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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will retailers find it harder to pass along price increases in the months ahead?
The Labor Department last week said U.S. inflation reached another four-decade high in January, accelerating to a 7.5 percent annual rate. Consumers haven’t fully felt the sticker shock so far,…
The commercial that won the Super Bowl was…
While the Los Angeles Rams fought back to win yesterday’s Super Bowl, the game also offered an opportunity for brands to compete for the attention of consumers on the nation’s…
Is it time for retail associates to drop their masks?
Walmart in an internal memo Friday said it has ended mask mandates and its COVID-19 sick leave policy for employees, while phasing out daily health screenings. Is it the appropriate…
What is it about Amazon’s retail profitability that we just don’t get?
There remains a wide-spread belief that Amazon makes little or no money in “retail,” and that its Amazon Web Services division subsidizes the company’s e-commerce growth. That certainly isn’t the…
Smarter barcodes are coming to a store near you
Automatic identification and data capture technology is about to experience a dramatic expansion, and retailers will want to know how best to take advantage of the change. What impact will the…
Can retail make its trucker numbers add up?
The trucking industry has a numbers problem when it comes to drivers. The reality is that there is no quick fix in sight, and the evidence is clear in stores…
Walmart inventory bots flopped. Will Sam’s succeed?
Inventory tracking robots did not work out for Walmart, but now the company is trying them out at Sam’s Club. Why factors make you think that inventory robots may have…
Should Facebook’s eroding user base worry Meta much?
Facebook lost daily users in a quarter for the first time in its 18-year history. Mark Zuckerberg, the platform’s founder and CEO of Meta, blamed heightened competition from the short-video…
Amazon Care reaches across the country
Amazon.com has launched its Amazon Care telehealth service nationwide and is opening physical clinics to more than 20 cities this year. What will the expansion of Amazon Care mean for…
Will massive pay raises help Amazon attract and retain the best and brightest?
Amazon is looking to erase a competitive disadvantage it has vs. tech companies when it comes to recruiting and retaining corporate and tech employees by more than doubling its maximum…
Aldi moves closer to becoming America’s third largest grocery retailer
Aldi’s inexorable push across the U.S. continues with news that the grocery chain is opening its first store in Louisiana this week. The retailer expects to become the third largest…
Are out-of-stocks making c-store visits less convenient?
Grocery stores are not the only food retailers experiencing significant stock-outs this year. Customers are more frequently finding shelves empty of the food they are looking for at convenience stores,…
Past purchases are no indication of current or future brand loyalty
New research finds low levels of perceived loyalty by consumers towards brands and concludes that at least some brands are confusing repeat purchasing with loyalty. Have habitual purchases become a…
Are ultra-fast delivery services bad for neighborhoods?
The Netherlands’ city of Rotterdam last week issued a one-year freeze on the opening of “dark stores” or mini-distribution hubs used by on-demand services promising delivery in under 10 minutes…
Is Shopify serious about fulfillment?
Shopify Fulfillment Network has never gained serious traction since its launch in 2019 and it appears that the company is at a crossroads with its approach. Do you agree with…
Should grocers leave delivery to third-party providers or do it themselves?
Only the major players along with a handful of others have brought grocery delivery in-house. But some industry observers think it might be time for others to join that club…
Would a Peloton acquisition make sense for Amazon or Nike?
Amazon and Nike are reportedly exploring separate bids for Peloton, the beleaguered leader in internet-connected bikes and treadmills. Would a Peloton purchase make more sense for Amazon, Nike or neither?
Nordstrom launches a podcast for its fans
Nordstrom has introduced its first podcast, hosted by Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer. The Nordy Pod is described as “a new way for Nordstrom-obsessed customers to peek behind…
Are business buzzwords more annoying than useful?
A recent Wall Street Journal article observed about business buzzwords, “Some are just hackneyed. Others signal something, but mean nothing specific. Others nod to a shiny virtual future, which they…
Will Amazon’s customers go along with its Prime rate increase?
Amazon.com is raising the price for an annual subscription to its Prime program to $139 a year in the U.S., up from the current $119, which took effect in 2018. …
Crate & Barrel store partners on the fly with local vendor
Over the holidays, a Crate & Barrel location in Michigan launched a partnership with a local laser engraving vendor the old-fashioned way. What do you think of retailers doing ad…
