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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
How crucial is last mile fulfillment to 7-Eleven and the c-store channel?
A new study finds that 57 percent of all convenience retailers offer some form of last mile fulfillment and, when done correctly, it can pay off for stores in significant…
Are immersive technologies ready to build online buying trust?
Immersive technologies are advanced, affordable and increasingly being welcomed by consumers looking for greater confidence in making online purchases, according to a recent study. How confident are you that…
Will Lowe’s customers ‘gift’ their homes for the holidays?
Lowe’s says homes have been a place of refuge for Americans under the cloud of the pandemic and now is a perfect time to purchase items that will make staying…
COVID-19 Essentials is a startup designed to end with the pandemic
Retailers usually open their doors in hopes of having a long, sustainable future. A recently opened chain, however, can’t wait for the day its selection of products is no longer…
Will Whole Foods draw more Prime shoppers with one-hour curbside pickup?
Whole Foods announced today that free, one-hour grocery pickup is now available at all of its U.S. locations to Amazon Prime members. Do you expect Whole Foods’ curbside pickup program…
Albertsons offers a new refrigerated take on store pickup
Albertsons is piloting a temperature-controlled locker program that will expand the ways customers can get their orders in a contactless manner. What do you see as the upsides and potential…
Will virtual recruiting and onboarding hurt seasonal hiring?
The practice of virtually hiring and onboarding seasonal help has been on the rise in recent years as online technology advances, but this holiday season, due to COVID-19, it has…
Will Panera’s climate-friendly labels spur sales?
Panera Bread has become the first national restaurant chain to label menu items as climate friendly. The chain partnered with World Resources Institute to unveil “Cool Food Meal” labels for…
Should local book stores be taking on Amazon?
The American Booksellers Association (ABA) launched a campaign, #BoxedOut, directly calling out Amazon’s threat to the future of the local bookstore. Do you see more pros than cons in local…
Retailers need to prep for in-store COVID conflicts
The NRF Foundation has partnered with the Crisis Prevention Institute to develop online training tools to help retail workers prevent and de-escalate in-store conflicts. What obvious and less obvious advice…
Has Shein reinvented teen e-tailing?
Shein, the mysterious Chinese fast-fashion e-tailer known for its “haul” videos on social media, has seemingly overnight become a leading fashion e-tailer among U.S. teens. What do you think are…
Amazon follows record-setting Prime Day with Holiday Dash Deal events
Amazon is coming off a record-setting Prime Day performance and following it with Holiday Dash Deals, an ongoing sales promotion that will deliver “Black Friday-worthy” savings to its customers leading…
Will Black Friday be the day customers buy IKEA’s environmental promise?
Last month, IKEA announced plans to make itself a fully circular business by 2030. This month in Canada the chain is using Black Friday as a way to promote its…
What’s holding back Black advancement to leadership roles?
Though Wells Fargo set ambitious goals to expand Black leadership and tie executive pay to diversity goals, claims that a minority talent shortage was impeding diversity progress led to a…
Macy’s is turning stores dark for the holidays
Macy’s has decided to close two of its stores to on-site shopping for the holidays, choosing instead to convert the locations into dark stores that offer in-store and curbside pickup…
Is YouTube a shopping powerhouse waiting to happen?
YouTube is asking creators to tag and track products featured in their videos as part of an “experiment” in what is potentially a major step toward fulfilling the platform’s e-commerce…
Has Rite Aid found the right prescription for growth?
Rite Aid looks like it might be getting on a mini roll after years of struggling to compete in a retail drugstore market dominated by CVS and Walgreens. Do you…
Is a new store concept the start of something big(ger) for Aldi?
One of the nation’s fastest-growing discount grocers has recently decided to go bigger. Aldi plans to open a 25,000-square-foot store in Philadelphia in November. Do you think Aldi will be successful…
Bed Bath & Beyond CEO’s turnaround plan may just work
It’s been not quite a year since Mark Tritton started at Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) with a plan to turn the struggling retailer around. While it may be too…
Can relevant digital ads be too relevant?
Surveys regularly show that consumers want more relevant digital ads. Yet a new study concludes that being relevant to specific consumer needs is often limiting and may lead to missing…
Has Walmart come up with an answer to Best Buy’s Geek Squad?
Walmart is taking part in a pilot program to test the viability of offering consumer electronics and technology services to its customers at a fraction of what similar services such…
