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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will diversity pledges be followed by results?
A number of retailers and brands made diversity pledges when the #MeToo movement gained momentum in 2017 and recently they’ve upgraded and amplified those commitments in the wake of the…
Survey says Amazon and Walmart are among the most patriotic brands
The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot in American society. One of those things, according to a survey of the most patriotic brands in the U.S., are the perceptions that…
Is the future of malls outside?
On Friday, Westfield Valley Fair, the Bay Area’s largest mall, opened an open-air pop-up market in front of Bloomingdale’s. Are open-air malls and shopping centers better positioned for survival versus…
Trader Joe’s says ‘never mind’ on private label name changes
Within a few days of its first announcement, Trader Joe’s posted another on its site that it was not planning any brand name changes, contending that its labels were not…
How is Tractor Supply acing the pandemic?
Despite the relentlessly bleak news of sales declines, store closings and retail bankruptcies, Tractor Supply Company has reported strong second-quarter sales and plans to open 75 to 80 new brick-and-mortar…
Nov. 2021: How should retail plan for a return to normal?
American consumers are crowding back into stores and restaurants as states ease pandemic-related restrictions. But a full return to normal isn’t likely to happen until November 2021, according to a…
Will axing commission fees entice Amazon sellers to move to Google Shopping?
Google last week announced it was eliminating commission fees for sellers for purchases made directly through Google Shopping. It is also opening its selling platform to third-party selling tools. Will…
Pandemic ‘fast-forwarded everything’ for nation’s largest cannabis retailer
The cannabis industry has challenges due to its federal legal standing, but chain dispensary Curaleaf found itself, like all other retailers, facing the challenge of pursuing digital transformation to do…
What didn’t Jeff Bezos know and when didn’t he know it?
Jeff Bezos offered less than satisfactory answers to questions about his company’s vetting of third-party sellers during yesterday’s “big tech” Congressional hearing. How important is ending the sale of stolen…
Is a drive-through-only store the shape of things to come for Wawa?
Wawa has submitted plans to build a new drive-through-only concept store, a first of its kind for the convenience chain, in Falls Township, PA. Does curbside pickup or drive-through offer…
Beauty becomes a digital beast
Beauty and self-care sales have traditionally been dependent on high-touch, personalized experiences in retail stores, yet online sales in these categories have soared during the coronavirus outbreak. Do you expect…
How can retailers differentiate curbside delivery?
The “new” last mile of the customer journey emerging from the pandemic is positively rife with opportunity. Once curbside execution is mastered, attention can be turned to surprising — and,…
Will Amazon become the go-to place to buy face masks?
In the U.K., where a nationwide mask mandate is now in effect, Amazon.com has launched an online shop to help customers get masks that suit their safety needs and sense…
Retailers hunt for spare change
Despite rumors to the contrary, America is not in the middle of national coin shortage. That’s the conclusion of the U.S. Coin Task Force established last month by the United…
Has retail adaptation become more about survival than competitive edge?
Results from a survey by the IBM Institute for Business Value show that Americans were more concerned about COVID-19 in July than they were in June and those concerns affect…
Neiman Marcus launches digital hub to bring the in-store experience online
Neiman Marcus has created a digital hub, Your Neiman’s, to address the challenge of bringing high-touch service to customers during the coronavirus crisis. Will bringing elements of the in-store experience…
What can you learn about ecommerce sales driving on the NJ Turnpike?
Ron Margulis did a small study on ecommerce success on a drive down the New Jersey Turnpike, counting the brand names on the trucks along the way. Which retailers…
Are boycotts becoming bigger risks?
Goya and Whole Foods are two brands currently facing boycotts in today’s politically-charged climate. Two new surveys indicate that consumer boycotts are becoming more pervasive. What is driving the apparent…
Will COVID-19 bludgeon Halloween sales?
Only 27 percent of U.S. adults anticipate seeing kids trick-or-treat on October 31, according to a Harris Poll taken in mid-July. Yet neither Hershey, Mars Wrigley nor Spirit Halloween are…
Retailers need to reorganize like a 21st century business
With the onset of the coronavirus crisis, terms that many retailers were just starting to explore became part of everyday conversations. How should traditional retail organizations be restructured to accommodate…
Has retail permanently downsized?
There’s no doubt that the novel coronavirus pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the industry with little guarantee that many or even most of the jobs lost to date…
