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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Are robots taking over Schnucks’ stores?
Schnuck Markets is going to the robots. The family-owned grocery chain announced that it is rolling out artificial intelligence-powered robots to all 111 of its stores in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri…
Should retailers give workers Labor Day off?
Labor Day is the USA’s version of a holiday meant to recognize the American worker, but for many working in retail that still does not mean getting a day off…
Should grocers take a lead role supporting weight loss efforts online?
Americans are dealing with an ongoing obesity crisis and surveys continually show the majority want to lose weight. Can grocers help now that they offer increased online access? Why don’t…
American Eagle acquires logistics startup to help transform its supply chain
American Eagle Outfitters has acquired AirTerra, a logistics startup which has developed a shipper aggregator system it claims will not only deliver packages to businesses more quickly but do so…
Do new Shipt and Walmart programs signal big changes to come in the retail delivery market?
Target-owned Shipt and Walmart each introduced new programs this week that may substantially affect the U.S. delivery market. What will the Shipt Preferred Shopper Program and Walmart GoLocal mean for…
Email marketing drives sales results and sometimes drives customers away
While one might think flooded in-boxes overwhelm consumers, surveys continue to show email marketing can be highly effective for brands and retailers. What are the differences between getting email retailer…
What will be the toy story of Christmas 2021?
Retail toy sales got off to a hot start in 2021. How well the category performs, however, particularly during the critical Christmas season, remains to be seen. Are you expecting…
Following full FDA approval, should employees be required to get COVID vaccines?
The Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday that it has given full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of the virus in people 16 years of age…
Home Depot turns off thieves’ power to use or sell stolen tools
Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves. Do you see in-store activation at the point of…
Should retailers and brands pay for user-generated content?
Fifty-nine percent of online shoppers say that user-generated content (UGC), such as images and videos from other consumers, is the most authentic type of content, according to a recent survey…
Are Home Depot and Lowe’s about to hit a sales wall?
A recent softening in the red-hot housing market and a reduction in homeowners tackling DIY projects has raised concerns about near-term growth rates for Home Depot and Lowe’s. Do you…
Halloween sales could be scary good for retailers
Two-thirds of parents with a child under 18 plan to do more for Halloween this year compared to other years, according to a survey from Hershey. Will Halloween spending recover…
Has Old Navy charted a course for all retail to follow on plus-sizes?
Old Navy has introduced a major revamp of its plus-size approach, called BODEQUALITY, that addresses clothing inclusivity in a myriad of ways. What is your assessment of Old Navy’s BODEQUALITY program?
Will Amazon department stores spell trouble for Kohl’s?
Amazon.com is planning to open several large retail stores in the U.S. that will be its take on the department store model. How would you expect a smaller box Amazon…
Have cross-selling and upselling become lost retail arts?
Cross-selling and upselling in retail are the foundation of raising the average ticket. Are retailers properly training sales associates to offer credible cross-selling advice and to upsell customers when appropriate?
Americans have learned to shop with the virus
The 1.1 percent decline in July retail sales reported earlier this week by the U.S. Census Bureau is nothing to be overly concerned about. That’s the analysis of the NRF,…
Has Target ‘only begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible’ for its business?
Target’s second quarter was another one for the record books. The retailer posted an 8.9 percent gain in comparable sales, one year after it saw its revenues jump 24.3 percent…
Do downtown shopping districts need their own loyalty programs?
Drawing inspiration from Pokemon Go, a new loyalty program in Olympia, WA, rewards downtown visitors for “checking in” with their mobile phones at local stores, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues…
Lagging distributors send restaurants grocery shopping
Restaurants are running into problems getting the ingredients they need to conduct business as semi-usual. Supply chain disruptions are forcing them to make unexpected changes. Is there a way that…
Should grocery stores retire the ethnic aisle?
Controversy surrounding ethnic aisles in supermarkets and the function they may or may not serve has brands questioning limits on potential growth that could be more accessible in heavily-trafficked category-based…
Will new cash-back cards deliver healthy returns for Walgreens?
Walgreens announced on Monday the launch of its new myWalgreens Credit Card program, which features two “industry-first retail health and wellness credit cards.” Are the financial benefits or the consumer…
