business
DSW’s strong third-quarter sales recovery was made possible by past steps to increase emphasis on its top-50 footwear brands. What are the pros and cons of a “narrow and deep”…
Can Safeway slam the door shut on shoplifters?
As a number of major U.S. cities continue to grapple with the problem of violent, orchestrated retail theft, Safeway in San Francisco is rolling out restrictive solutions it hopes will…
Meijer and Publix want you to believe in their new Christmas spots
Meijer and Publix do not compete with one another in the same markets but the two retailers are going head to head in the second installment of the RetailWire Christmas…
Should grocers get comfortable with food inflation?
Food prices are at their highest levels in a decade, inflation pressures have accelerated in recent months and “there does not appear to be any real deflation on the horizon.”…
Does this activist investor know what’s best for Kohl’s?
Kohl’s is the latest retailer to be feeling the heat from an activist investor looking to spin off its e-commerce operations from the rest of its business. Does it make…
What will it take to build a better shopping cart?
A university study finds shopping carts with two parallel grips, instead of the standard single horizontal handlebar, could boost sales by 25 percent for grocers versus standard carts because they…
Dollar General’s Popshelf expansion shifts into high gear
Dollar General is planning to accelerate the expansion of Popshelf, its concept targeting suburban women, with a goal of reaching 1,000 locations by 2025. What do you think of the…
What are self-checkout’s pain points?
Self-checkout has been promoted as an answer to retail labor challenges since well before the pandemic, and consumers do find the notion of faster checkout appealing. The customer experience, however,…
Will Toys ‘R’ Us become an American comeback story?
Toys “R” Us has a new owner and is taking another shot at establishing a presence in the U.S. WHP Global, the parent company of the retailer, will open a…
Kroger makes sense of consumer contradictions
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said earlier this year that no other retailer “has the customer data and the insights” that his company has, once again pointing to his company’s understanding…
Does a four-day work week make more sense post-pandemic?
According to a new survey, 83 percent of Americans would prefer a four-day workweek. The survey of 4,000 full-time workers taken in mid-October found the appeal of four-day weeks fairly…
Rising food prices hit grocery workers hard
Any U.S. consumers who pay attention to their grocery receipts have undoubtedly noticed the increase in prices over the past year. And one of the groups being hit hardest by…
Is Amazon gouging its marketplace sellers?
Amazon wastes precious few opportunities to promote how successful their marketplace sellers have been, but new report claims fees now account for more than a third of each sale. Does…
Is air freight worth the cost to Gap?
Gap last week found itself defending its plan to air freight 35 percent of its holiday range and absorb $450 million in related costs to help offset supply chain challenges…
Did Cyber Monday hit its peak in 2020?
Final figures from Cyber Monday show that it was the single biggest day for online shopping in 2021. On the other hand, sales rung up by online merchants were down…
Meijer offers teachers supply discounts beyond back-to-school
Over the last couple of years, major retailers have increasingly offered discounts to teachers during the back-to-school season. Now some retailers and brands are extending their promotions even further. Should…
Is Small Business Saturday losing steam?
American Express said sales on the 12th Small Business Saturday, November 27, reached an all-time high, but other reports point to challenges facing local shops this holiday season. Are Small…
Who will win the first RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge?
It’s not surprising to see so many direct competitors looking to match their ad spending levels to those of their primary rivals. It is with this understanding that we kick…
Can retail move more quickly than Omicron?
The Omicron virus is here and is probably more widespread than currently known. Beyond that there isn’t a lot known about the latest variant of COVID-19 other than by vaccine…
What caused the thin Black Friday traffic?
Traffic both in-store and online on Black Friday was subdued due to fewer doorbusters on the day and earlier holiday shopping in a season being increasingly dictated by supply chain…
Lush exits social media over risks to teens
Lush Cosmetics deactivated its Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok accounts on Black Friday with a promise to stay away until the social media platforms can provide safer environments for their users. Did Lush make the…
