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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Target wants to unlock its videogaming potential with a new concept store
A few years ago, Target launched a store specifically to showcase its connected home offerings. Now, it has converted the IoT-focused Target Open House into a new concept store specifically…
What’s blocking gender pay equity?
Timed for International Women’s Day, Lululemon reported that it had reached 100 percent gender pay equity — or equal pay for equal work — for the third year in a…
Can retailers ensure stores are coronavirus-safe?
Suspending in-store sampling, not accepting reusable cups, sending letters to customers and deep cleaning are some steps retailers are taking to reassure customers it’s safe to shop amid the coronavirus…
Burlington Stores walks away from e-commerce
Burlington Stores surprised some last week by announcing it is winding down e-commerce operations. On its fourth-quarter conference call week, Michael O’Sullivan, CEO, said three factors drove the decision. Do…
Will augmented reality tech effectively bring the try-on experience online?
Burberry, 1-800-Flowers.com and ASOS recently became the latest retailers to infuse augmented reality (AR) into their apps to help online customers make more informed purchase decisions. How confident are you…
Instacart just leaves deliveries at the door as customers hole up against the coronavirus
Instacart announced yesterday a new feature — Leave at My Door Delivery — after seeing increased demand from customers in recent days as a result of concerns over the spread…
Can Lassie save the mall?
At Yorktown Center in Chicago’s western suburbs, 58 stores have a paw print sticker on their window indicating they’re “pet-friendly.” Have the perceptions around dogs in retail settings changed to…
Can Old Navy’s boss lead a turnaround at Gap Inc.?
Gap Inc. didn’t have to look far for a new chief executive to replace its former CEO, Art Peck. The specialty clothing retailer has announced that Sonia Syngal, CEO of…
Study says retailers could stand a little more sunny or snowy weather
According to a new university study, sunny and snowy conditions trigger consumers to visualize using products associated with the respective weather, which lead them to place a higher value on…
Will Rent the Runway get hit by the coronavirus?
Rent the Runway has added a new item to its FAQ page about how it cleans its garments to prevent the spread of viruses, including COVID-19. How likely is the…
Should Amazon pay a penalty for counterfeits sold in its marketplace?
A bill called the Shop Safe Act of 2020 currently being considered by Congress aims to curb the perennial problem of counterfeit goods being sold through e-commerce marketplaces. How would…
Target thinks small to succeed big time
Target’s push to open smaller locations in recent years has been one of the chain’s success stories. Now the retailer is thinking of developing even smaller stores to enable it…
Are strip centers where it’s at for Macy’s and Sephora?
Macy’s and Sephora recently announced plans to focus their expansion on non-mall locations to take advantage of steadier traffic flows seen there vs. indoor malls. What’s driving the apparent healthier…
Will a lack of paid sick leave cost retailers as the coronavirus outbreak spreads?
It’s common in the retailing and the foodservice industries that chain employers do not extend paid sick time benefits to part-time workers. How should retailers address employees who do not…
What will it take to fix J.C. Penney’s shrinking sales problem?
J.C. Penney’s survival will not come from an improvement in margin rates, but an improvement in margin dollars — and that will require a big reversal of sales trends. Do…
Has the UPC outlived its usefulness?
The vast majority of retailers and consumer brand companies will be ready to move on from the universal product code (UPC) in the near future, according to a research study…
7-Eleven’s new store concept is an ‘Evolution’ in convenience
Over the last year, 7-Eleven has been running a testing ground for new in-store features in Dallas called 7-Eleven Evolution, with an eye toward expanding it even further. Do you…
Retailers go into business triage mode as coronavirus enters the U.S.
The fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has so far been minimal for American retailers, but some near-term and potentially much worse long-term disruption is expected as the disease spreads to…
What makes Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s?
Joe Coulombe, who passed away Friday at the age of 89, retired long before the chain he founded in 1967, Trader Joe’s, expanded nationally, but he hatched many of the…
Will coffee subscriptions raise some dough for Panera?
Panera Bread has announced a new subscription program that offers unlimited coffee for $8.99 a month. Does a coffee subscription program make sense for Panera Bread, and should other fast-casual…
Will a new subscription program be Walmart’s winning answer to Amazon Prime?
Walmart will begin testing a new annual subscription plan as early as next month with features that will eventually go beyond those offered by rival Amazon.com’s Prime program. Is playing…
