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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Marketers Not Getting African-American Consumers
Tom Joyner’s nationally syndicated radio show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, reaches more than eight million primarily African-Americans consumers, in 115 markets so he knows a little something about connecting…
Southwest Extends Loyalty
After extensive research and Rapid Rewards Member polling revealed that what flyers wanted were more time to earn credits and no system-wide blackout dates for Award travel, members of Southwest…
Gas Prices Hit Home
Those who track such things will tell you that despite the record high prices consumers are paying at the pump today, when adjusted for inflation, the cost of filling up…
Panel: Former Kmart CEO Not Up to the Job
An arbitration panel has unanimously ruled that Charles Conaway, the former chairman and CEO of Kmart, was not guilty of “fraud, deliberate mismanagement or corporate looting,” as accused in a…
Nordstrom to Fill Mall Anchor Vacuum
Federated Department Stores’ announcement earlier in the month that it would close 68 mall locations is prompting speculation on which stores will move in to fill the vacated locations and…
Pharmacist Beliefs and Consumer Rights Clash Again
Last week, a woman in Rhode Island went to a CVS pharmacy to have a prescription filled for the emergency contraceptive known as Plan B, aka the “morning after pill.”…
The Color of Money
It’s been widely documented that people ascribe traits like intelligence, wealth and happiness based solely on the shade of someone’s skin. A Los Angeles Times article last Sunday describes how…
McD’s Diet Puts Super Size in Reverse
Merab Morgan doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with what’s on McDonald’s menu. Ms. Morgan decided to go on a McD’s-only diet after seeing the documentary Super Size Me. Instead of…
To Opt-in or Out, That is the Question
Companies involved in email marketing face the question of which is the best way to go when developing contact lists — should customers be required to opt-out of receiving online…
Boutiques ‘R’ In at Bloomie’s and Field’s
A report in the Chicago Sun-Times says that Federated Department Stores’ Bloomingdale’s division has begun adding in-store boutiques similar to those at soon-to-be sister company Marshall Field’s State Street store…
Report Issued on Krispy Kreme’s Mess
An internal investigation and report by a special committee named by Krispy Kreme’s board of directors doesn’t come straight out and accuse former CEO Scott Livengood of fraud but it…
Product Moving Through Ports
It doesn’t appear as though containers are going to be piling up on U.S. docks this year. Last year, an increase in goods coming into the U.S. from China and…
Editorial: Perspective Needed on OTC or Behind the Counter
Rachelle Cohen, an editorial writer for The Boston Herald, writes that things may be getting out-of-hand when politicians are requiring that boxes of Sudafed be sold from behind the counter…
Only 137 Shopping Days Left Until Christmas
Ask old St. Nick and he’ll tell you it’s never too early to start putting your Christmas shopping list together. That’s why the man with the most accumulated air miles…
Ice Cream Chain Has Sales Growth Down Cold
Cold Stone Creamery made an important discovery in Alaska back in 1999. It doesn’t take warm weather to sell its high-end ice cream, only consistently excellent product quality and the…
FMI Looks for Trade Show Help
Supermarket News reports that the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is looking for an outside source to run or possibly acquire its annual trade show in Chicago. Will FMI and,…
Sears Goes for Mall Makeover
While it seems clear that Sears Holdings sees its future outside of mall locations, the simple fact is the company has 900 or so Sears stores inside facilities located around…
The Costco of the Internet
As it turns out, the Costco of the Internet is Costco. The enormously successful warehouse club retailer has taken the same philosophy that has made it great in the real…
GHQ Cover Story 08/05: The Target at the Top
As Grocery Headquarters’ August 2005 cover story, The Target at the Top, tells it, “There is a growing feeling among some grocery operators that if they develop a good merchandising…
Retailers Take Different Paths to Build Loyalty
Chico’s, Men’s Wearhouse and Victoria’s Secret are profiled in a San Antonio Express-News opinion column, to receive special recognition for their ability to attract and keep shoppers coming back to…
Whole Foods Plans Big Mall Store Opening
Traditional department store operators such as Sears and J.C. Penney are looking to build sales outside of malls and, increasingly, retailers who have made their business outside of malls are…
