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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will the coronavirus change how we use plastic packaging?
As shoppers and retailers have had their attention shifted to surviving the coronavirus pandemic, there’s been a dramatic shift to foods packaged in plastics. Do you think consumers and retailers…
Will old-time retailing skills fix the supply chain mess created by COVID-19?
Once retailers restart their businesses following the COVID-19 outbreak, they will be faced with challenges for which old skills may provide the fastest answers. Where do you see the biggest…
Is it time for ‘essential’ retailers to stop running in-store promotions?
The reality at stores classified as “essential” since the coronavirus outbreak has been that a lot of planned sales promotion activity has been paused. Have you noticed a reduction in…
Pre-bagged produce proves popular during pandemic
Products that were surefire sellers three weeks ago are suddenly unpopular as the threat of coronavirus has changed what many consumers think of as convenient — and even safe —…
Will Chewy build on its current sales momentum once the COVID-19 threat has passed?
Chewy.com has seen an acceleration in sales since late February as stay-at-home orders proliferate across the country. Despite this, the crisis is creating both “headwinds and tailwinds” for the company…
How can stores get social distancing right?
Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowe’s this past weekend joined many other retailers in limiting the number of customers allowed in stores at one time to help stop the spread…
Is Amazon facing a crossroads with the coronavirus pandemic?
Amazon.com is reportedly delaying Prime Day 2020, typically held in July, at least until August as it faces extraordinary demand created by COVID-19. Is Amazon facing a make-or-break period based…
Retailers turn to government for help in a time of need
Friday was the first day small businesses — including thousands of retailers dealing with forced closures — could apply for loans as part of a $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package…
Will off-pricers be major share gainers post-coronavirus?
Analysts have upgraded TJX Cos. and Ross Stores in recent days as the uncertainty and downturn caused by the coronavirus spurs defensive measures from full-line retailers. Are off-pricers poised to…
Apple wants its store staff to try work-from-home tech support
Apple stores are closed, but the chain is planning for its employees to work from home — a move not popular with all employees. What do you think of Apple’s…
Will a new pot and pizza delivery concept become all the buzz in legal weed retailing?
Marie Janes Cannabis Connection will give “new meaning to the term pizza joint” after it became the first marijuana dispensary in the U.S. to add in-house pizza to its cannabis…
What’s going on inside the heads of consumers right now?
During a global health and financial-solvency crisis like COVID-19, tone-deaf messages will sound like nails on a chalkboard to consumers, threatening to imperil a company’s brand equity long after the…
How will this change us?
The coronavirus outbreak has accomplished something, perhaps fleetingly–many consumers and executives are seeing the real value of frontline workers for the very first time. Do you think the appreciation retail…
eBay pledges to get small businesses ‘up and running’ online
Small retail businesses across the U.S. are under pressure as they try to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Will eBay’s “Up & Running” program be successful in…
Will socially distanced shopping launch robot delivery for the masses?
The Broad Branch Market in Chevy Chase, Md. has begun utilizing robots for delivery in order to allow customers to get groceries with minimal human interaction. Do you see robotic…
L.L.Bean CEO: Congress needs to step up for ‘middle market retail’
Congress has stepped in with a number of pieces of legislation to help ease the pain being felt by so many, but it still has work to do. Do you…
What does the loss of sport mean for retail?
With last week’s decision to postpone the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which had been set to start July 24, the world may be without major sporting events until the fall…
Canceled orders and furloughed employees are part of today’s retail reality
WWD reported last week that moves by stores to cancel orders and postpone payments to vendors has increased as the operational and financial realities of the outbreak have become clear…
Teleconferencing workers change Walmart’s sales mix
Walmart has noticed that newly at-home customers are buying clothes differently since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S. What recent changes in consumer shopping behavior do you expect…
Why do so many people working in retail find AI scary?
While artificial intelligence is a hot topic right now, primarily because we now have the data and the computing power available to use it efficiently. But there’s also a lot…
Is Kroger’s pick-up only store a solution for grocers now and in the future?
A Kroger store in Cincinnati has converted to pickup-only. The store may now better suited to address challenges associated with the pandemic. Are grocery stores “super-spreading virus vectors” or are…
