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Will customer hosts raise the shopping experience bar at Walmart?
Walmart will add customer hosts positions at the stores where greeters were being eliminated. The responsibilities of hosts go well beyond what was expected of greeters. Practically speaking, how do…
New shoppable ad tech creates opportunities across AR, search and voice
Shopping looks a little different in 2019 — getting more complex and requiring platforms to frequently iterate and adapt. These trends were made apparent at Shoptalk last week, with…
Will an IPO help Levi’s conquer the world?
One of the oldest and most recognized names in denim is going to be available to stock market investors — again. Is an IPO a wise move for Levi Strauss…
Does new retail need a new prototype?
When planning a new store concept and/or DTC growth strategy, some dynamic and tectonic shifts must be weighed that lie beyond the old prototype model’s reach. Are traditional prototype store…
Will ending its price parity rule take the antitrust heat off Amazon?
Amazon has decided to end its “price parity” rule, which may mean that consumers will find better prices from third-party sellers on other sites. Do you think Amazon’s “price…
J&J turns to innovation to fend off startup competitors
Digitization continues to upend the CPG business by enabling start-ups to launch businesses much more easily and faster than ever before, according to the global CMO for J&J. What advantages…
What will it take to make department stores relevant again?
While there were a lot of announcements and lightbulb moments at Shoptalk last week, one thing was apparent: Department stores, as we know them, are changing. What do you think…
What does innovation mean to retailers and brands?
What does innovation mean for your brand? Here’s how brands are applying innovation in areas of their businesses to connect with customers, fulfill on-demand and drive growth. What do retailers…
Stage Stores converts to an off-price future
Stage Stores recently announced plans to convert approximately 220 department stores to its new off-price concept, Gordmans, by the middle of 2020. Is Stage Stores’ shift to off-price a good…
Will other cities follow Philly in banning cashless stores?
Starting in July, Philadelphia will become the first major U.S. city to institute a ban on cashless stores. Should retailers be preparing for a backlash to cashless stores? How do…
Will Costco’s new $15 minimum wage hurt or benefit the chain?
Last June, Costco raised its hourly base wage by a buck to $14. Last week, the company jacked base pay up again to $15. Do you think it is important…
7-Eleven to take a page from Starbucks with a café concept
Future 7-Eleven customers could have the option to stop and stay awhile, if a new concept the chain is now piloting catches on. Do you think an in-store café will…
Will new Scan & Go tech turbocharge Sam’s checkouts?
This spring, Sam’s Club will begin piloting an upgrade to its Scan & Go technology that is meant to enable customers to scan purchases even faster while they shop. Will…
The rise of the chief artificial intelligence officer
In February, Levi’s hired its first chief artificial intelligence officer, ahead of an expected IPO. Do you see the business need for a chief artificial intelligence officer at the c-level…
Has Dollar Tree gotten Family Dollar turned around?
Just two months ago, Dollar Tree was being urged to sell or spin off its Family Dollar chain. With the release of Dollar Tree’s fourth quarter results, some see that…
Do retailers need to reevaluate their omnichannel strategies and tactics?
Four walls and no walls. Bricks to clicks and clicks to bricks. There has been Walmart’s acquisition of Jet.com and Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. And much, much more. Why…
Where are grocers failing on in-store experience?
RFG’s annual “Supermarket Experience Study” found four areas where supermarkets are generally falling short of delivering compelling experiences in the store. Where do you see grocers falling most short on…
Amazon puts a pin in its pop-ups to focus on permanent stores
Amazon.com is closing all 87 of its pop-up stores located in malls, Kohl’s and Whole Foods by the end of next month, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal…
Will attribute-based product recommendations be a game changer for Walmart?
Walmart last week acquired Aspectiva, an Israeli-based startup that uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to enable online reviews to be sorted by product attributes. What do you…
Will Kohl’s deal with Planet Fitness make its rivals sweat?
Yesterday’s announcement that Kohl’s has agreed to lease space next to 10 of its stores to Planet Fitness doesn’t require a lot of mental gymnastics to understand. Do you see…
Target crushes it with strongest holiday results in years
Target was expected to be one of the winners of the 2018 holiday season, and the retailer not only lived up to expectations, it surpassed them. Where do you think…
