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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
What will Dave Clark’s exit mean for Amazon’s retail business?
Friday’s announcement that Dave Clark, Amazon.com’s CEO of Worldwide Consumer, would be resigning, effective July 1, set off speculation that the retail group’s recent trips-ups were to blame. Is Dave Clark’s…
Allbirds is no longer flying solo after deals with Dick’s and Nordstrom
Allbirds, the environmentally-friendly footwear upstart, has opened third-party distribution for the first time. Do you see more benefits than risks in Allbirds’ move to open up wholesale distribution?
Are off-pricers holding a glass that is half-full or half-empty?
TJX, Ross Stores and Burlington Stores all reported sales shortfalls in the first quarter, but they remain confident they will eventually benefit from consumers trading down in a potentially tougher…
Circle K’s new self-checkouts are kicking barcode scanners to the curb
Alimentation Couche-Tard yesterday said it will deploy more than 10,000 self-checkout machines in 7,000-plus Circle K and Couche-Tard convenience stores over the next three years. What impact do you think…
Will customer reviews boost online sales for Albertsons, Safeway and Vons?
Customers visiting the websites of Albertsons and some of its banner grocers will soon get to see what other customers thought about the products they are browsing. Do you think…
Are consumers stumped by percent-off promos?
A recent study found that, when advertisers use percentages to promote products, customers tend to be way off in their assessment of what the numbers mean. What are the most…
Convenience stores need to automate or get left behind
A convenience store’s main competition was simply another c-store until relatively recently. Now quick commerce businesses have made aggressive moves into the convenience space, promising delivery of small baskets within…
Should Instacart discard shopper ratings from chronically grumpy customers?
Instacart has overhauled its customer ratings system to dilute the impact of hard-to-please customers and deliver a more “fair experience” to shoppers (independently-contracted delivery drivers). Do think the adjustments to…
New members re-up at Costco in record numbers
First-time Costco members renewed their memberships in record numbers for the third quarter ending May 8. What is behind Costco’s record membership renewal rates?
Will antitrust legislation single out Amazon and let retail rivals slide?
Amazon is slamming federal legislation that would bar the company from giving preference to its products over items sold by other sellers on its site. Does Amazon unfairly give preference to…
Is Best Buy’s home pickup recycling service worth the price?
Best Buy recently became the first national retailer to offer a service that picks up old tech from customers’ homes to be recycled. The price of the service, at $199,…
Why are retailers struggling so hard to balance inventory?
Many retailers in the first quarter found themselves with inventory levels that exceeded sales gains. This after dealing with two years of shortages tied to supply chain disruptions. Are the…
Will $22 starting pay squelch unionization efforts at Apple?
Apple said last week that it will increase starting wages for its U.S. retail to $22 per hour, up from $20 and representing a 45 percent hike from 2018 levels…
Victoria’s Secret creates an online marketplace for women-led brands
Victoria’s Secret has launched a curated digital platform dedicated to third-party brands with a focus on women-led up-and-comers. Does selling third-party brands risk confusing consumers and diluting the appeal of…
Is Macy’s for real?
Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette has been saying that the department store company he leads is a different and better retailer than it has been in the past. The chain’s most…
When the going gets tough, consumers shop dollar stores
Dollar General and Dollar Tree issued first quarter results this week illustrating that, when consumer prices rise and the economic going gets tough, people go shopping at their local dollar…
Can body neutrality messaging replace body positivity?
Many brands, especially in the apparel and beauty space, have embraced body positive messaging in recent years, although critics charge the movement focuses too much on appearance. Is body neutrality any…
Is now the perfect time for grocers to sell imperfect food?
With inflation and a potentially looming recession at the forefront of the U.S. consumer’s mind, a couple of grocery delivery startups are selling the kind of produce that often gets…
Best Buy CEO expects headwinds but not a ‘full recession’ ahead
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry is well aware of the challenges the consumer electronics chain faces in the current economic environment. She’s also confident that the steps the retailer is…
Will Deliverr help Shopify better compete with Amazon?
Shopify is often seen as an alternative for independent sellers frustrated with Fulfillment by Amazon’s changing inventory rules and increasing seller costs. Will acquiring Deliverr potentially make Shopify a more serious…
Nordstrom is staffed, stocked and ready to serve as store traffic increases
Nordstrom pushed aside the gray cloud hovering over retail the past week with a first-quarter earnings report that shows luxury customers are still shopping despite rising prices. Do you expect…
