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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Grocery shopping goes mobile
With e-grocery experiencing unprecedented adoption since the beginning of the pandemic, new shopper behaviors are emerging. One of them is that shoppers order via mobile far more frequently than from…
Will ‘aspirational independents’ swing results for retailers and politicians?
Fifteen percent of Americans are in a position to determine 2022’s winners and losers in retail and politics, according to new research. Will catering to “aspirational independents” prove successful for…
Will Target Zero help guide sustainable choices?
Mimicking nutritional rating labels aimed at encouraging healthier eating, Target has introduced a new Target Zero icon to make it easier for consumers to identify products designed to reduce waste…
Will customers grow to love Walgreens’ digital cooler doors?
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the reaction of customers to the decision by retailers to replace see-through cooler doors with digital alternatives. Are the digital doors used by…
Should customized products be return-friendly?
Nike and New Balance are among the few brands allowing consumers to return customized products. A new university study argues many more should be doing so. Do you see a…
Chief Retail Officer sees connections and collaboration as key to Office Depot’s future
Office Depot is combining humanity and technology to become more customer focused. Are retailers generally more focused on technology than human intelligence? Is store personnel expertise leveraged as much as it…
Lululemon joins the footwear race with new running shoes
Lululemon, retail’s poster child for the athleisure trend, last week entered a new category, footwear, that offers both a massive opportunity and heightened risks. Do you see more potential benefits…
Will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ignite a global food crisis?
The price of pasta, bread, cereal and other wheat products could soon be climbing at U.S. grocers similar to recent gas pump hikes in another repercussion of Russia’s invasion of…
What’s next for CVS after its #MeToo moment?
In its own #MeToo moment, CVS on Friday said it fired several employees, including executives, following an internal investigation into how the company handled sexual harassment complaints. How confident are…
Albertsons puts its digital transformation on the fast track
Albertsons’ digital initiatives aim to solve its unique challenges when it comes to delivering customer-centric service. What criteria do you think grocers and other retailers should use to determine whether…
Has the inflation pricing playbook changed?
CPG companies aren’t just raising prices defensively to offset against higher costs. Their strategies include working with retailers on more deliberate and symbiotic plans for pricing and promotional practices. What…
Are Visa and Mastercard’s swipe fees out of control?
The Merchants Payments Coalition earlier this week sent a letter to the House Financial Services Committee calling on it and Congress to investigate what the trade association calls Visa and…
Are Walmart’s associates about to become its best customers?
Walmart is looking to add 1.6 million new members to its Walmart+ subscription plan. What do you make of Walmart’s decision to offer free Walmart+ memberships to its store, distribution and…
Eddie Bauer has a lot of stories to tell
Outdoor apparel brand Eddie Bauer is launching a new content hub for all of its in-house and user-generated content. How likely is content creation à la Eddie Bauer and REI…
Where are the advancement opportunities for retail’s frontline workers?
A new Pew Research Center survey found as the top two reasons U.S. workers left a job in 2021 “no opportunities for advancement,” tied for first with “pay was too…
Will inflation be positive or negative for off-pricers?
Michael O’Sullivan, CEO at Burlington Stores, believes surging inflation may drive consumers to trade down to off-pricers, but it may also squeeze spending. Will surging inflationary pressures likely offer more…
McDonald’s and Starbucks suspend Russian ops, Uniqlo stays open
McDonald’s and Starbucks have announced a suspension of operations in Russia following that country’s unprovoked attack on neighboring Ukraine that has resulted in thousands killed and the largest refugee crisis…
Does retail have a new market in pro home hobbyists?
The pandemic has allowed a new demographic to go professional with their hobbies, according to a new UK study. How likely is the demand for makers’ goods to remain strong…
Are banned books a sales opportunity or political risk for Barnes & Noble?
Barnes & Noble has added a page on its website and small sections to some stores featuring “Banned And Challenged Books,” or books that have faced censorship. What do you…
Will REI’s membership soar with its new lifetime program?
For the first time in 84 years, REI has updated its lifetime membership program with five new benefits and a higher price , with a goal to more than double…
Table Mesa King Soopers’ offers comfort in the wake of tragedy
On March 22, 2021 a gunman opened fire inside the Table Mesa King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, CO. A year later, how have King Soopers and Kroger done? What…
