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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Are retailers out-of-step with consumers when it comes to price?
A recent survey of senior retail executives and consumers found that both groups agree that quality is the most important factor in purchasing decisions. There is a big disconnect between…
McDonald’s drive-thru AI knows what you want before you order
McDonald’s is testing the use of artificial intelligence to enable the drive-thru to predict what customers want before they place an order. Is offering predictive suggestions at the drive-thru a…
Would LVMH-ownership be a good change for Tiffany?
Tiffany confirmed Monday that it is reviewing an all-cash proposal for $120 per share from LVMH, the French luxury goods giant. Would an acquisition by LVMH or another luxury conglomerate…
Will free deliveries for Prime members make Amazon the driving force in online grocery?
Amazon.com just added more perks for Prime. The e-tail giant has dropped the $14.99 monthly charge for grocery deliveries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods and added free, two-hour grocery…
Nordstrom nails its NYC flagship opening
While many department stores are trying to captivate the Millennials and Gen Z market, Nordstrom is doing it. Do you think Nordstrom has found the executional balance needed to appeal…
Will a curated online marketplace make Brooklinen a home goods star?
Brooklinen, a direct-to-consumer bedding brand, has launched an online marketplace featuring “a highly curated assortment of home goods from like-minded partner brands.” What do you think of the potential for…
Will six fewer holiday shopping days matter to retail performance?
The holiday selling season is six days shorter and will include one less weekend this year. With only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, compared to 32 days in 2018,…
AI needs to be more than just a bright, shiny object
Retailers are being taken for a ride by consultants and software companies who use the term artificial intelligence as a strategy to promote their products and charge higher fees. How…
When customers think Casey’s, will they think community?
Convenience store chain Casey’s General Stores considers itself committed to the communities that it serves and is launching a new campaign called “Here For Good.” Are c-stores in a better…
What makes voice assistants creepy?
Almost half of 5,000 consumers in Europe and North America say they use voice assistants in a recent survey. Yet with increased use, concerns are growing. Is there a way…
What will drive food trends for 2020?
For the fifth straight year, Whole Foods Market has come out with its top 10 list of most anticipated and innovative food trends for the coming year. Which 2020 food…
REI’s new #OptOutside message: Save the planet
REI has closed on Black Friday in the past to encourage employees and customers to forgo the craze of commercialism at malls and explore the outdoors. This year, it’s looking…
Free next-day shipping hits Amazon in its bottom line
Amazon’s earnings miss of $4.23 a share in the third quarter, down from $5.75 last year, is being tied to the company’s switch from free two-day shipping for Prime members…
What does artificial intelligence mean for loyalty marketing?
The one-to-one relationship aspect of true loyalty marketing isn’t possible to create at scale, nor even sustainable at present levels, without the disciplines and tools that are central to artificial…
What makes a great assistant store manager?
An assistant store manager is a bridge between the manager, who is frequently unavailable on the sales floor, and associates. They also often become store managers themselves. Should the assistant…
Walmart creeps on Christmas with promo deals before Halloween
Walmart announced yesterday the launch of special early deals for Christmas on walmart.com to get a head start on the selling season, which is six days shorter this year because…
Will customers get the ‘social proof’ they need from Fomo Storefront?
Being able to see what other customers have recently purchased has become a familiar part of the e-commerce shopping experience. Now one vendor is using in-store touchscreens to bring this…
Will Nike’s new CEO accelerate its consumer-direct digital transformation?
Nike announced earlier this week that its longtime chief executive, Mark Parker, would be stepping down from that role and be replaced by former eBay CEO John Donahoe in January…
Do angry shoppers make happier customers?
A new university study finds that consumers who are angry when they are shopping are often more satisfied with their choices than those who were fearful, sad or feeling neutral…
Best Buy is ready for Christmas with free next-day deliveries for almost everyone
Best Buy announced the launch of free next-day delivery on thousands of items that it sells online, with no minimum purchase or membership required. How important is speed of delivery…
Will going fur-free move the needle on Macy’s brand image?
Macy’s, Inc. announced earlier this week that it will end the sale of garments with animal fur by the end of its 2020 fiscal year. How will going fur-free impact…
