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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Kmart Sues For Property Tax Relief
Kmart has filed suit against nearly 500 local governments contesting $8.6 million in property taxes it says it was overcharged by the communities. What are your thoughts on Kmart’s decision…
Kraft CEO In Hospital
Kraft Foods’ chief executive, Roger Deromedi, has been admitted to a hospital with an undiagnosed medical condition, prompting the company’s chairman, Louis Camilleri, to take over his duties on a…
Starbucks’ Chairman: We Underestimated Opportunity
Starbucks is growing at a rate of about 3 and a half new coffee shops a day. That probably isn’t fast enough to meet pent-up demand, says the company’s management…
What Impact Are Gas Prices Having?
David Stewart, a professor of marketing and consumer psychology at the University of Southern California, told the Christian Science Monitor, “Gasoline is what we refer to as a convenience purchase…
No Replay of SoCal in D.C.
It appears as though the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) and the Giant Food and Safeway supermarket chains will be able to avoid a contentious strike like that…
Costco Petitions For Worker Comp Reform
Costco is known for having good relations with its union and non-union employees but some are having a problem with the retailer’s support for a petition initiative in California which…
Customer Service Stinks
It’s amazing, in a day and age when businesses spend so much time talking about customer service, how little of it customers feel they actually get. Do you agree that…
Consumers Shop ‘n’ Scan
A piece in the Dallas Morning News says Albertsons “is taking supermarket self-checkout to the next level by introducing handheld scanners that shoppers can use as they move up and…
Complaints Over Costco’s Treatment of Employees
According to a piece in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, analysts have a complaint with Costco. The company “treats its employees and cardholders better than it does investors.” In light of rising…
Creating the Store Best Customers Want
Using shopper purchase history to better serve your best shoppers will improve your performance. What do you think of professor Lal’s contention that retailers need to concentrate on rewards for…
White House: Tiffany Should Cut Prices, Not Advertise Gripes
Tiffany & Co. recently ran a letter in the Washington Post taking issue with the Bush Administration’s decision to approve construction of a silver and copper mine in the Cabinet…
Leahy: Congress May Need To Step In on RFID
In a speech given earlier in the week at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., Senator Patrick Leahy (D – Vermont) expressed concern about the potential for radio…
Albertsons Buys Shaw’s and Star Markets
Albertsons has announced that it has agreed on a deal with Britain’s J Sainsbury to buy the Shaw’s and Star Market supermarket chains for $2.457 billion. What are your thoughts…
Burd Challenged on Chairman and CEO Roles
In a scene not unlike that recently played out at Disney with Michael Eisner, investors at Safeway are asking if the company would be better off stripping chairman and chief…
QVC Charged With Making False Claims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged QVC with making false claims on its broadcasts about weight-loss products it sold. Do federal agencies such as the FTC have too much…
EEOC Files Discrimination Suit Against Lowe’s
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a federal lawsuit against the DIY chain Lowe’s for what it claims is “a pattern and practice of refusing to hire…
IKEA Prez: Family Before Work
A stress attack she feared was a heart attack several years back served as a wakeup notice for Pernille Spiers-Lopez, president of IKEA North America. It was time to find…
Union, Grocers Need Reality Check
A piece by Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein says reality has passed both parties by in the current negotiations taking place between the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW)…
Better Burgers And Fast
An article by Bruce Horovitz in USA Today says a number of fast food restaurants including Burger King, Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr. and others are looking to draw in customers by…
Insider Selling Raises Eyebrows
A column by Michael Brush on the MSN/Money Web site expresses concern over the number of top execs at specialty retailers who have been selling off shares of their company…
Retailers Getting Into Magazine Publishing
A recently announced deal between Wal-Mart and Time Inc. to publish a magazine sold exclusively through the retailer’s stores is likely to spur imitators, reports Reuters. What are your thoughts…
