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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is free at-home pick-up of online returns practicable?
Walmart on Monday announced a partnership with FedEx to offer customers complimentary at-home pickup of returns for merchandise bought online. Does picking up returns from households for free hold significant…
Winter cold kills last remaining option for many restaurants
The National Restaurant Association recently said the restaurant industry has likely fallen into a double dip recession. The deteriorating business condition was blamed on the end of the outdoor dining…
Do retailer TikTok campaigns tick the right boxes?
Dunkin’ recently launched a campaign in which it asked fans to come up with “menu hacks” and post them on TikTok, according to Yahoo Finance. Will Dunkin’ find success with…
Facebook and Apple battle over the internet’s future
Facebook last week posted a new web page and took two full-page ads in major newspapers charging that Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes will harm not only small businesses, but…
Christmas ads show gift-giving in completely different lives
Gift giving is a Christmas tradition that spans the globe, even as holiday rituals vary from country to country and region to region. The two spots we’ve selected for you…
How is Nike excelling at driving loyalty with digital?
Nike on Friday reported its third straight quarter of online growth of approximately 80 percent. But the bigger long-term benefit is expected to come from enhanced digital engagement that has…
Publix decides the time is right for an experiential, two-story concept
Popular regional grocer Publix has been expanding its footprint northward for a number of years. With its new pilot store, management is indicating plans to expand its individual stores vertically,…
Can guilt-gifting and self-gifting save holiday selling?
A bright spot in an expected subdued holiday selling season, according to The NPD Group, will be sales from consumers looking to splurge on themselves after a tough year and/or…
Does David’s Bridal need a loyalty program?
David’s Bridal has become the first major national bridal retailer to establish a loyalty program. Not unsurprisingly, the program appears to be all about the bride. Do you think David’s…
Commercials show the magic behind good deeds and Christmas surprises
If informal polling among family and friends is a true indication, the spots in today’s installment of the RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge are among the most memorable for the season. …
Is the pandemic pushing livestream shopping into the mainstream?
A form of online shopping that is popular elsewhere in the world may finally be catching on stateside, aided by pandemic-era stay-at-home habits. Do you see livestreaming being part of…
Is there a secret sauce to Kroger’s online success?
With pandemic-huddled households discovering online grocery shopping, Kroger has broken onto eMarketer’s top-ten U.S. e-commerce retailers list. Is Kroger’s online business benefiting from similar or unique factors compared to other…
Are retailers facing a no-win decision in mandating vaccines for workers?
Surveys continue to show that between 40 and 50 percent of Americans are reluctant to take the coronavirus vaccine, likely including many of retail’s frontline workers. Can retailers that mandate…
It’s time for innovation or stagnation
From delayed launches to expansions put on hold, COVID-19 has caused many organizations to scrap plenty of plans — thus putting innovation at risk. What advice can you offer for…
Should c-stores go healthy for the sake of kids?
Convenience stores are go-to spots for snacks in many neighborhoods, but a recent study shows that offering unhealthier fare is having a negative impact on the health of the communities…
What if Barnes & Noble had produced ‘The Queen’s Gambit’?
“The Queen’s Gambit,” Netflix’s hit show, reportedly sent sales of chess sets soaring 1,048 percent for game maker Goliath Games. Now, imagine if Barnes & Noble had produced that show?…
Lidl and Tesco keep their Christmas spots ‘merry and bright’ for 2020
No tearjerkers here. That’s the top line introduction to two newest spots, presented for your consideration in our competition to see which retailer will win this year’s RetailWire Christmas Commercial…
Starbucks sees even more stores in its future
Starbucks plans to open a whopping 22,000 locations to bring its massive store count to 55,000 by 2030. Will its newer formats and features amplify expansion opportunities for Starbucks in…
Is retail ready to distribute the COVID- 19 vaccine?
With the FDA’s emergency approval late Friday of a vaccine co-developed by Pfizer, the nation is now counting on retail to help execute the nation’s most ambitious vaccination campaign in…
The North Face called out for ‘virtue signaling’
The North Face is being accused of being hypocritical for refusing a jacket order from a Texas-based oil and gas company because the brand’s business significantly relies on fossil fuels…
The scalpers who stole Christmas
Fad toys get hot and profiteers scoop in to buy and resell at astronomical markups online. This year, scalpers have brought a whole new level of technological sophistication to their…
