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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Borders Sources Nationally, Merchandises Locally
Borders Books may be a large national chain, but the retailer understands that the quickest path to maximizing growth is by catering to the needs of local consumers. According to…
Costco Proves It Pays To Pay Well
While supermarket operators are trying to hammer out deals with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) and others to reduce labor costs so they are more in line…
FMI Wants Medicare Bill Passed
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI), representing grocery retailers and wholesalers, has called on Congress to pass the Medicare prescription drug legislature it is considering. Should Congress pass the Medicare Prescription…
Hacking Suspects Indicted
Three Michigan men have been indicted for allegedly trying to hack into Lowe’s computer system for the purpose of stealing customer credit card information, reports the Associated Press. What is…
Let the Bidding for Eckerd Begin
At least two groups are expected to announce their initial interest in buying the Eckerd drugstore chain from JC Penney, reports the Financial Times. What do you see as the…
Labor Agreement Reached But Not In CA
Deli, meat and seafood department workers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island, NY have reached agreement on a new four-year contract with the King Kullen, Pathmark, Stop-and-Shop and…
Who’s Going to Start the Revolution?
Ryan Mathews laments in an editorial on the Grocery Headquarters Web site, “It seems all but unthinkable that as we enter the 21st century, we can’t come up with a…
Victoria’s Dirty Little Secret
Is used underwear Victoria’s dirty little secret? On the same night it televised Victoria’s Secret’s fashion show, the CBS affiliate in New York ran a report in which hidden cameras…
KFC’s New Campaign Gets Fried
KFC has ended its advertising campaign aimed at convincing consumers that fried chicken could be included among the foods eaten in a balanced diet. Will the fried chicken commercials pulled…
Communist China Wants US Market Opened
The People’s Republic of China has reacted strongly to the decision by the Bush administration to impose quotas on textiles imported from this communist nation. The Chinese have called the…
Skin Care For the Straight Guy
American men are getting older, more concerned about their appearance and less worried how it might look for them to be found using a skin care or other beauty product…
Americans In Search of Simpler Pursuits
A report in this past Sunday’s Observer said new magazines with titles such as Real Simple and Budget Living are the fastest growing on newsstands. Does the popularity of magazines…
Wal-Mart Creates Office of Diversity
Wal-Mart announced yesterday it opened a new office of diversity to address hiring practices and career path issues for people of color, women and minority groups, according to a Reuters…
FTC Slotting Report: $900,000, 120 Pages and Nada
Three years, up to $900,000 in taxpayer dollars, and 120 pages in pdf format later, the FTC has issued its report, The Use of Slotting Allowances in the Retail Grocery…
Dollar General to Expand Market Store Test
Dollar General announced yesterday it planned to expand its new format test by opening 20 Dollar General Market stores next year. What are your thoughts on Dollar General expanding its…
Kids R Us No More
Toys R Us has decided that its future is not in children’s apparel. The chain announced it would close all 146 free-standing Kids R Us clothing stores by the end…
Dressing Consumers For Less Than Wal-Mart
Ross Stores’ Dress For Less unit and competitors such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are winning customers the old-fashioned way. They’re selling apparel and accessories that consumers can find in…
Retailers Go Shopping For Millennials
Tim Larson, vice president of marketing for Jostens, a leading marketer of recognition products such as class rings and yearbooks, says today’s high school kids, AKA millennials, are different than…
It’s Now or Never to Shop
Paco Underhill, executive director of Envirosell and author of Why We Buy, told Business Week in an interview that he expects to see consumers to splurge a little more this…
Consumers Prefer Machines to People
Dexter Thomas does it because he doesn’t want to “deal with the cashiers and their attitude.” Kimberly Ward does it because it’s “a lot more convenient” and besides, dealing with…
Women Love Lowe’s
Painter Joycelyn Marks says she loves shopping at Lowe’s and, evidently, she’s not the only woman to feel that way, reports Bloomberg News. Is the perception of Lowe’s “being better”…
