RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Nordstrom Local is summering in the Hamptons
Nordstrom has unveiled plans to open its first Nordstrom Local pop-up in Southampton from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Do pop-ups make sense for Nordstrom Local in other locales…
Are smaller retailers getting crushed by the supply chain mess?
Ninety-one percent of small to mid-sized retailers believe larger companies have an advantage over them in the current supply chain crisis, according to a survey. Do SMB retailers have a…
Will the lack of skilled people derail retail’s digital supply chain transformation?
A new study finds that as more companies work to digitally transform their supply chains, many do not have enough of the right people on staff to achieve that goal…
Does virtual selling make for lonely salespeople?
Without the typical in-person social interaction, virtually selling tends to be transactional and lonely, not only impacting morale, but sales effectiveness, according to a new article. What’s your take on…
Pedigree and Walmart seek an end to pet homelessness
The Pedigree brand has launched a program designed to keep pandemic puppies and other dogs in their forever homes even at a time when many pet parents are finding it…
Has Best Buy found an outlet for future growth?
Best Buy is moving forward with its plan to double the number of outlet stores it operates over the next year. The consumer electronics retailer said it is opening four…
Google rethinks employee reviews and promotions process
Google last week shifted to a new system for “employee development, learning and progression” it calls GRAD, designed to streamline the process and reduce tensions around employee reviews and career…
Will Kohl’s make a better deal for itself after an activist investor loses board vote?
Kohl’s shareholders in a vote yesterday rejected a bid by the activist investor Macellum Advisors to replace up to 10 of the retailer’s 13 board directors. Should Kohl’s board consider…
Do Netflix subscriber headwinds hold lessons for retailers?
Netflix reported a drop in subscribers for the first time in over a decade on its latest earnings call. This raises questions: is subscription fatigue setting in? Do you think…
‘Babe’ star makes dramatic gesture over Starbucks’ upcharge for non-dairy milk
James Cromwell, the Oscar-nominated actor, has a problem with Starbucks over its policy of upcharging for non-dairy milk options, and demonstrated it by gluing his hand to a counter as…
Would grocery delivery be a healthy addition to Apple’s business?
Health conscious customers might soon be able to order a literal apple from Apple. The tech giant may be getting into grocery delivery, according to a new report. Do you…
Is inflation the true cause of recent supermarket closures?
Some big name grocers have been closing store locations against the backdrop of record-breaking inflation. Do you think inflation has played a role in recent store closures?
Can Starbucks replicate the ‘third place’ in the metaverse?
Starbucks is looking to create a “digital third place” with the help of emerging Web 3 technologies that will support the sale of NFTs and drive loyalty. What do you…
Wayfair’s earnings miss may portend trouble for fellow ‘disruptor’ brands
Last Thursday, shares of Wayfair lost 26 percent of their value and are now off about 75 percent from their high last year. Many other online shopping darlings have likewise taken…
Should grocery shoppers and delivery personnel be talking?
Asda is testing an hourly delivery option that lets customers communicate directly with the “personal shopper” who is collecting their orders in-store. Would enabling grocery shoppers to talk with their…
Grocers fret over how to pass higher costs onto customers
Thanks to record inflation, price sensitivity at the grocery channel is back. With a vengeance. And all indications suggest it’s only going to get worse. Grocers, however, have been reluctant…
Has Etsy been missing the boat with men?
Men account for a quarter of Etsy’s buyers in the U.S. and U.K. and represented an estimated 35 percent of new U.S. buyers in 2021. The online marketplace believes that,…
Kroger wants to accelerate its go fresh and go local push
Kroger is bringing back an accelerator program designed to help local fresh food suppliers from across the country gain access to the supermarket giant’s store shelves. Are accelerator programs such…
Will consumers go for Robomart and Unilever’s ‘new spin on the ice cream truck’?
Los Angelenos won’t have to wait on the ice cream truck rolling into their neighborhoods this summer on irregular schedules. They can simply go on an app and hail the…
How should retail companies best navigate the abortion controversy?
A leaked initial draft of an opinion by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito that indicates the court will overturn Roe versus Wade has become a business issue overnight. How should…
Macy’s goes small outside the mall
Macy’s, a longstanding fixture of the shopping mall, is expanding a standalone store strategy in a way that could change how customers think of the retail chain. Do you see…
