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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Can casinos save the mall?
In Pennsylvania, mini-casinos later this year will replace a Sears at York Galleria Mall and a Bon-Ton at Westmoreland Mall. How open should shopping development operators and their tenants be…
Pier 1 to close up to 450 stores as it faces uncertain future
Pier 1 Imports announced on Monday that it plans to close up to 450 stores, an unspecified number of distribution centers while cutting the numbers of people who work at…
Does ‘selfish shopping’ justify post-holiday discounting?
After another holiday season spent focused on others, shoppers are spending their post-season run-down spending money on themselves, according to one regional grocery chain. Is there a new wave of…
Do alcohol and shopping mix?
More shoppers in Virginia will be able to drink alcohol beverages openly at shopping centers if a recently-introduced law is passed. Are there more pros than cons in expanding open-container…
Will 3-D printing tech change the footwear industry?
In partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Self-Assembly Lab, Canadian footwear brand Native Shoes has created a technology that prints full shoes out of liquid rubber. What is…
Group says Amazon wants workers to keep quiet on its climate change strategy
At least two Amazon.com employees who publicly criticized the company’s environmental policies have been warned they could be fired for future violations of its communications policy. Are Amazon’s updated public…
Did Domino’s gouge Time Square revelers?
Domino’s received some ridicule for selling $30 pizzas to New Year’s Eve celebrants at Times Square, which blew up on social media because it came from Bill de Blasio, New…
Study: Digital commerce sites competing and collaborating with Amazon
Having physical stores is often touted as a primary differentiator against Amazon.com. A survey of digital commerce decision-makers, however, identified a number of other ways to compete. Which of the…
Will 2020 be the year of elevated shopping experiences?
The last decade is over and hopefully with it an end to talk of the retail apocalypse. The current decade starts off with a new class of retailers focused on…
Which retailer will rule in 2020?
The past year was a good one for a number of retailers and executives who earned accolades from the press and, in some cases, investors. Which companies would be on…
Better-for-you foods produce healthier results for convenience stores
Convenience store retailers are heading into 2020 looking for brighter times ahead following a solid 2019. A survey of c-store owners by NACS found that 74 percent saw sales increase…
Can a grocer build a business on the keto diet trend?
According to Explorado Market co-founder Rob Benson, traditional grocers stocking keto products are unable to keep up with the demand from customers. Do you think that dietary trends such as…
Are return rates out of control?
UPS expects a whopping 26 percent year-over-year surge in the number of returns it processes on January 2, National Returns Day. Those levels would represent the seventh consecutive record number…
California’s new privacy laws may trigger a wave
On Jan. 1, California became the first state to pass a comprehensive law giving consumers more control of their digital data. Are California’s privacy laws good or bad for retailers?
Is Rite Aid already headed for a turnaround?
Long a laggard in the retail pharmacy game, Rite Aid recently brought on a new CEO who believes she’s got the right medicine to cure its woes. Only four months…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: The Final Competition
With the holidays drawing to an end, it is now time for the RetailWire community to choose a champion from this year’s Christmas Commercial Challenge. Which commercial do you think…
Walmart hires remodeling squad
Walmart over the last year has quietly introduced “SWAT teams” of remodeling specialists as it steps up its upgrades to 500 U.S. locations annually. Do retailers need a better (i.e.,…
Holiday bonuses are tricky (or nonexistent)
Although the U.S. economy is strong, fewer companies have given out performance-based cash bonuses in recent years, according to a survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, as reported in MarketWatch…
Is Super Saturday rivaling Black Friday in importance?
Super Saturday’s sales this year reached $34.4 billion, becoming the biggest single day in U.S. retail history and surpassing Black Friday’s haul of $31.2 billion by 10 percent, according to…
Will we see AI’s impact on 2019 holiday results?
A majority of executives whose companies have adopted AI report that it has provided an uptick in revenue in the business areas where it is used, and 44 percent say…
New layout next step in Chipotle reboot
After a series of struggles mid-decade that painted a bleak picture for the future of Chipotle, the fast-casual burrito chain is rolling out a new redesign to build on its…
