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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is a Universal Translator the Answer for Privacy?
Recognizing that relinquishing privacy rights is a lot more complicated than signing a release form to bungee jump, Carnegie Mellon University is leading a project to help consumers quickly comprehend…
The eTail Blog: From ‘Electronic Commerce’ to ‘Engaged Community’
Rose Hamilton, EVP and CMO of Pet360, believes there is a lot more to etailing than simply selling a product. The focus of marketing and digital efforts is on becoming…
Is J.Crew’s Pinterest Sneak Peak a Sign of the Way Catalogs Will Go?
On August 20th, J.Crew demonstrated its increasing confidence in the influence of the Pinterest social platform by posting a “Style Guide Sneak Peak” of its September fashions. Of the techniques…
Will U.S. Manufacturing Boost Walmart?
Nearly 1,500 government officials, suppliers and retailers convened last week at Walmart’s first two-day U.S. Manufacturing Summit in Orlando to support a revival in U.S. manufacturing. Do you see a…
BrainTrust Query: What Does Mobile POS Mean for FDM?
Point of sale systems are the largest single technology investment for the vast majority of retailers. Once seen as required investments, mobile technology is rapidly emerging and entrance barriers into…
Is There an Online Opportunity for Farmers’ Markets?
Described as “Etsy for local foodies,” Good Eggs is a newer e-commerce site enabling consumers to buy local foods from farms and other local purveyors. Do you see such shared…
Will Online Price Matching Boost Toys “R” Us?
Toys “R” Us, Inc. last week said it was enhancing its “Price Match Guarantee” on items available in its Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide to include…
Does Virtual Gifting Work Better for Facebook?
Facebook will end a program that allowed users to send physical goods to one another through the social network as part of a bigger effort to focus on virtual ones…
Retail TouchPoints: Are Consumers At a Tipping Point Over Irrelevant Online Content?
Consumers no longer have patience for batch-and-blast marketing campaigns and irrelevant online content, according to new research released by Harris Interactive and Janrain. Have consumers reached a tipping point over…
COLLOQUY: Is Canada Next For Kroger?
If some industry observers are correct, shoppers of the Kroger Co. may one day be redeeming their fuel points by the liter as well as by the gallon, as the…
Why Aren’t CMOs and CIOs On the Same Page?
There is a disconnect between senior marketing and information technology executives despite an acknowledgement by both parties that technology is critical to gaining needed marketing insights, according to a new…
Will Flash Sales Help Grocer Lose ‘Whole Paycheck’ Label?
Despite past efforts to throw off its “Whole Paycheck” label, Whole Foods Market remains the most expensive place to buy groceries in the minds of many consumers. To counter that,…
BrainTrust Query: Four Keys to High Online Growth for Omnichannel Retailers
Earlier this summer, a private benchmarking study was conducted for clients that were interested in learning approaches to omnichannel integration from peer companies. Commonalities were sought particularly among four high-growth…
What’s Next When Clean Stores and Fresh Produce Are Not Enough?
It’s become common in grocery retailing circles to hear a new CEO announce that he or she intends to get a business turned around. Refreshingly, Beth Newlands Campbell, CEO of…
Will Walmart’s Layaway Plan Deliver a Christmas Sales Increase?
Not much has changed since Walmart brought back layaway in 2011 after having discontinued the program in 2006. Now the retailer has announced it will offer layaway again for the…
What Happens When Everyone’s Connected to the Internet?
Facebook and other tech companies have joined together in an effort called Internet.org to find a way to get the 4.3 billion people around the planet who are not currently…
Retail Customer Experience: What Will It Take to Solve the Millennial Mystery?
In 1939, Winston Churchill famously called Russia “a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside an enigma.” These days, the same can be said in reference to Millennials. What would your list…
Will Connected Consumers Think of CVS as Their Pharmacy?
At last week’s eTail East Conference in Philadelphia, Brian Tilzer, CVS’ SVP/chief digital officer, presented his company’s plan for its future pharmacy operations — a technological vision of considerable scope…
Will Smashburger Become the Starbucks of the Burger Business?
The better burger trend is not a new concept. But Smashburger has even loftier goals, believing it can do for burgers what Starbucks did for coffee. What would Smashburger have…
Do Specialty Shops Make Sense Inside Macy’s?
Department stores have always been known for their mighty merchants. But Macy’s, the largest operator, has lately been getting help from some specialists inside the mall. Overall, what are the…
Is Target in Trouble in Canada?
Ever since Target opened its doors in Canada, there have been complaints that the chain did not have enough inventory on hand to meet demand. And Canadians are growing less…
