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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Can retail solve its indirect carbon emissions problem?
A survey of major global retailers finds that less than 20 percent are on track to cut their Scope 3 emissions by enough to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement targets…
Are tattoos no longer taboo on retail selling floors?
A new university study finds that customers don’t necessarily look down on employees with tattoos — and in some settings, ink is seen as a plus. Have customers become accustomed…
Will solar have its day in the sun at Target?
Target is testing out a new solar panel setup at one California location to see if it can successfully use the technology to power the entire store and move toward…
Howard Schultz playing what cards he has to fend off unionized labor
Howard Schultz is looking to play the FOMO card with baristas who are thinking about voting to join the Starbucks United union. Is Starbucks taking the proper approach in its…
Is resale a better fit for lululemon than other apparel brands?
Lululemon athletica says a test of its “Like New” trade-in and resale program in California and Texas was a success, and now the yoga-inspired chain is rolling it out nationwide…
Nike steps up its game with a new tech innovation center
Nike is opening a new hub solely for technological innovation that will be dedicated to improving the brand’s logistics and supply chain. Do you think a center geared toward supply…
Should dietitians patrol Kroger’s supermarket aisles?
Shoppers can find advice on selling floors on what running shoes to wear, how to fix a leaky faucet and what to take for an upset stomach. Nutritional advice from…
Target launches new program for used apparel
Target’s is selling used apparel through a new relationship with ThredUP. The retailer, as of late March, has its own page on ThredUP featuring a selection of used apparel curated…
Does Amazon have an edge in capturing America’s youth?
A dominant 53 percent of teens identified Amazon.com as their favorite e-commerce site, according to Piper Sandler’s “Spring 2022 Taking Stock With Teens” survey. What’s driving the strong appeal of…
Should retail fear or embrace organized labor’s comeback?
In early April, workers at an Amazon.com warehouse on Staten Island voted to form the e-commerce giant’s first U.S. union, building on successful organizing efforts at Starbucks and leading to…
Locals fight to keep warehouses out of their neighborhoods
Amazon in mid-March canceled plans to open a four-story warehouse in Churchill, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, after local residents complained about the potential for excessive pollution and traffic. Will local…
Will Fresh Market’s ‘club hub’ frequent purchase program drive loyalty?
It’s common to see “Buy 10 sandwiches get one free” program. As part of its first loyalty program, The Fresh Market is introducing not one, but five purchase frequency programs…
What’s the path to becoming a retail industry thought leader?
Dave Wendland’s journey to gaining recognition as a thought leader did not begin by accident, nor did it occur overnight. What advice would you have for someone seeking to establish…
Expensive gas slows foot traffic
A new study indicates that retailers are taking a hit in foot traffic across the board due to fuel cost inflation. Do you think that foot traffic to stores will continue…
Will higher pay and training put more drivers behind the wheel for Walmart?
Walmart announced that it is increasing pay for its fleet drivers and has launched a new program that will enable people working in its supply chain operations to become drivers…
Will JCPenney’s core customers come back and show their love?
JCPenney is giving up its flirtation with consumers that simply aren’t interested in shopping with the chain. The department store retailer is also rolling out a new campaign with one…
Solid jobs numbers mean grocers must concentrate on their workforce even more
Last week’s jobs report contained both good news and bad for retailers. It was a sign of a stronger-than-expected economy. But retailers understand the increased challenges the positive numbers mean…
Are jingles ready to make a comeback?
In a survey by audio research platform Veritonic, Ace Hardware’s jingle, “ACE is the place with the helpful hardware folks,” was the only tune by a retailer landing on the top-ten list of…
What are the hurdles to becoming data-driven?
A new survey of chief data or analytics officers finds that only 26.5 percent believe they have created a data-driven organization. NewVantage Partners’ “Data and AI Leadership Executive Survey” also…
Nordstrom brings leadership for department stores and Rack under one roof
Nordstrom on Monday said that it is consolidating leadership for its full-line department stores and its Rack off-price concept under one team in an effort to deliver on its strategy…
Is IKEA’s furniture buy-back initiative sustainable?
IKEA is making its Buy Back & Resell program permanent across its 37 U.S. stores following a pilot last summer. Do you see more benefits than potential drawbacks to IKEA’s expanding…
