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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Did Amazon just put its Go technology in a shopping cart?
Amazon.com is rolling out a new smart shopping cart that will eliminate the need for customers to stop at registers in order to check out of a store. Do you…
Nike debuts member-driven concept
Nike last week launched a new store concept — Nike Rise — in China that promises a curated “1-to-1, personalized shopping experience that connects consumers to sport, their communities and…
What will retail’s back-to-school season look like this year?
The prospects for back-to-school — retail’s second largest sales event annually — have been rendered obscure due to COVID-19 as the selling season greatly depends on how kids will begin…
Bed Bath & Beyond banks on private brands
When Mark Tritton left Target to take over as CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond last November, he set immediate priorities to improve the omnichannel experience, aligning assets with cost…
Will battery power energize retailing performance?
We live in a nanosecond world where batteries have fueled shopper expectations for mobility, immediacy, flexibility, transparency and sustainability along the entire shopping journey and much is facilitated by a…
Will Boomers and Gen X keep shopping online post-pandemic?
Older consumers, forced to shop online in response to COVID-19, are expected to drive e-commerce growth in the short- to medium-term, predicts a new study. What’s the likelihood that the…
Starbucks becomes latest retailer to make masks mandatory
Starbucks last week joined a small group of multi-state retailers that are requiring customers to wear masks for entry across all locations. Will Starbucks’ move to make masks mandatory for…
Is Uber/Postmates a bigger deal for restaurant or grocery delivery?
Uber’s move to acquire Postmates is predicted to help the company grab market share in restaurant delivery and significantly expand its capacity to deliver groceries and other staples. Is Uber’s…
Retailers need way more fulfillment space to keep up with booming online sales
Retailers will need an additional one billion square feet of industrial real estate by 2025 as the need for warehouse space grows along with online sales, according to a new…
Is consumer arrogance driving word-of-mouth recommendations?
A new study from Michigan State University finds consumer arrogance often drives word-of-mouth and suggests that marketers may be able to leverage this “bragging” tendency. What do you think of…
Can a socially distanced event launch a sneakerhead hub?
On July 9, international streetwear and sneaker retailer SNIPES added its first stateside experiential flagship, launched in a city with both sneakerheads and multiple other experiential footwear flagships. Is now…
Will doctors prove a cure-all for Walgreens competitive ills?
The doctor is in at Walgreens. The pharmacy chain announced yesterday that it has reached an agreement with VillageMD to locate between 500 and 700 primary care doctor’s offices in…
How blemished are beauty retailers by COVID-19?
Beauty sellers are facing a double-whammy from COVID-19. Make-up has become unsafe to try on in stores and less necessary as many women shelter at home. Are the difficulties of…
Dunkin’ retreats from gas stations
Dunkin’ is pulling away from being an add-on experience for people buying gas as it continues to redirect its focus towards its standalone “next-gen” stores. Is it wise for Dunkin’…
Will Walmart’s best shoppers ditch Amazon Prime for Walmart+?
More than half of Walmart’s top customers have Amazon Prime memberships. Walmart wants them all to itself as it prepares to officially launch Walmart+. How important is it for Walmart’s…
What roles will store displays play in retail’s new normal?
Consumers returning to recently reopened stores will walk into substantially different retail environments than they were used to before the pandemic upended everyday life and business in the U.S. What…
What white people need to know
Marcus Adair is a 25+ year veteran of the grocery industry and often one of the few individuals of color at industry trade shows. In the aftermath of the recent…
Has the pandemic changed shopping behaviors forever?
New research of global consumers found that half believe the way they live their lives will be significantly changed for the long-term as a result of the virus disrupting the…
Macy’s plans for the Christmas rush
Macy’s is exploring spreading holiday promotions, extending hours and playing up curbside pickup to better manage crowds this upcoming holiday season. Do you expect shoppers to turn out for Black…
Can remotely managed mobile-marts safely bring groceries to areas in need?
People have gotten more used to grocery shopping online due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Now an Alabama-based company wants to bring the whole grocery store closer to customers’ doors…
Walmart debuts virtual summer camp and drive-in movie programs
Walmart announced plans to turn some of its parking lots into drive-in movie theaters and host its first Camp by Walmart, featuring celebrities who would take kids through a virtual…
