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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Walgreens finishes its trip to the cloud and its retail journey is just beginning
Walgreens announced that it completed moving 122 enterprise resource planning (ERP) apps to the cloud in May. Has moving enterprise resource planning to the cloud become a business necessity for…
Should retailers keep brands honest on their public commitments?
A new online retailer is going a long way to keep the brands it sells honest about their avowed commitments to environmental and social issues. Do you see the enhanced…
Does retail have a problem with how it recruits and hires workers?
After years of underinvesting in people, human resources and hiring systems, much of the retail industry now finds itself scrambling to find, qualify, hire and on-board new employees who have…
Some think supply chain disruptions are here to stay until 2022
The supply chain turbulence that arrived last fall was predicted by many to be a temporary event, but it’s now expected to delay upcoming holiday shipments and may linger into…
Why is Amazon footing the bill for defective products sold by marketplace sellers?
In the near future, Amazon shoppers that have a problem with a third-party marketplace seller will be able to bring their complaint directly to Amazon instead of having to take…
Will the latest Amazon and DoorDash delivery moves give each a leg up on rivals?
Amazon and DoorDash, in two unrelated moves announced last week, plan to improve on their delivery offers, which will likely put more pressure on their respective rivals as the ongoing…
Knowing when to make a change for a brand’s sake
Although change for change’s sake is seldom a good course of action, a well-executed brand refresh could be just what the doctor ordered — if the underlying rationale justifies such…
Will luxury consumers buy what Neiman Marcus is selling in 2021?
Neiman Marcus has gone through a bankruptcy and come out of it carrying less debt and on somewhat surer footing as it embarks on a new rebranding campaign — Re-Introduce…
Will voice shopping ever take off without screens?
Global e-commerce sales conducted by voice assistants are expected to expand more than four-fold by 2023. Devices with screens, however, “will be imperative” to driving the growth. Do you agree…
Amazon may have a different kind of review problem on its hands
Amazon has come under scrutiny over third-party sellers using false consumer reviews to promote the products they sell. But now, a different kind of review issue has arisen. Does the…
Will four designers prove just as good as one in Target’s new exclusive collection?
Target is known for its limited-edition collections from well-known fashion designers and brands. The retailer, however, is taking a different approach with its Fall Designer Collection. Will Target’s use of…
What benefits do premium loyalty program members value?
Seventy-one percent of U.S. consumers belong to a traditional customer loyalty program, with four in 10 belonging to three or four of them. But despite their popularity, consumers aren’t satisfied…
The hunt for warehouse help heats up
Walmart in late July began handing out temporary pay increases to warehouse workers through January 2022 as it began preparing for a busy holiday selling season. Do you see the…
Can Sweaty Betty and Beyond Yoga take on Lululemon?
Wolverine Worldwide last week acquired Sweaty Betty and Levi Strauss agreed to purchase Beyond Yoga as both enter the burgeoning women’s activewear category. Do the acquisitions of Sweaty Betty by…
Should retail prepare for a vaccine resistant virus?
According to the CDC, large numbers of people walking around unvaccinated against COVID-19 make it more likely a variant will arise that even vaccinations are unable to stop. Should retailers…
Target may just be the best place to work in retail
Target announced that it will cover all the tuition, textbooks and fees for employees pursuing college degrees or certificates, which along with paying a minimum starting wage of $15 an…
Do emotional connections make women better business leaders than men?
A university study shows that when women express calm, happy emotions, they are perceived as more effective leaders than men. The effect is most pronounced for leaders in top positions…
Kroger seeks to ghost up take-home and meal delivery sales with dark kitchens
Kroger wants to be the place Americans think of when they order restaurant food for takeout or delivery. Do you think Kroger’s partnership with Kitchen United will succeed in its…
Is workleisure a new or rehashed opportunity?
The casualization of office attire has morphed from “Casual Fridays” to “business casual” and now to “workleisure.” Is workleisure a new trend bound to reinvent the opportunity around business casual?
Can a reinvented bag revamp sustainable retail?
Single-use plastic has gone out of fashion in the U.S. and finding an adequate replacement is easier said than done. Some of the biggest names in the retail industry are…
Prime members will have to pay for grocery deliveries from Whole Foods
Amazon.com is currently offering free two-hour deliveries of grocery orders from Whole Foods at no additional charge to Prime members. That, Bloomberg reports, is about to change. In what ways…
