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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Has Red Wing created a new standard for Labor Day promotions?
The Red Wing Shoe Co. announced that instead of offering sales discounts on its boots, it will help unemployed Americans by promoting job opportunities within its organization and at other…
Should retailers get their workers and customers out to vote?
Retailers have at least three paths to join in on the upcoming elections: giving their employees time off to vote, encouraging customers to go to the polls and selling election…
Will the late Prime Day sabotage or catapult holiday spending?
Amazon.com’s Prime Day, which traditionally takes place in July, is expected this year to land in October, possibly jumpstarting or rivaling holiday campaigns. How disruptive might Prime Day be to…
Grocers shift gears as stimulus stalemate tightens consumer spending
The big gains the grocery sector experienced due to the novel coronavirus pandemic might be coming to an end as a next round of government stimulus checks remain in limbo. …
Does J.C. Penney still have a future?
J.C. Penney has nine days to work out a deal with lenders to acquire the business or it will be forced to close significantly more stores than it planned. Would…
Why does Amazon want a fitness tracker?
Amazon.com last week introduced Halo, a combination fitness tracker, app and subscription service, taking on Fitbit, Apple Watch and others while possibly building on Amazon’s ambitions in the healthcare space…
Will other booksellers follow Powell’s in just saying ‘no’ to Amazon?
Twenty-six years after Amazon.com was founded as a bookseller, Powell’s, the iconic independent book chain in Portland, OR, has decided to stop selling books on the e-tailing giant’s platform. Is…
Digital coupons find redemption in the stay-at-home economy
Digital coupons in the U.S. surpassed redemptions of paper coupons for the first time during the second quarter, according to Inmar Intelligence. Are consumers increasingly shifting to digital coupons or…
What would Walmart do with TikTok if its bid with Microsoft succeeds?
Walmart announced yesterday that it would join Microsoft in its bid to acquire TikTok’s business in the U.S. Microsoft is also bidding to buy TikTok’s Canadian, Australian and New Zealand…
Will hiring locals help stores drive better results?
For its first California Power Store, Foot Locker has committed to hiring local by partnering with the City of Compton to recruit talent within a five-mile radius of the location…
Mask gimmick lets Burger King customers order silently
In the US, wearing masks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus has become a politicized controversy. In Belgium, however, Burger King has decided to have some fun with…
Should employers mandate that workers get COVID-19 vaccines?
While there’s hope that a coronavirus vaccine will prove safe and effective before year end, that’s just one hurdle to making it widely available for the population. Should private employers…
Can off-pricers overcome second-quarter turbulence?
TJX Cos. and Ross Stores are expected to gain market share amid the downturn, but their second-quarter performances reveal they still have to fight through inventory and store traffic challenges…
Food trucks find good parking spaces in the suburbs
Food trucks, the darlings of urban-dwelling foodies and office workers looking for quick lunch options, have hit the road in search of customers, and some are finding them in nearby…
Best Buy produces record results doing things differently in the pandemic
Best Buy’s flexible approach during the second quarter led to record online sales and a gain in same-store sales, even though during the first six weeks of Q2 it accepted…
Should grocers go full steam ahead on new store openings?
The novel coronavirus pandemic slowed new store openings to a near halt, but some retailers are now moving ahead with opening plans, even as COVID-19 remains a significant public health…
Will Walmart’s online wellness hub produce healthy returns?
Walmart Wellness Live, a three-day online health and wellness event, will kick off on Friday with the goal of providing customers with simple ways to improve their lives through better…
What? Should Nike drop Zappos and others to focus on consumer-direct?
Nike is ending its wholesale relationships with Belk, Dillard’s, Zappo’s and other retailers as the athletic lifestyle brand continues to focus more on consumer-direct, according to an analyst. What is…
Taco Bell reinvents drive-thru to speed pick-up
Taco Bell has launched a new restaurant concept designed to encourage mobile orders and keep drive-thru lines short. What aspects of Taco Bell’s Go Mobile concept appear set to advance…
How should grocers prepare for a possible pandemic stockpiling redux?
New research by Acosta suggests 53 percent of shoppers plan to stock up on groceries if another pandemic shutdown occurs. What lessons should grocers and CPG brands take away from…
Should restaurants charge a pandemic fee?
Bonnie Brae Tavern in Denver has joined a number of other restaurants around the U.S. adding a “COVID-19” fee to its bills. The charge is two dollars for any purchase…
