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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
After The Strike Is Done
Although neither party is releasing specific details, all reports say the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) and the big three supermarket chains, Albertsons, Kroger and Safeway, have reached…
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: Politics and Retail
Democratic presidential front-runner, John Kerry, was in Santa Monica, Ca. yesterday to give his support to the striking grocery workers. Mr. Kerry called the members of the United Food…
Gun Maker Chairman Quits
James Joseph Minder has resigned as the chairman of Smith & Wesson after it was learned he served more than 10 years in prison during the 1950s and 1960s for…
Is Deal Imminent In SoCal Strike?
Reports coming out of California suggest the ongoing grocery strike/lockout in the Southern part of the state is about to come to an end. Have the two sides in the…
Tiffany’s New Banner To Target Younger Consumers
Instead of going the “all things to all people” route, Tiffany has decided to create a new store banner (yet unnamed) targeted to younger consumers than the typical Tiffany’s shopper…
Former Fed Prez: Get Control of CEO Pay
William McDonough, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and current chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) said the government may eventually intervene to…
APA Wants Kids Ads Restricted
The American Psychological Association (APA) is recommending advertising targeted to children under the age of eight be restricted. Should the content of commercials be more formally restricted on programs with…
Costco and Teamsters Reach Agreement
The president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Jim Hoffa, is hailing a new contract agreement with Costco for its members in California as “an example of what can happen…
Marks & Spencer Breaks New Ground
Marks & Spencer says its new Lifestore concept will “revolutionize the home retail market.” After recent disappointing results, the venerable British retailer may need it to be just that. Is…
Borders Books Goes Downtown
Borders Books and Music is following the spirit of Wee Willie Keeler’s advice and hittin’ em’ where they ain’t with two new store openings in underserved neighborhoods in Detroit and…
Officials Worried About Al Quaeda Attack
Government officials are worried may al Quaeda change tactics and look to take advantage of so-called soft targets such as the food supply. What are your thoughts on the concerns…
Is Office Depot’s Advantage Real?
Office Depot is taking the leap into loyalty marketing when it launches its first customer loyalty program, Office Depot Advantage, on February 29. What will Office Depot need to do…
The New JCPenney To Take Center Stage
The plan at JCPenney is to recast the department store’s image in the minds of younger consumers and that’s why the retailer is spending $8.25 million on five new commercials…
Target To Use RFID In Backroom
Target wants its largest suppliers to have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on pallets and cases by spring 2005 and everyone else to have the tracking technology in place by…
Asian Nation
Wal-Mart has its eye set on the 1.7 million consumers in the U.S. who trace their ancestry back to India. What is the difference between success and failure in marketing…
Albertsons Looks To Make Impact With Changes
The grocery and drugstore chain is reducing the number of divisions within the company from 11 to seven by combining its Southwest, Intermountain, Northwest and Rocky Mountain units into a…
Will Publix Bi-Lo
It’s not saying yes and it’s not saying no, but Publix Super Markets may be among the bidders for Bi-lo and Bruno’s now that Ahold has announced its intention to…
A Retail Toy Story
The cable company wants to buy the Magic Kingdom, KB Toys is closing stores, there’s a mini Toys “R” Us in the local supermarket and you may have a three-month…
Ten Survival Strategies for Retailing Industry Road Warriors
Knowing that many of you in the retailing industry travel for business as much or more than Al McClain does, and since travel budgets are down, we thought it might…
Wal-Mart Not Apologizing For Toy Success
Wal-Mart had an incredible holiday season selling toys and the company’s chief executive and president, Lee Scott, sees no reason to feel bad for those retailers who were not so…
Revised Rules From The New Economy
What We Learned In The New Economy, the cover story in the March issue of Fast Company, reminds us the new economy isn’t dead. It just didn’t turn out like…
