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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Plant-based drink and meat alternatives look like they are here to stay
As the novel coronavirus pandemic got underway last March, the plant-based food space grew significantly according to a new report. To what extent did the circumstances of the pandemic contribute…
Amazon’s CEO Bezos comes out in support of national infrastructure bill
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, supports spending big on infrastructure, even if that means his company is required to pay more in taxes to get it done. Are…
Will Best Buy’s customers love its new service and savings plan?
Best Buy is testing a new membership program that will deliver benefits including unlimited technical support from the retailer’s Geek Squad, exclusive pricing, free standard shipping of online orders, and…
Will climate action become less of a priority for retail post-pandemic?
Deloitte’s latest “Climate Check“ report shows that over 80 percent of executives are concerned about climate change. The pandemic and economic downturn, however, have stalled ambitious actions, according to the…
Will shelf scanning robots put an end to out-of-stocks?
Of the numerous types of robots that are catching on for use in the front of the store, robotic shelf scanners are the ones that retailers see being most effective,…
Amazon goes shopping at the mall
Amazon has been on a buying spree, further proof that Americans have changed their shopping habits in recent years and since the novel coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. But what…
Can the luxury industry be inclusive and exclusive at the same time?
The luxury market has made progress with diversity councils, chief diversity officers and special programs for underrepresented groups. But the definition of luxury seems contrary to equality, raising questions about…
What will 80,000 closed stores mean for America’s retailers?
Headlines that echo forecasts of thousands of stores closing their doors over the next five years seem alarming on the surface, but perhaps it’s a sign of different things —…
Associates are starring in retailer ad campaigns
For the 22nd year, ShopRite associates will be featured on limited-edition Cheerios boxes to recognize their efforts fighting hunger in their local communities. Do you see significantly more advantages in…
Will consumers immerse themselves in Dick’s new experiential concept stores?
Dick’s Sporting Goods has announced the grand opening of its House of Sport experiential concept store. The new store will provide a variety of experiences for various sports both inside and…
Should Amazon open clearance stores?
Amazon.com was considering opening a clearance concept selling unsold inventory of home goods and electronics at steep discounts prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, reports Bloomberg. What do you think…
Is Harry’s on its way to joining the ranks of big CPG companies?
Harry’s, after seeing its acquisition by Edgewell fall apart just before the pandemic, raised $155 million in new funding with plans to build a suite of consumer packaged goods companies. …
The Suez Canal incident offered retailers and brands a supply chain lesson
The world learned a tough physics lesson after the 1,312-foot-long container ship, Ever Given, ran aground in the Suez Canal, blocking a shipping lane that handles some 12 percent of the…
Kroger CEO says no one has the ‘data and insights’ that it has
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen, who often speaks of “competitive moats” that Kroger has established, is a firm believer that the retailer’s data and insights enable it to outperform its rivals…
What will travel’s potential recovery mean for tourist retail?
Travel retailer Hudson announced plans to open six stores in the new Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as domestic air travel has recently been showing signs of making a comeback. Do…
How can word-of-mouth marketing feel less transactional?
A university study finds marketing perks can foster word-of-mouth without being used as explicit incentives, although it depends on how they’re framed and perceived. Do you agree that financial incentives…
Do consumers see brand activism as genuine or simply pandering?
A survey from Piplsay finds 69 percent of Americans continue to expect brands to take a stand on social issues, but opinions appear mixed on how far they want brands…
Will a ‘skyscraper’ store change how groceries are delivered in cities?
Grocery stores that manage their back-end operations with busy hives of robots have gone from speculative fiction to reality. One recent entry into the space has made headlines with its…
Best Buy sets up its associates to test themselves for COVID-19
Best Buy is now offering at-home COVID-19 tests for workers who may have been exposed to the virus in the chain’s stores and warehouses. Should every chain retailer have a…
Where will ‘disruptive innovation’ take the retail business?
Many believe that Clayton M. Christensen’s theory of “disruptive innovation” is one of, if not the most, important business ideas of the current century. Where do you think disruptive innovation…
Chewy takes a bigger bite out of the pet products market
Chewy reported its first quarterly profit yesterday and is looking for big things ahead as market trends and forecasts all appear to be going its way. Are Chewy’s 2020 results…
