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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Should retailers continue the chatbot deception?
Consumers connecting with customer service online often initially fail to recognize whether they’re communicating with a virtual agent vs a live one. How transparent should retailers be about letting customers…
Has Ben & Jerry’s gone too far with its stand on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Ben & Jerry’s set off a global firestorm after the Unilever-owned brand announced last week that it would no longer do business in occupied Palestinian territory. What lessons does the uproar over…
Will an enhanced rewards program turn Gap’s customers into ‘lifelong loyalists’?
Gap Inc. announced yesterday that it has integrated the rewards issued under its various banners into a single program, making it easier and faster for its multi-brand loyalists to earn…
How will COVID-19 shape future consumers?
A survey of Australian adults taken in the early months of the pandemic found 84 percent believing COVID-19 will play a significant role in shaping the current generation of children…
TikTok goes to the mall
TikTok is opening a pop-up shop at the Westfield London mega-mall to enable fans to interact with star influencers and learn how to create their own mini-films. What do you…
Should retailers reconsider bringing their HQ staff back to work?
Apple is pushing back the expected return timeline for its headquarters personnel from September to October in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases across most of the U.S. …
Beauty shop-in-shops are trending
J.C. Penney is trying to fill the void left in its operations by Sephora’s departure by making its own branded in-store spot for beauty. What is your assessment of the…
What will a new CEO’s Facebook experience bring to Instacart?
Instacart surprised many with its announcement that Fidji Simok, who formerly headed the core Facebook app, would replace co-founder Apoorva Mehta as CEO. What assets do you expect Fidji Simok…
Will a new private label be a good fit for Macy’s customers?
Macy’s is launching a new private label brand, touting the clothing line as fashion-forward and contemporary and has planned events in New York City, Chicago and Fort Lauderdale throughout late…
Have indie bookstores found answers to counter Amazon?
In-store sales fell 30 percent last year, according to Bookshop.org, an online platform for indie book sellers supported by the American Booksellers Association. Online sales, however, jumped 700 percent. Do…
Madewell is set on becoming a leader in the circular economy
Madewell announced on Monday the launch of Madewell Forever, a branded denim resale service. The program expands on Madewell’s partnership with thredUp, which started with Madewell Archive, an in-store section…
Is it time for retailers to reinstate pandemic protocols?
The U.S. stock market turned in one of its worst performances of the year yesterday as investors reacted to the rapid spread of the Delta variant across the country. What…
Victoria’s Secret is moving out of the mall
Victoria’s Secret, which is attempting to reposition its business as it heads toward a spin-off from L Brands, has restated plans to move its new stores to standalone locations and…
Can facial recognition outlast its bad press?
More than 35 civil rights groups have joined forces on a campaign to end the use of facial recognition by retailers amid heightened concerns over privacy and racial justice. Should…
Is the Walmart/Justice tie-up a harbinger of more retailer brand partnerships?
Justice, which closed all 826 of its stores last year in bankruptcy proceedings, is making a comeback on the floors of Walmart timed to an expected record back-to-school season. Do you…
Marketers are still trying to figure out the social media data puzzle
Social media usage has grown since the start of the pandemic, providing a plethora of opportunities for marketers who utilize social media data. But what are they using that data…
Will Amazon’s Brand Referral Bonus divert online traffic?
Amazon.com has introduced a Brand Referral Bonus program that enables third-party sellers to earn a bonus averaging 10 percent of product sales for driving traffic to their Amazon listings from…
Walmart exec says robots will seriously speed up DC-to-store supply chain ops
Walmart announced that it is adding robots to its regional distributions centers that sort, store, retrieve and pack freight onto pallets. What do you think Joe Metzger means when he…
Will retailers be jilted by the trend toward micro and hybrid weddings?
The wedding industry is headed for a record-breaking year due to pent-up demand for nuptials, but two trends that developed over the pandemic — micro and hybrid weddings — may…
Has Authentic Brands Group created a new brand-building model?
In the initial public offering prospectus for Authentic Brands Group, Jamie Salter, founder and CEO, describes how he came up with his company’s licensing platform that “deconstructs and reconstructs” the…
Bed Bath & Beyond adds off-hour pickups and speedier fulfillment to its ‘omni-always’ suite
Bed Bath & Beyond announced yesterday that it is rolling out a new buy online and curbside pickup program that will allow customers the option of getting their orders one-hour…
