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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
What’s really behind Facebook’s rebrand to Meta?
Facebook’s name change to Meta is designed to help the company move forward on building the next digital frontier, the metaverse. Management also hopes it will help Facebook move beyond…
Will same-day deliver holiday cheer for Abercrombie & Fitch?
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has partnered with four different companies to launch same-day delivery across its entire U.S. store fleet, including its Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly…
Petco’s new boutique concept is a private label experience
Petco Health and Wellness Company has opened a new concept store designed to give pet parents and their dogs a chance to experience the chain’s private label in a new…
How disruptive is the rapid delivery model to grocery?
According to a recent survey, 54 percent of U.S. consumers believe grocery delivery within an hour is important to them, well above other categories. How disruptive will rapid grocery be…
Should brands and retailers stop destroying unsold merchandise?
Boston Beer recently decided to throw away “millions of cases” of Truly, instead of discounting the product, in response to a broad slowdown in the hard seltzer category over the…
Gig employers may face fines for dishonest recruiting
Some of the biggest gig economy employers in the U.S. are facing federal scrutiny for allegedly misleading potential employees about how well their gigs actually pay. Do you think companies…
Will high food costs cost restaurants business?
Grocery prices have been increasing steadily in the U.S. for a number of months, but at restaurants food is getting more expensive at an even faster rate than on grocery…
Christmas 2021 may be one for the record books
The National Retail Federation is predicting that retailers will set new sales records for the 2021 Christmas season. The trade industry group expects sales in November and December to grow between…
When should holiday marketing start?
According to an AdAge-Harris Poll, 68 percent of Americans agree holiday marketing should not begin until at least Thanksgiving. How can retailers incentivize early shopping while avoiding holiday marketing fatigue?
What should retailers do about angry reviews?
A university study finds that while the general assumption is that an abundance of helpful reviews — whether positive or negative — is ultimately more influential in driving purchases, anger…
JCPenney finds its new CEO at Levi Strauss
JCPenney has a new CEO. The department store retailer announced that Marc Rosen, a 25-year retail industry veteran who most recently served as executive vice president and president of Levi…
Are store associates the key to bridging retail’s physical/digital divide?
Patricia Waldron recently had the opportunity to discuss what it takes to deliver superior omnichannel experiences for consumers in the current retailing environment with execs from Showfields. Are sensory-driven brands…
Can retailers wean consumers off discounts this holiday season?
Retailers are expected to reduce the number of items they put on sale this holiday season, and the discounts that are offered will probably be much closer to everyday prices…
Kroger’s Home Chef meal kit biz joins the billion dollar sales club
The Kroger Co. and its Home Chef subsidiary announced yesterday that the meal kit service has reached $1 billion in annual sales. What do you see as the current opportunities…
Should PayPal still buy Pinterest?
Multiple outlets last week posted stories indicating PayPal was in advanced talks to acquire Pinterest to transform itself into a social commerce powerhouse. On Monday morning, however, PayPal issued a…
Walmart says Amazon’s grocery delivery fee will put a ‘Whole’ in customers’ wallets
Walmart wants everyone to know that, as of today, Amazon.com is adding $9.95 to grocery deliveries from its Whole Foods stores. Do you see Amazon’s delivery fee for Whole Foods…
Target doubles down on Apple shop-in-shop ‘experiences’
Target plans to more than double the number of Apple at Target shop-in-shop “experiences” from 17 stores to 36 in time for holiday selling. Is the Apple at Target partnership…
Is it time for retailers to hop on the cryptocurrencies trend?
Pacsun in early October became the first major teen retailer to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, believing it is “one of the major trends” working with its young customer base…
Amazon rolls out in-store pickup and local delivery for marketplace sellers
Amazon.com is rolling out in-store pickup as part of a host of services that will enable third-party sellers on its platform to offer convenient, fast fulfillment to shoppers who live…
Are Macy’s plans sustainable?
Macy’s is the latest apparel retailer to boost its focus on sustainability as customers continue to expect a greater environmental commitment from the fashion industry. Will sustainability be a positive…
Could Crocs’ supply chain mitigation steps work for others?
Crocs, facing both factory shutdowns overseas and port congestion in the U.S., on Thursday unveiled a multi-step plan to circumvent supply chain challenges and drive another year of strong growth…
