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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will foodie culture save the mall?
A study from WD Partners finds that a number of different food concepts could be helpful in lifting traffic at malls. Would bringing food culture be a minor or major step in increasing the social relevance of malls?
Is it too late for a new store concept from Barnes & Noble?
To get customers coming through the doors again, the last big box bookstore chain is launching a 17,400 square-foot prototype store in the Chicago suburbs which is meant to have…
Gap sends its Visa cardholders to Amazon and Target
In what appears to be a pilot, Gap Inc. has rolled out a new promotion that provides its Visa Signature cardholders with bonus points for shopping at Amazon or Target…
Giant Food expects big things from a new, mini-grocery store concept
Giant Food Stores announced plans to introduce a mini-grocery concept for urban markets, Giant Heirloom Market, measuring only 9,500-square-feet. Will endless aisle technology and pickup/delivery options overcome any shortcomings of…
Will a new private label keep Target’s customers out of Aldi and Dollar General?
Target is introducing a new line of toiletries and household cleaning products with the goal of attracting budget-conscious shoppers to its stores and target.com. Will the new line be successful…
Will the Birchbox/Walgreens pilot deliver beautiful results?
Walgreens has secured a minority investment in Birchbox and plans to pilot the monthly beauty subscription service in 11 of its stores. Do you think the in-store Birchbox experience likely work…
Are retailers getting too political with voter registration campaigns?
Ahead of the midterm elections, a coalition of 137 companies — including Walmart, Gap, A&Fi and Dick’s — have launched the Time to Vote campaign, a “nonpartisan effort led by CEOs, aimed at…
There may be benefits to adding uncertainty to rewards programs
A study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business finds uncertainty can play an important role in motivating repeat behaviors, such as participation in consumer loyalty programs. What…
Is Target ready for Amazon and Walmart this holiday season?
Heading into the Christmas selling season, Target is feeling good about its prospects as the retailer has regained its “cheap chic” mojo while giving consumers a variety of reasons to…
Toys ‘R’ Us to rise from the ashes of bankruptcy, but should it?
It now appears that another generation of Toys “R” Us kids may be on the horizon as the lenders who were managing Toys “R” Us during its final moments have…
Can a new CEO revitalize J.C. Penney’s business?
J.C. Penney announced earlier this week that it has successfully concluded its search for a new CEO with the appointment Jill Soltau, former president and CEO of Joann Stores, to the…
Walmart adding plus-size women’s brand to its digital portfolio
Walmart is adding to its roster of digital-first retail brands with the planned acquisition of Eloquii, a plus-sized women’s fashion e-tailer that also operates five physical store locations. How will…
Trader Joe’s success is a matter of values
Trader Joe’s ability to attract its throngs of customers/fans comes down to a set of corporate values embodied within the organization, from the c-suite to the store-level. From the vantage…
Will the Kroger/Walgreens pilot lead to something really big?
Kroger and Walgreens have announced a new pilot program that brings together the convenience of shopping on the supermarket’s website with customer pickup at 13 local Walgreens. Items from Kroger’s…
Are retailers deaf to radio advertising’s potential?
While retail budgets have been shifting toward digital advertising, a new study shows radio ads, on average, drive 22 percent traffic lift for retailers. Are retailers underestimating radio advertising’s ability…
Why do retailers practically ignore existing customers to go after new ones?
Studies repeatedly show that second time buyers are more valuable and more profitable. So why do so many retailers focus heavily on sales transactions and fail to measure the KPIs…
Will Amazon’s new $15 an hour minimum wage mess up rivals’ seasonal hiring plans?
Amazon.com announced this morning that it is raising its minimum wage to $15. 250,000 workers will benefit as a result, including 100,000 people being hired for the Christmas season. What…
Can a new store concept jumpstart a turnaround for H&M?
In less than a decade, H&M has gone from the top of the fast fashion world to a flagging retailer in need of a turnaround. The retailer is hoping that…
Is traffic a flawed measure of engagement?
Traffic is probably the oldest form of engagement measurement, but there are complications with the metric as store managers with bonuses on the line seek ways to make their conversion…
Walmart expands test of pickup-only grocery store concept
Walmart is seeking approval to open a pickup-only grocery store in a former Dominick’s store in the suburbs of Chicago in spring 2019. Do separate pickup-only facilities make the most…
Omnichannel retailing lands at the airport
Some fledgling apps are enabling travelers at a number airports to order food, gifts or other items for delivery wherever they are for a small fee. Do you see mobile…
