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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Do mobile shoppers disclose more valuable data about themselves?
New research from Wharton marketing professors finds people are more willing to share deeper and more personal information when communicating on a smartphone compared with a personal computer. Where do…
Walmart sells inclusivity at its annual shareholder meeting
Retail, as they say, is detail. In today’s retailing world, many of those details go well beyond the fundamentals of buying and selling goods as is clear from reports of…
Is the future of retailing going dark?
Retailers need to study the benefits of decentralized fulfillment, which trades efficiency for accessibility and scalability. Is a dark store strategy the best way for retailers, particularly those selling high-turn…
Can outdoor dining save restaurants?
As cities begin to open back up in the U.S., social distancing requirements remain in effect. One architect recently created an outdoor dining template for restaurants to use the limited…
Lowe’s ‘virtually’ goes on the job for home improvement pros
Lowe’s is introducing a new tool that will enable carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other construction professionals to meet with customers to discuss projects without having to go to their homes…
Do retailers need to go beyond ‘reopening playbooks’?
Retailers emerging from the COVID-19 quarantine have created business reopening playbooks, to convey trust and credibility that their business is a safe environment. Do you think documented accountability matters more…
Will dollar stores be the biggest post-COVID-19 winners?
Dollar stores appear to have outperformed essential retail in the first quarter and are poised to benefit as the economy struggles in the months ahead. Do you agree that dollar…
Nordstrom crushes inventory optimization
Despite its stores being closed for 47 days during the first quarter, Nordstrom was able to slash inventories by 26 percent year-over-year. What lessons should Nordstrom’s inventory management execution offer…
Retail ensnared in nationwide protests
“We are a community in pain. That pain is not unique to the Twin Cities — it extends across America,” wrote Target CEO Brian Cornell Friday in an open letter…
Is it safe to bring back food sampling?
Costco revealed plans last week to bring back sample stations after suspending the service in early March to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Do you see more benefits than…
Is the REI/West Elm collaboration a win-win?
REI, the outdoor chain, and West Elm, the home furnishings retailer, have partnered on a collection “aimed at helping people feel at home, outdoors.” Do you see more advantages than…
Is purposeful giving an answer to retail’s inventory glut?
Apparel retailers and brands with closed stores have resorted to a number of tactics to move excess inventory. Is purposeful giving a viable way for fashion brands and retailers to…
Socially distant Americans find comfort in retail therapy
While the novel coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of shopping habits, one that has remained consistent is people reaching for online retail to comfort themselves when things get stressful…
Has this digital fashion platform figured out personalized recommendations?
A new app, The Yes, claims to be the first to successfully merge computer vision, natural language processing and artificial intelligence to deliver truly personalized fashion recommendations. What do you…
Retailers focus on making safe spaces for customers and associates
With physical retail getting back to business as states relax stay-at-home orders, top of mind is how to ensure that both customers and employees are safe. What operational, merchandising and…
Do retailers need ‘trickle up economics’ to beat COVID-19?
Though retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Target have seen a boost in sales as COVID-19 stimulus checks were cashed, much of the money went straight to paying mortgages, rent…
Will Facebook Shops launch social commerce into the mainstream?
Facebook last week introduced new tools that let small businesses set up online storefronts on its site and Instagram for free. Is Facebook Shops positioned to accelerate online sales across…
Are store brands set for a big growth spurt?
National brands saw outsized growth in the first quarter as consumers stocked up in the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic, but store brands expanded even faster. Do you see…
Is Walmart about to become the king of online resale retailing?
Walmart is the biggest retailer on the planet. ThredUP bills itself as the largest online thrift store. Now, the two have announced an online partnership. What will the Walmart and…
Bookstores could be in store for a post-lockdown boom
In New Zealand, one of the few countries that appear to have successfully eradicated COVID-19 infections from its population, bookstores are the first businesses to benefit post-lockdown. Will bookstores in…
Should Apple and other stores require shopper temperature checks?
A number of retailers have begun checking the temperatures of employees before shifts. Apple last week, however, became the first major retailer to require customers to have their temperature checked…
