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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
May brings Meta’s first physical store
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, will be opening its first physical store in May. The tech giant will open the Meta Store on May 9 in Burlingame, CA, according to…
Is Abercrombie & Fitch’s exposé a crisis or an opportunity?
Since last week’s release, “White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch,” has consistently ranked as the top movie on Netlix’s platform. The chain’s current management continues to…
Are Old Navy’s issues more about demand than supply?
Shares of Gap Inc. plunged 18 percent on Friday after the mall-based clothing giant announced the exit of Old Navy’s CEO, Nancy Green, and lowered its guidance. Do you see…
Sam’s Club upgrades its Member’s Mark private label, sustainably
Sam’s Club announced that its Member’s Mark brand will embrace a new slogan “Made with Our Member and Planet in Mind” and commit to making the environment and sustainability areas…
Amazon brings Prime power to other websites
Amazon Prime members who have wished that their perks would extend to e-commerce experiences beyond Amazon’s website are now in luck. Amazon has announced the launch of its Buy With…
Will workouts drive loyalty for Lululemon?
At its Analyst Day earlier this week, Lululemon announced plans to launch a two-tiered membership program tied to its Mirror at-home fitness device. Does Lululemon’s two-tiered membership program make sense…
Will unlimited free drinks pay off for Panera?
For $10.99 a month, visitors to Panera can now get all the self-serve beverages they can drink. Will adding an all-you-can-drink element and “Charged Lemonades” increase the effectiveness of Panera’s…
Are price freezes and pledges worthwhile in inflationary climates?
In a response to inflation concerns, Old Navy has instituted a “Price ON-Lock” initiative that will pause price increases on kids’ basics apparel through the back-to-school selling season. For its…
Will customers know everything about products with digital ID?
A recent article forecasts a world in which products can tell customers anything and everything about themselves using a digital ID, readable via QR code or NFC tag. Do you…
Is palm payment past pilot at Whole Foods?
Amazon just implemented its biometric palm reader at a Whole Foods location in a new market, making it look more like Amazon sees palm reading in Whole Foods’ future nationwide…
Has Barnes & Noble turned the page?
Barnes & Noble’s sales have recovered as the chain orchestrates a turnaround focused on empowering store managers and capitalizes on a revival of interest in reading. Does Barnes & Noble…
What should Amy’s Kitchen do about workers’ safety complaints?
Amy’s Kitchen, the 35-year-old organic/vegan/vegetarian-oriented consumer foods producer, has worker treatment accusations to deal with. How does a company/brand such as Amy’s Kitchen repair its reputation after allegations are made that…
Champs Sports seeks ‘Homefield’ advantage with new concept store
Champs Sports, a sporting goods retailer owned by Foot Locker, will soon launch the first location of its HomeField experiential store concept. Will the concept help the company pivot away…
Did stores prove their worth during the pandemic?
UBS has forecast that 40,000 to 50,000 stores will close in the U.S. by the end of 2026, downwardly revising research from April 2021. Part of the reason is because…
Will Albertsons smell success with its Philadelphia Cream Cheese promo?
Select Albertsons-owned stores in Chicago and New Jersey are testing the use of scented diffusers that pump in the aroma of freshly baked cheesecake in dairy aisles near designated coolers…
States pause grocery taxes as a hedge against inflation
Some states with taxes in place at the grocery checkout are giving customers a break as food prices continue to rise. Of the 13 U.S. states that impose grocery taxes,…
Will Amazon’s fuel surcharge irritate its marketplace sellers?
Amazon marketplace sellers who use the company’s fulfillment services will see a five percent temporary surcharge for shipments, starting April 28, attributed to rising fuel prices and inflation. Does the…
Carrefour uses blockchain to offer consumers greater supply chain transparency
Carrefour has become the first retailer to use blockchain technology with its own branded organic products. Do you see blockchain technology making a breakthrough soon in tracking and tracing products…
Are fuel-driven deals worth pumping?
Aligned to the hike in fuel prices, Krispy Kreme is offering a dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts every Wednesday for a limited time for the price of a gallon of regular gas…
Will Amazon have to ground its drone program?
It was not so long ago that package delivery drones, specifically ones from Amazon.com, seemed poised to take flight as soon as the right regulatory bodies signed off. At present,…
Lands’ End is doubling down on third-party relationships
Lands’ End is big on partnerships. The casual clothing retailer is going live on-air today with QVC in a promotion featuring its women’s swimwear in sizes two through 32 in…
