RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Has COVID-19 transformed Gen-Z forever?
Many members of Gen-Z, already struggling with adolescence, now have to add COVID-19 to the mix. How do you see COVID-19 affecting the Gen-Z consumer, particularly teenagers and young adults,…
Can Neighborhood Goods’ platform help brands hurt by the pandemic?
Before the coronavirus pandemic, indie brands that might have difficulty finding shelf space on their own were gaining popularity. Now, as many indie brands are faced with uncertainty and potential…
What will be retail’s new normal if social distancing stays in place until 2022?
Even as governors in some states are feeling more confident that they’re close to the top of their respective disease curves, medical experts warn that reopening the economy and relaxing…
DSW tries to make itself ‘essential’ with Hy-Vee partnership
DSW has closed its 1,000 stores across the U.S. as the footwear chain has been classified as non-essential retail by government authorities. A new partnership with Hy-Vee, however, may give…
Is virtual selling set to take off?
Retailers have dabbled with virtual selling in recent years, but there now appears to be an intensified focus with in-store opportunities vanishing amid the pandemic. Can virtual selling make up…
Is remote working here for good?
A shift toward remote working had already been taking place in recent years. Now, companies have significantly expanded those efforts with much of America’s workplace forced to work from home…
The Vuori COVID-19 story: Closed stores and open minds
When Vuori temporarily closed five activewear stores, two main questions arose — how to leverage conditions to emerge stronger, and is there an opportunity for associates to expand their skills…
Will Walmart’s daily pickup hour for seniors cause operational challenges?
Walmart, which has offered a “senior shopping event” every Tuesday since March 24, announced yesterday that it is going to add a daily pickup hour for vulnerable shoppers at select…
Amazon puts new online grocery customers on hold, reconfigures Whole Foods
The surge of online grocery adoption due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to slowdowns and stock-outs from the once untouchable Amazon.com. Will wait-listing new customers and converting Whole Foods…
Has COVID-19 turned fashion into an endangered retail species?
Outside of travel and leisure, no industry will be more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than non-essential retail, and in that category, no vertical will be impacted more than fashion…
Is Walmart’s e-commerce COO the ‘ideal CEO to lead’ eBay?
Jamie Iannone, COO for Walmart’s e-commerce business in the U.S., has been named as the new chief executive officer of eBay. How do you think consumers see eBay as a…
When should non-essential retail stores reopen?
With hopeful signals that coronavirus infections may be plateauing, government officials are weighing public safety and economic risks of relaxing social distancing guidelines. What factors should determine when non-essential stores…
How transparent should grocers be about employees infected with COVID-19?
Trader Joe’s, H-E-B and ShopRite are standing out for providing transparency about the number of their employees testing positive for coronavirus. The majority of retail is largely keeping such incidents…
Retail’s COVID-19 drive-through testing is not going according to plan
Retailers are starting to open drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites to the public for the first time. Are they ready? What challenges do you expect retailers to face rolling out COVID-19…
Do brands have an obligation to fight the coronavirus?
Actions more than words are wanted from brands amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new global survey from Edelman, the public relations firm. How have consumer expectations for brands…
Should retailers skip rent?
Citing force majeure, several companies intend to temporarily stop paying rent due to store closures forced by shelter-at-home policies. Are threats to stop paying rent amid the COVID-19 pandemic an…
Fear, heroism and wrongful death lawsuits in the age of coronavirus
Heroism involves facing down the prospect of some type of personal harm to do the right thing in a given situation. How effectively are retail industry employers responding to the…
Will selling groceries help restaurants ride out COVID-19?
Grocery stores are slammed with customers and restaurants are closed for dine-in patrons as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Do you see grocery sales as a viable means for independent and…
Are retailers nimble enough to give consumers what they need and want right now?
Retailers must navigate the new normal, where the ability to connect is more reliant on digital technology than ever. How successful do you think most retailers have been in becoming…
Pandemic or no, card companies will not extend Outdoor EMV deadline for c- and g-stores
Despite all the economic disruption caused by the pandemic, leading credit card companies do not plan to extend what’s commonly known as the “Outdoor EMV” deadline. Should the credit card…
Zappos overhauls its website for home-bound customers
Nearly all retailers have updated their websites to detail how COVID-19 has disrupted business as usual, but few have gone as far as Zappos in assuring customers it is prepared…
