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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Why is Trader Joe’s hiding stuffed animals in its stores?
Last week, People magazine profiled Trader Joe’s practice of hiding stuffed animals in most of its stores for kids to find and earn prizes. What do you think of Trader…
Did social media spook Party City’s Halloween sales?
Party City said sales during the Halloween selling period came in lower than expected due to “two fundamental shifts” in the marketplace. Does it make sense that social media is…
Express Launches digital-first DTC wellness brand
Express has launched a digital-focused, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand. Called UpWest, the “purpose-driven lifestyle” brand focuses on “comfort” with a wellness message and give-back component. Are there many advantages for legacy…
Gap Inc.’s CEO steps down. What comes next?
Art Peck is out as president and CEO of Gap Inc. The company’s board made the announcement after its three major chains — Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy —…
Will ‘HoliDeals’ put Target over the top for the holidays?
With fewer calendar days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, Target, like its major retailing rivals, is looking to get a quick start to the 2019 holiday selling season with…
Ralph Lauren offers consumers a DIY counterfeit-checking tool
Ralph Lauren Corp. on Tuesday launched Digital Product Identities, which enables consumers to use their mobile phones to verify the authenticity of Ralph Lauren merchandise. Do you see advancements in…
Can J.C. Penney reinvent itself with its offbeat lab store?
J.C. Penney has announced the launch of a new lab/store, experimenting with trendier offerings that are a big departure from what customers traditionally associate with J.C. Penney. Will J.C. Penney…
Why do digital transformations often fail?
The transition to digital is a $1.7 trillion industry, yet 70 percent of attempts end up failing, according to McKinsey & Co. What do you see as the obvious and…
Kroger to make fresh marketing start with a new logo, tagline and ‘Krojis’
Kroger has invested in its private labels, upgraded stores and developed its digital operations. Now the supermarket giant has raised its sales forecast and introduced a new ad campaign featuring…
Food halls drive mall traffic, not clothing sales
Food courts and halls are attracting traffic to malls around the country, according to a new survey by UBS. They are not, however, proving successful in helping retail stores in…
Will consumers decide that buying less is better than buying ‘green’?
A new university study finds that people who consume less are happier than those who engage in other pro-environmental consumer behaviors, like buying environmentally friendly products. Is responsible consumption more…
Should the recent Instacart strike concern retailers?
From Nov. 3 to 5, a number of Instacart’s drivers held a strike to demand better pay. Should retailers be concerned about the strikes, bad press and social media gossip…
Is Amazon starting to fall out of favor with American consumers?
A new survey has found that a slight majority of consumers prefer shopping at Walmart (online, in-store or both) versus shopping on Amazon.com. Do you think Amazon has a Prime…
Retailers are ‘satisfied’ with their online customer journey optimization efforts
According to a survey of 207 U.K. and U.S. e-commerce marketers who work in retail and travel, 88 percent are satisfied with how they optimize the online customer journey, well…
Will a sustainability push drive sales growth for Europe’s largest fashion e-tailer?
Zalando has launched a new sustainability strategy, “do.MORE,” that includes an immediate commitment to carbon neutrality, driven in part by corporate social responsibility plus a major “business opportunity.” Do you…
Should McDonald’s CEO have been fired over a ‘consensual relationship’?
McDonald’s board fired its CEO after learning that “he violated company policy and demonstrated poor judgment involving a recent consensual relationship with an employee.” Should retailers and other businesses set…
Will Old Navy succeed with a one-price regardless of size concept?
Larger clothing doesn’t mean higher prices at Old Navy’s new Size Yes concept store. In October, the clothing chain began transforming 30 stores with existing plus-sized sections into full Size…
Century 21 pops up near Macy’s Herald Square for the holidays
Century 21, the New York-based off-price department store, opened its first pop-up for the holidays. The 40,000-square-foot, two-level shop is located in the heart of Herald Square, about a half…
Survey says consumers want online orders shipped fast and free
A new survey of 2,500 consumers in the U.S. finds that those shopping online for gifts heading into the holiday season don’t simply want free delivery, they also want their…
Are Walgreens and Jenny Craig a good fit?
Walgreens announced earlier this week that it was working with Jenny Craig to bring its health and weight loss management services to 100 stores in 20 states across the country…
What are the hurdles to international e-commerce?
A new study finds global e-commerce will top $3 trillion for the first time in 2019, yet half of the leading U.S. online retailers don’t currently ship outside North America…
