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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Braintrust Query: Why Does So Much Customer Segmentation Analysis Lead to So Few Results?
As Mark Price recently thought about customer segmentation analyses he had worked on over the past 10 years, he realized that the actual segmentation initiative has succeeded in fewer than…
The eTail Blog: Must CMOs Master Tech Tools?
According to a new report, digital marketing tools are threatening to undermine the role of chief marketing officers who do not have a strong technological understanding. How is the CMO…
Best Buy Stores to Serve as Mini DCs
BestBuy.com has an out-of-stock problem. To fix it, the company is following Macy’s, Nordstrom and others in turning to its physical store locations as distribution centers for online orders. Why…
Will Harris Teeter Prosper Under Kroger Ownership?
Kroger is acquiring Harris Teeter. This morning, the chains announced a definitive merger agreement under which Kroger would purchase all of Teeter’s outstanding shares. What is your reaction to the…
Is It Too Soon for Retailers to Go Back to School?
Here in New Jersey, thanks to Sandy, it has been only a couple of weeks since many school districts finished their academic years. But that hasn’t had any effect on…
Are Nordstrom and Pinterest Made for Each Other?
Nordstrom is big on Pinterest, but will the social media site be big inside the chain’s department stores? Back in March, Nordstrom began placing Pinterest’s “P” logo next to the…
Will Peapod Drive Sales With Its Mobile Grocery Store?
Peapod, a division of Ahold USA, is rolling out a promotional campaign featuring digital billboards on the sides of delivery trucks where consumers can shop for groceries using their smartphones…
Where Do Consumer Loyalties Really Lie?
Bulking up: The 2013 COLLOQUY Loyalty Census, reveals loyalty in specialty, drug, department stores and restaurants increasing while groceries decrease, with a one percent drop in enrollment over the past…
CPGmatters: Center Store Growth – a Journey, Not a Quick Fix
As traditional retailers attempt to reinvent their perimeter with a more dynamic shopping experience and capitalize on natural and health/wellness trends, they have eaten into center-of-store categories and diluted overall…
What is America’s Most Patriotic Brand?
With Independence Day as a backdrop, Brand Keys, the branding research firm, has released its list of the 25 most “patriotic” brands. Leading the pack are Jeep, Hershey’s and Coca-Cola…
Is it Just Too Difficult to Shop by Mobile Phone?
According to a new survey by Skava, 88 percent of those who shop on their smartphone have had negative experiences. Among the biggest pain points: retailers’ mobile sites are hard…
Train Windows Vibrate Ad Messages Into Passengers’ Brains
BBDO Düsseldorf has developed a new advertising technology using a transmitter attached to a train window that uses bone conduction to send messages into a passenger’s brain. What is your…
Walmart Renews ‘Get on the Shelf’ Contest For Season Two
Walmart Labs announced on its official blog that its “Get on the Shelf” contest is back for a second year and even “bigger and better!” According to the company, last…
Will More Americans Shop Indie This Month?
Independent retailers are hoping that Americans will celebrate the spirit of “going it alone” by shopping in their stores and on their websites all throughout July as part of Independent…
CSD: Is Your Family Fit to Run the Family Business?
When it comes to family business succession planning, most don’t plan for it, don’t do it well, or wait until it’s too late. In this article, Lois Lang of Evolve…
Is Retail Facing a Digital Hiring Problem?
According to search firm 24 Seven Inc., one in four digital jobs in the fashion and retail industry have been left unfilled for five years or more, reflecting the challenges…
BrainTrust Query: How Can Retailers Accelerate Innovation Through Labs?
One of the things innovation teams try to do is “fail fast,” to arrive at a failure or success assessment quickly to minimize investments in failures. But just because a…
Are Large Grocers Connecting With Locavores?
According to AT Kearney’s report, Buying into the Local Food Movement, demand for local food “is spreading — from rural farm market stands to supermarket shelves.” But, they ask, are…
Will Immigration Reform Benefit Retail?
The Senate on Thursday passed an immigration reform bill that sets the path to citizenship for some of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. The bill, which…
Did Paula Deen Get Her Just Desserts?
By now, most everyone in the Western Hemisphere must be at least somewhat acquainted with the circus around Paula Deen. While many came out to support Ms. Deen, many business…
Is Barnes & Noble Wise to 86 Nook Tablets?
Amazon.com has won. Barnes & Noble (B&N) has lost. That’s pretty much the only way to read the announcement earlier this week that B&N is getting out of manufacturing its…
