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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Retail shrink rose to all-time high in 2019
Buoyed by increased incidents and new ways to steal, theft, fraud and losses from other retail “shrink” rose to $61.7 billion in 2019, according to the annual “National Retail Security…
Should online marketplaces be required to verify third-party sellers for safety’s sake?
Home Depot, Walgreens and many of the largest retailers in the U.S. are throwing their support behind proposed legislation that would require online marketplace operators such as Amazon to verify…
Best Buy connects strong sales to frontline worker performance
Best Buy has made an important connection between its frontline workers and sales performance – demonstrating that taking care of one will ensure good results in the other. Do you…
Is there a path to profitable grocery delivery?
Despite dramatic growth in grocery deliveries due to the pandemic, grocers are not necessarily making higher profits. How critical will eliminating data silos be to driving grocery delivery profitability?
How can retail advance more women to leadership supply chain roles?
Women currently make up a greater percentage of chief supply chain executives, chief procurement officers, senior vice presidents and executive vice presidents than at any time in the past four…
It is a different year. Walmart is closing on Thanksgiving.
The list of retailers opening stores on Thanksgiving Day has been growing for years, but 2020 has one notable exception as Walmart has announced that it will close its namesake…
Will Walmart, Target, Kroger and other chains fix America’s plastic bag problem?
Rivals CVS, Kroger, Target, Walgreens and Walmart have joined together in a consortium focused on finding a better, more eco-friendly solution to America’s plastic bag waste problem.. Do you think…
How can retailers cope with anxiety about the future?
Completely rearranging daily routines and continually adapting amid significant uncertainty can take a huge toll on the spirits of store owners and managers. What suggestions would you have for chain…
Can Trader Joe’s shake off its racist branding tag?
Trader Joe’s has announced that it plans to rename its private label items branded as Trader Giotto, Trader Jose and Trader Ming’s after an online petition signed by more than…
Will wholesaling change L.L.Bean for the better?
L.L.Bean’s heritage has always been selling DTC, but that’s about to change. Bean has signed wholesale agreements to supply its own brand products to Nordstrom, Staples and Scheels. Do you…
Google breaks into mobile video shopping
Google has launched Shoploop, a video shopping platform “for discovering, evaluating and buying products, all in one place.” What do you think of the opportunity around video shopping and which…
Why does it take a crisis for retailers to get innovative?
The COVID-19 crisis has led to tremendous innovation and experimentation on the part of just about every retailer. What lessons does the COVID-19 crisis offer about the barriers retail management…
How will digital transform trade shows?
The National Retail Federation and Shoptalk are among the many organizations that have seemingly recreated their trade shows overnight as virtual events. Which parts of the traditional trade show may…
Will the return of sports bring a bonanza for retail?
All of the major sports leagues will be resuming play over the next two months, promising to deliver a frenzy of action and intrigue. Do you see a huge marketing…
Struggling retailers lay off workers and pay millions in executive bonuses
J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus are three retailers that have at least one thing in common—all three have paid or are trying to pay millions in bonuses to their…
Should workers accept pay cuts in exchange for working remotely?
A recent survey of 600 U.S. adults found 66 percent willing to take a pay cut for the flexibility of working remotely. To what degree varied, however. What are your…
Is retail’s contactless future here now?
Germs are top-of-mind worldwide thanks to the novel coronavirus pandemic and many are looking to limit physical contact, a major factor speeding adoption of contactless technologies. Do you see contactless…
How murky has COVID-19 made retail data?
COVID-19 has made past purchasing data less relevant, impacting everything from loyalty program strategies to AI-driven product recommendations, personalized emails and merchandising decisions. What challenges have sudden behavior changes caused…
The Queer Eye for the Walmart guy
There’s good news for fans of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” reality show who also love low everyday prices. Walmart has just announced the debut of an exclusive home furnishings line inspired…
Is a federal $15 minimum wage virtually a done deal?
While a generous labor pool typically favors employers, a new appreciation for the work done by frontline associates may bring about wage changes long championed by worker advocates. If that…
Are subscriptions a winning strategy to get through the pandemic?
While some retail models and segments have run into significant difficulties withstanding the pandemic and demands of social distancing, subscription services seem to be thriving. Should CPGs and retailers who…
