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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
New stores are opening in malls, inflation or no
Some say a recession is on the way; others say it is already here, but according to the biggest owner of U.S. shopping malls, the threat of an economic downturn…
Are grocers profiteering from inflation?
In a tweet Tuesday, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, a Canadian celebrity money expert, called for a boycott of Loblaws, encouraging followers to “join in sending a message to the Loblaws group that…
The Nordstrom tire return story is true
The Nordstrom tire return story, often thought of as a piece of fiction used to demonstrate the length the department store would go to serve its customers, is true. What role…
Will H-E-B’s self-checkout pilot take off?
The Texas grocery powerhouse H-E-B is piloting a new form of self-checkout at one location that might remind shoppers of a trip to the airport. Do you see the Fast…
How should influencer marketing be measured?
Linking influencer marketing to revenue is “the golden ticket,” Christina Westley, head of influencer marketing at PepsiCo Content Studio, says in Econsultancy’s “Influencer Marketing Best Practice Guide” study. What are…
Will Amazon deliver same-day results for GNC, PacSun and other retailers?
Amazon Prime members in 10 cities can now buy merchandise from local retailers in their market and get their orders delivered the very same day. Will same-day delivery for well-known…
Should the cryptocurrency crash scare retailers?
Nearly 75 percent of retailers plan to accept either cryptocurrency or stablecoin payments within the next two years, according to a new study. Have you become any more or less…
Comic-Con can teach retailers a lot about curation
Comic-Con International returned to downtown San Diego and smart local merchants created targeted strategies, offers and operations to deliver curated products and services to meet convention-goers’ needs. What lessons can…
Dynamic pricing may be ‘stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey’
An uproar ensued last week after fans of Bruce Springsteen found some tickets to his first tour in six years fetching prices in the range of $4,000 to $5,000 due…
Are Rent The Runway’s second-hand clothes the perfect fit for Saks Off 5th?
Saks Off 5th has partnered with Rent The Runway to sell previously-worn and rented fashions via its website, becoming the first off-pricer to enter the resale marketplace. Does resale make…
What will Glossier look like after a makeover with Sephora?
Glossier, the disruptive beauty upstart, has reached a deal for Sephora stores and Sephora.com to start selling its products in North America in early 2023, marking its first wholesale partnership. Do you…
Kohl’s throws back with Levi’s
Kohl’s is teaming up with Levi Strauss to bring back the jean maker’s SilverTab collection that was part of the hip-hop and streetwear aesthetic in the 1990’s. Does Kohl’s need…
Should ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates be reimagined to reduce waste?
Marks & Spencer is taking “best before” dates off more than 300 fruit and vegetable items in an effort to curb food waste. Is it time for food manufacturers and…
Will the ‘Credit Card Competition Act’ lead to lower prices for retailers and consumers?
Retail trade organizations have come out strongly in support of new legislation that would enable retailers and other merchants a choice of which companies process credit card transactions. Will the…
Are mobile devices creating connected store associates yet?
In mid-June, The Home Depot handed out more than 125,000 “hdPhones,” or newfangled mobile devices, to store associates to help assist and speed customers’ journeys. Are mobile devices assigned to…
Best Buy cuts forecast in glass half full announcement
Best Buy has downwardly revised its second quarter and full-year forecast, but the news is not all bad, according to its CEO Corie Barry. Do you see Best Buy as…
Will the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ model overcome economic and regulatory challenges?
“Buy Now, Pay Later” services saw explosive adoption as e-commerce upshifted into a higher gear during the pandemic, but are now facing questions over their sustainability. Are rising interest rates,…
Grocers and food brands take older consumers for granted
A recent opinion column from AARP Media noted that though the over-50 crowd buys 54 percent of all groceries in the U.S., older consumers remain “often-overlooked” by food marketers. Do…
Can Walmart roll back inflation?
Walmart got Wall Street’s attention yesterday after it lowered its profit outlook for the second quarter and the full year. Do you think markdowns by Walmart, Target and other large…
Will marketers hit a home run or strike out with MLB’s uniform ads?
Major League Baseball last week revealed it is moving ahead with plans to place advertising on uniforms for the 2023 season, leaving the National Football League the last remaining major…
Best Buy offers a new way to shop with its first-ever digital-first small box store
Best Buy is today opening a new digital-first, small box store concept that it believes will change the way consumers shop for the products it sells. Do you expect customers…
