RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Walgreens Takes Unfamiliar Route to Growth
Walgreen Co. has always been proud that it has become the largest drugstore chain in the country through organic growth. It is just that philosophy that makes the announcement Walgreens…
Tesco Cards Asda
Many see Wal-Mart’s decision not to use loyalty cards as another area where they have succeeded in keeping costs under control while its competitors with loyalty programs tinker around in…
The IKEA Difference
One thing most people seem to agree on is IKEA is not your average, run-of-the-mill retailer. In fact, being different from others is perhaps the most significant advantage the furniture…
Mervyns Has Good Start on Remaking Itself
While it is still a long way before Mervyns reaches 100 from the day in 2004 when the department store was acquired by a group of investment companies (Sun Capital…
The Other Albertsons’ Acquisition
With practically all the media attention given to Supervalu’s acquisition of a large chunk of Albertsons, many have forgotten that others made significant deals with the grocer and drugstore chain…
Taking Consumer Insights to the Next Level
Successful new food product development is the result of taking two basic steps, according to Dr. Mieke Weegels of Unilever’s Consumer Perception and Behaviour Department. “First, you have to come…
Bringing Men to the ‘Marketing to Women’ Table
Six years or so ago, when Andrea Learned, President and founder of Learned On Women first began observing and working in the marketing to women realm, she found it frustrating…
CSD Cover Story: Tesco Prepares for its U.S. Invasion
Richard Hyman, a market analyst and chairman of Verdict Research in London, doesn’t hold back when describing what American retailers and consumers can expect when the British chain launches its…
Working Life Begins at 65
If you want to get ahead in retailing today, maturity is a definite asset. Of course, the definition of mature has changed somewhat over the years. In the past, it…
Former Circuit City CEO Gives Back
Alan McCullough certainly didn’t leave his post as the CEO of Circuit City Stores Inc. as a pauper, but according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), he…
Mall Owners Facing Up to Facts
Drive past malls today and you’ll see sights that no one would have predicted even a few short years ago. Stores such as Best Buy, Home Depot and Target have…
Fast Feeders Go Comfy Chair Route
A whole host of fast food operators, including the likes of Burger King and McDonald’s, are going from harsh interior colors and plastic seating designed to move customers in and…
Shoppers Find Carts Cheaper Than Aspirin
Many parents go shopping with their young children and soon understand why they previously said they would never do it again. Meijer, however, thinks it may have hit on a…
Hurricane Season Tax Holiday Draws Crowds
The official start of hurricane season begins tomorrow and consumers in South Florida have been stocking up with supplies during a special 12-day tax holiday. The tax holiday,…
Wal-Mart Learns Lessons Overseas
Wal-Mart didn’t get to be the world’s largest retailer by having more failures than successes. In the U.S., Mexico, South America and the U.K., the company and its respective divisions…
Six Flags’ Loyalty Program
Six Flags Parks has launched the Carrothead program for kids. Membership includes special recognition during park visits, exclusive contest opportunities, a monthly newsletter and an official hat. The program is…
Dunkin’ Donuts Checks for Illegal Aliens
Dunkin’ Donuts shops can be found in a variety of neighborhoods, and the company and its franchisees are cognizant that employing workers in diverse communities often means hiring people whose…
Mexican Retailer Plans to Take America
Grupo Famsa SA sees most of its growth south of the border but it also intends to “aggressively” pursue expansion in the U.S., reports Bloomberg News. Humberto Garza Valdez,…
Multigenerational Households on the Rise
In other cultures and earlier in this nation’s history, it was not unusual for three and sometimes four generations of a family to live under the same roof. That has…
Home Depot Takes Heat for Pay and Board
Shareholders at Home Depot’s stock meeting were quick to criticize Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli for his compensation package as well as a the perceived lack of independence of the…
Poor Kids in Bad Shape
A new study published in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association), reinforces what we’ve heard before. Teenagers from poor households are much more likely to be overweight than…
