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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Should retailers take prices higher?
A survey of top retail executives finds 59 percent planning to pass on the costs of supply chain disruptions to consumers. Thirty-six percent were planning to absorb the hit and…
Will a trip to the doctor soon mean a trip to CVS?
Customers already visit CVS for vaccinations, prescriptions and to take care of a range of other pharmacy-related errands. Soon, customers may be going there for full primary care visits as…
Retailers want more time to comply with COVID-19 vaccine and testing protocols
Trade associations representing retailers are calling on the federal government to recalculate the timeline for implementation of new temporary COVID-19 vaccination and testing protocols for companies with 100 or more…
What do retailers owe customers when it comes to personalized pricing?
Artificial intelligence-powered dynamic and personalized pricing offers retailers a means to satisfy customers and protect profit margins at the same time, however, there are also ethical concerns raised by their…
Does Facebook, er Meta, now need stores?
Meta, formerly Facebook, is reportedly discussing the possibility of opening physical stores to help introduce and explain the metaverse to the world. Will stores or advertising be more essential to…
Retailers can’t forget to prioritize capacity management despite inventory shortages
Fearing empty shelves during the winter holidays from global supply chain issues and shortages, many retailers have shifted their inventory acquisition strategy with mixed results. Are you seeing situations where…
Walmart is making store deliveries for the first time with driverless trucks
Walmart is making daily deliveries from a dark store to a Neighborhood Market in Bentonville, AR using an autonomous vehicle that doesn’t carry a safety driver — a world first,…
Should Apple join the crowd in lifting mask requirements?
Apple reportedly lifted mask requirements at more than 100 of its 270 U.S. stores starting last Friday due to declining COVID-19 cases and climbing vaccination rates. Is it appropriate or…
Companies place ‘bias bounties’ on AI algorithms
At least five large companies will introduce “bias bounties” or hacker competitions to identify bias in artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, predicts the just-released “North American Predictions 2022” from Forrester. What…
Has Kroger found an answer for Amazon Prime and Walmart+?
Kroger appears ready to get on the subscription program bandwagon with the launch of a new service that offers expedited grocery delivery and fuel rewards for its customers. Will Kroger’s…
Saks has planned a livestreaming holiday season
Saks has been building its livestreaming presence since the beginning of the year. Now, the luxury retailer is dressing it up for the holidays. Do you think Saks will drive…
Can apps help reduce food waste?
Giant Food has become the latest grocer to partner with Flashfood, an app that lets customers save money and reduce food waste by purchasing items near their “best by” or…
Are the cards stacked against small and medium sized retailers?
The general assumption is that the economy’s three-pronged challenge will wind up hurting smaller retailers and vendors significantly more than larger ones. Do you agree that larger retailers and suppliers…
Will linked loyalty programs turn Dick’s and Nike into an unbeatable force?
Dick’s Sporting Goods and Nike announced yesterday that the two companies are looking to deepen their relationship that will offer customers of both companies a connection to exclusive offers and…
American Eagle Outfitters is literally serious about owning its supply chain
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) will acquire Quiet Logistics in a $350 million cash deal, another step in a strategy to gain greater control over its supply chain. What roles do…
Will Bed Bath & Beyond ‘reach more customers than ever’ with Kroger collab?
Kroger and Bed Bath & Beyond have entered into a collaboration that will bring the home and baby products retailer’s products into some of the supermarket giant’s stores and to…
Ralph Lauren to bring on-demand color to its flagship stores
Ralph Lauren will soon have technology at its disposal that could enable a new degree of product customization, which would make the experience of shopping at its flagship stores more…
Will Aldi’s ‘Charcuterie Board’ have a big influence on its food sales?
Aldi has partnered with six food bloggers and influencers to create its first-ever “Charcuterie Board of Directors” to inspire shoppers this holiday season to develop their own meat and cheese…
Will Planning Studios elevate IKEA’s urban shopper journey?
IKEA will open two mini-Planning Studios in the Los Angeles area with a focus on “providing inspiration and smart home solutions for city living.” Is it more important now to…
Does Macy’s or Best Buy have a better approach to gift cards?
At Macy’s, the only gift cards available are those linked back to purchases at the retailer. Best Buy, in contrast, offers not only its own gift cards but those for…
Walmart’s latest acquisition to give voice to its UX aspirations
Walmart has announced a planned acquisition that the retailer believes will play an important role in its strategy to expand its “conversational” platform across voice, chat and AI-driven assistant technologies…
