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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will FAO Schwarz make Target a bigger player in toys?
Target, showing no intention of ceding ground in the toys category this holiday season, announced a new collaboration with FAO Schwarz and the introduction of its largest Bullseye’s Top Toys…
eBay to guarantee the authenticity of collectible sneakers
A pair of sneakers is sold every 1.5 seconds on eBay, and the site wants its customers to know that they can make purchases without worrying that the kicks they…
Staples to accept returns from other stores
Staples in January will begin accepting returns from a few other retailers at more than 1,000 U.S. stores to become the latest chain to turn their stores into drop-off points…
What’s behind the Amazon/SpartanNash deal?
Shares of SpartanNash rose 26 percent on Friday after the Grand Rapids, MI-based food wholesaler and retailer disclosed that it had entered into a commercial agreement with Amazon that includes…
Should Yelp be calling out businesses accused of racist behavior?
Yelp, the local search and review site, announced it will display warnings if restaurants, retailers and other businesses are accused of racist conduct. Do you expect to see other review…
Will Dollar General win over higher-income consumers with its new store concept?
Dollar General is launching a new retail concept — popshelf — designed to appeal to consumers with more disposable income than those who shop in its namesake stores. Do you…
NYC startup promises 15-minute grocery delivery
A startup in New York City is promising a delivery timeframe on groceries that purports to blow right past the logistics promises of Walmart, Amazon.com and others — and is…
Is Petco really a health and wellness retailer?
Health and wellness is a broad opportunity embraced by everyone from CVS to Lululemon and Whole Foods. Petco wants in on the action. Is Petco’s positioning as a health and…
Amazon rolls out virtual vacation tours that include shopping
Amazon has introduced Amazon Explore, which allows consumers to virtually take classes, tour exotic places and (surprise, surprise) shop at exotic locales. Do you think virtual shopping at faraway locales…
Will downsizing (food packs) bring a merry Christmas to Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club is thinking smaller this holiday season, selling smaller-sized hams and side dishes this year to better accommodate shrinking Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations due to the novel coronavirus pandemic…
Can ‘boo-bags’ save Halloween?
The retail world is anticipating a difficult Halloween season, but retailers, grocers and brands have begun exploring creative strategies that could save the holiday. Do you think promoting boo bags,…
Will a new round of panic buying empty grocery store shelves?
Grocery stores are reportedly stocking up on staples to avoid shortages in expectation of a potential second wave of coronavirus that may run up against the normal holiday rush. Do…
Retailers say the new stimulus plan can’t wait until after the election
President Trump announced via Twitter yesterday that he was pulling the plug on negotiations over a new stimulus bill to help struggling American citizens and businesses hit hard by the…
Apple removes other brand audio products from its store shelves
Apple is pulling earphones and speakers made by Bose, Logitech, Sonos and Ultimate Ears to free up needed shelf space for new audio products it plans to introduce. Do you…
Will Levi’s Secondhand store give the brand a sustainable advantage?
Levi Strauss is a brand that has a reputation for staying true to its corporate values and the same is true for its latest initiative, an online store that features…
Brides-to-be say ‘yes’ to their dresses in AR
David’s Bridal has become the first bridal brand to use augmented reality (AR) technology to virtually bring a gown-wearing mannequin into living rooms. Do you see augmented reality giving brides…
Are bookkeeping systems ruining retailers’ ability to serve customers?
Retail transaction solutions adhere to the rules of accounting. The unintended consequences of this often inhibit retailers from supporting their omnichannel shoppers. Do you agree that accounting conventions have created…
Can one site make men love, not hate, shopping online?
A newly launched website, MenHateShopping.com, targets stylish men who “hate shopping in brick-and-mortar stores or searching the internet, trying to figure out what to buy.” Should e-commerce sites, if possible,…
Are employees or execs holding back data-driven cultures?
Nearly two-thirds of data teams have experienced employee resistance to the adoption of data-driven methods at their organizations, despite an overwhelming 73 percent believing that most employees are open to…
Neiman Marcus begins its new life outside of bankruptcy
Neiman Marcus emerged from bankruptcy on September 25 with plans to sharpen its focus on full-price selling and perfect digital clienteling. However, the exit begins with significant reductions in its…
Did Amazon just end criticisms about its COVID-19 safety record?
Amazon, which came under criticism and scrutiny over safety measures it took early in the COVID-19 pandemic, announced that 19,816 of its frontline workers were diagnosed with the virus between…
