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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Home Depot turns off thieves’ power to use or sell stolen tools
Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves. Do you see in-store activation at the point of…
Should retailers and brands pay for user-generated content?
Fifty-nine percent of online shoppers say that user-generated content (UGC), such as images and videos from other consumers, is the most authentic type of content, according to a recent survey…
Are Home Depot and Lowe’s about to hit a sales wall?
A recent softening in the red-hot housing market and a reduction in homeowners tackling DIY projects has raised concerns about near-term growth rates for Home Depot and Lowe’s. Do you…
Halloween sales could be scary good for retailers
Two-thirds of parents with a child under 18 plan to do more for Halloween this year compared to other years, according to a survey from Hershey. Will Halloween spending recover…
Has Old Navy charted a course for all retail to follow on plus-sizes?
Old Navy has introduced a major revamp of its plus-size approach, called BODEQUALITY, that addresses clothing inclusivity in a myriad of ways. What is your assessment of Old Navy’s BODEQUALITY program?
Will Amazon department stores spell trouble for Kohl’s?
Amazon.com is planning to open several large retail stores in the U.S. that will be its take on the department store model. How would you expect a smaller box Amazon…
Have cross-selling and upselling become lost retail arts?
Cross-selling and upselling in retail are the foundation of raising the average ticket. Are retailers properly training sales associates to offer credible cross-selling advice and to upsell customers when appropriate?
Americans have learned to shop with the virus
The 1.1 percent decline in July retail sales reported earlier this week by the U.S. Census Bureau is nothing to be overly concerned about. That’s the analysis of the NRF,…
Has Target ‘only begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible’ for its business?
Target’s second quarter was another one for the record books. The retailer posted an 8.9 percent gain in comparable sales, one year after it saw its revenues jump 24.3 percent…
Do downtown shopping districts need their own loyalty programs?
Drawing inspiration from Pokemon Go, a new loyalty program in Olympia, WA, rewards downtown visitors for “checking in” with their mobile phones at local stores, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues…
Lagging distributors send restaurants grocery shopping
Restaurants are running into problems getting the ingredients they need to conduct business as semi-usual. Supply chain disruptions are forcing them to make unexpected changes. Is there a way that…
Should grocery stores retire the ethnic aisle?
Controversy surrounding ethnic aisles in supermarkets and the function they may or may not serve has brands questioning limits on potential growth that could be more accessible in heavily-trafficked category-based…
Will new cash-back cards deliver healthy returns for Walgreens?
Walgreens announced on Monday the launch of its new myWalgreens Credit Card program, which features two “industry-first retail health and wellness credit cards.” Are the financial benefits or the consumer…
Convenience stores were the real winners of the Tokyo Olympics
Athlete and press access at the Olympic games in Tokyo was limited, but those limitations did not extend to local eye-opening convenience stores. What can the Japanese konbini teach U.S…
Will a Prime-style subscription service take Albertsons business to a new level?
Albertsons is following the playbook of some of the most cutting-edge figures in retail and launching its own subscription service with an important Amazon Prime-style perk. Will a membership program…
Are over-attentive associates creeping shoppers out?
A new university study finds store loyalty, purchase intentions and spending behavior are negatively affected when consumers encounter a salesperson who is standing nearby. What channels or types of stores…
Parachute plans to become America’s go-to for home goods and it might just work
Parachute, the direct-to-consumer brand, isn’t satisfied to carve out a small niche in home products. The company is looking to take market share from the bigger brands and build a…
Are four drive-thru lanes better than two?
Taco Bell last week introduced a new two-story concept, Taco Bell Defy. The design features four drive-thru lanes on the ground level and houses the kitchen on the second level…
Canadian Tire buys part of a shipping port in move to upgrade its supply chain
Canadian Tire Corp. has purchased a 25 percent stake in Ashcroft Terminal Ltd., British Columbia’s largest inland port, to support the retailer’s supply chain flexibility and sustainability goals. Is forming…
What’s next for Reebok after leaving Adidas?
Reebok is getting another chance to recapture its past glory under new ownership by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) after nearly 15 years of floundering under Adidas. How should Reebok be…
Are websites a must-have for all retailers?
A new survey finds that 23 percent of small retailers do not have a website. Are there legitimate reasons for smaller retailers to go without a website?
