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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is there anything special about specialty retail?
While the department store channel garners much of the negative retail press these days, specialty stores generally earned poor marks in our annual consumer study, “The Good, The Bad &…
Does direct mail or email deliver greater results for retailers?
Direct mail, often seen as antiquated by the now extensive online access to information, still has broad value to shoppers because of the large number of purchasing decisions made at…
Aldi tests smaller, urban concept store
Aldi is testing a smaller concept, Aldi Local, in southwest London that’s designed to be a grocer for city dwellers, even as some see it as potential competition to convenience…
Are people investments paying off for retailers?
Given the critical role people play in the success of any retail enterprise, it’s surprising that people initiatives don’t get more credit or coverage. The tide, however, may be turning…
Target plans to speed grab-and-go purchases with ‘Snack Bar’
Target is experimenting with a new section at the front of the store to speed up shopping for grab-and-go snackers. Do you see more pros or cons to Target’s grab-and-go…
Are smartphones too personal for work?
A survey found that when given a choice, 66 percent of hourly retail employees would use their personal mobile devices to access work info. 26 percent said they would not…
Can Instagrammable moments turn into immediate and direct sales?
Instagram announced the introduction of Checkout, a new feature that allows members to buy items they find in their feeds without having to click out of the app. Will…
Do furniture retailers need a new approach in the digital age?
Home goods retailers have adapted as retail has become more digitally focused, but it’s still a category in which many consumers need convincing to make a purchase online. What are…
Crowdsourcing can enable retailers to scale more quickly
Crowdsourcing is the act of getting ideas, services or marketing materials by surveying a physical or digital community –– and it promises to enable retailers to make better business decisions…
Will a new name and private labels give DSW a leg up on the competition?
Yesterday, DSW Inc. announced a three-year strategic plan that includes a name change for the company, a decision to add private label footwear to its current mix of brand name…
Is the success of Ahrendts’ Apple store more fiction than fact?
A recent account by a former Apple employee suggests that the Ahrendts-era Apple store wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and that the golden years of the retail…
Brands and retailers get in on the esports marketing game
Esports, or competitive gaming, has either surpassed or is close to exceeding $1 billion in global revenues, according to studies. And advertisers are increasingly recognizing the activity’s potential to reach…
Are Amazon’s private labels falling short or just getting started?
Despite Amazon.com’s success with products such as its Echo voice-activated speakers, not everything is quite as rosy when it comes to the e-tail giant’s private label products. Do you think…
Anthropologie hopes to earn an A+ with new plus-size clothing options
Anthropologie, the lifestyle retailer created for educated and affluent women between the ages of 30 and 45, has debuted a new, expanded collection of plus-sized clothing under the APlus by…
Can Walmart lead the fight to eliminate plastic waste?
Walmart has announced ambitious goals to significantly reduce the plastic waste of its private brand packaging while encouraging national brand suppliers to do the same. Will consumer calls to ban…
Burger King launches $5-a-month coffee subscription service
Burger King last week introduced a $5.00-a-month coffee subscription service. Does the BK Café Subscription program represent a competitive threat to McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin or others?
Can location intelligence provide a lifeline for retailers?
Fast moving consumer goods and general merchandise retailers are racing against time to rethink their physical selling locations in the context of consumers’ digitally enabled shopping journeys. Will geo-location analysis…
Will Dollar General harvest big returns by taking perishables in-house?
Building on its fresh foods initiatives, Dollar General is plotting a multi-phase shift to self-distribution of perishable goods, primarily fresh and frozen. Do you see more benefits than risks with…
Will Walmart’s new tablet burn into Amazon Fire’s market share?
Tablet sales may have slowed down in recent years, but Walmart has apparently identified an opportunity within the category that it can leverage to drive sales. Do you expect Walmart…
Pets rule the retail roost
Pets are wrestling control over larger parts of household budgets, along with owners’ hearts, as demonstrated by Valentine’s Day. Do you see similar drivers when it comes to spending on…
Will 5G bring the tech benefits that consumers and marketers expect?
According to a survey of 295 advertisers, about half believe one of the benefits of 5G will be a better customer experience, while close to half likewise view it as…
