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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
It’s no more ‘burn, baby, burn’ for Burberry
Bowing to environmental groups, Burberry committed last week to cease the practice of destroying unsold products. The move comes after the fashion house admitted in its annual report in July…
Should the outdoor industry welcome selling on walmart.com?
On Aug 27, Walmart launched a Premium Outdoor Store microsite stocked with nearly 50 well-known outdoor brands. By the close of last week, a third of those brands left the…
Grab and go and yadda-yadda
Warren Thayer recently noticed enough of a pattern to suggest that it’s very challenging to stay in stock with grab-and-go, meal solutions and yadda-yadda. Do many grocers seem to face…
Will crowdsourced service help Walmart nail the last mile of grocery deliveries?
Walmart, like many of its rivals, continues to search for ways to solve the various challenges around last-mile deliveries. Its latest attempt — Spark Delivery — involves using a crowdsourced…
J.Crew makes the jump to Amazon’s marketplace
J.Crew is the latest retailer to test the proposition that it makes more business sense to work with Amazon.com while competing against it. Is J.Crew making the right moves by…
Saks Off 5th launches off-price private labels
Saks Off 5th, Saks Fifth Avenue’s off-price concept, has launched a collection of five new fashion brands “designed in New York City and developed with a fresh aesthetic and fashion-conscious…
Will a bot soon be taking your order at the drive-thru?
When you visit the quick-serve drive-thru, the voice taking your order might not be human — if one new startup is successful. Should QSRs be thinking seriously about automating the…
‘Cosby Show’ star’s experience shows work is different at Trader Joe’s
Geoffrey Owens, best known for playing the character Elvin Tibideaux on “The Cosby Show,” has more recently gained notoriety after the Daily Mail and Fox News tried to job shame…
Can retailers afford to have a higher customer service profile?
When launching its digital consumer bank, Goldman Sachs conducted a survey that found consumers want to find answers without assistance, but the ability to immediately demand a qualified banker if…
Nike campaign tests ‘all publicity is good publicity’ adage
Nike has courted controversy with its latest “Just Do It” campaign, featuring Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, who gained notoriety in 2016 when he refused to…
Will a new beauty concept help CVS pull shoppers from Sephora and Ulta?
While CVS has long been in competition mainly with Walgreens and Rite Aid, the retail pharmacy chain’s revamp of its beauty department could signal that CVS has another type of…
Can Kroger turn Cincinnati into an alt-Silicon Valley?
The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, announced plans to open an innovation lab as part of the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) new 1819 Innovation Hub. How important is establishing a…
Walmart’s two-day shipping pledge comes with a caveat
Some Walmart.com shoppers are finding items listed online are “out of stock” — even when they’re in stock. The messages are arriving after the discounter determines those customers’ homes are…
Coca-Cola to take a run at Starbucks
Marking its biggest acquisition ever and first step into retailing, Coca-Cola announced plans to plunk down $5.1 billion to acquire Costa Limited, the third-largest player in coffee retail. What will…
Can Bon Ton Stores return from the dead?
Bon Ton Stores, which last week completed the liquidation of all its banners, is reportedly planning a comeback. Do you see an opportunity for Bon Ton Stores with all its…
Walmart could have you shopping in The Matrix
While we’ve all gotten used to shopping from our living rooms, the experience lacks many of the advantages of being in-store. New patents from Walmart describe a VR experience that…
How should Tiffany modernize its flagship?
Tiffany, which has faced challenges attracting Millennials, is planning an extensive renovation of its 57th Street flagship. How should Tiffany’s flagship be reinvented for the Millennial generation?
The Rock rules celebrity endorsements
Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s endorsement deal with Under Armour earned top ranking among best-matched celebrity brand partnerships in the fashion and retail sectors, according to a study. What advice would…
Is Amazon a major threat to Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have successfully expanded in lock step over the last few decades, but a new report asserts the arrival of Amazon Prime discounts is helping Whole…
L’Occitane aims for a more immersive, more disruptive flagship
French beauty brand L’Occitane is trying to boost its appeal to Millennials and Gen Z with a flagship filled with experiential technology that it hopes visitors will find très chic. Is…
Which market research tasks are likely to be taken over by AI?
Nine in 10 market research decision-makers believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will have a significant impact on the industry within five years, but most don’t know what that impact will…
