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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Does a Neiman Marcus and Saks hookup make sense?
Mudrick Capital Management, a hedge fund and creditor to Neiman Marcus, has sent a letter to the board asking it to explore a sale to or merger with Saks Fifth…
Pandemic stresses retail HR departments
Retail staffing has become its own version of a “Tale of Two Cities” in the age of COVID-19. Essential retailers are hiring like crazy, even as non-essential retailers are firing…
Where can robots assist in retail’s COVID-19 efforts?
Robots have been hailed for their effectiveness as contagion-proof workers in hospitals and are being seen as a potential solution for retail’s new COVID-19-related challenges. In what areas will robots…
Americans are shopping more impulsively online
Recently released research shows that many people who stay at home for extended periods of time increase the amount of money they spend on impulse purchases online. Have you seen…
Is it safer to shop at farmers’ markets than in supermarkets?
The way people grocery shop is changing — maybe temporarily, and maybe for good. One shopping trend that was experiencing pre-pandemic popularity might offer unique advantages in the era of…
What has made Walmart a shutdown star?
A massive store base, legendary supply chain capabilities and omnichannel investments have given Walmart a sizable advantage amid the pandemic and appears to position the chain for e-commerce success long…
How should retailers manage touch-but-not-buy?
The ability to have customers return merchandise, try on clothes in fitting rooms and even touch merchandise has been clouded by concerns over the transmission of COVID-19. How should retailers…
PepsiCo launches direct-to-consumer sites for its brands
PepsiCo has announced the launch of two new direct-to-consumer websites to let you order some of the company’s favorite brands online and have them shipped directly to your home. Do…
What should retailers do about social distancing renegades?
Last week, a security guard at a Family Dollar in Michigan was fatally shot after telling a customer to wear a face mask. Other high-profile incidents involving rebellion have occurred…
Neiman Marcus must survive both bankruptcy and COVID-19
Neiman Marcus’ bankruptcy filing has been directly attributed to exorbitant debt levels. Now the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt the famed luxury chain another major blow. How will COVID-19 impact the…
Is the coronavirus pandemic sparking a meal kits comeback?
Meal kits have undergone a quick resurgence during the pandemic as families under lockdown rediscover home cooking and seek to avoid supermarket runs. How should meal kit companies position their…
Gap plans move into non-apparel categories
Apparel retailers are struggling with lockdown restrictions, but those that were already struggling before have an extra tough road ahead of them — and that includes Gap Inc. Now, Gap…
How should indie retailers prepare to reopen under the now normal?
COVID-19 changed everything. We aren’t living in the new normal, we’re still deep into the now normal where things change daily and retailers need to be prepared as they reopen…
Will mall owner’s $5 billion revitalize retailers weakened by COVID-19?
It’s not exactly a Marshall Plan for retail businesses hurt by COVID-19, but Brookfield Asset Management has announced the launch of a program to provide retailers with funds they need…
Is curbside pickup just getting started?
With scores of retailers introducing curbside pickup and continuing to offer it as stores reopen, more consumers are getting accustomed to the convenience of the service overall. Has curbside pickup…
Is it time to move beyond ‘now more than ever’ COVID-19 commercials?
The initial batch of ads arriving since the pandemic have largely embraced similar phrases, set-ups and emphatic tones. Is the American public ready for advertising messages from brands that move…
Nordstrom focuses on seamless shopping as stores reopen
Nordstrom has long linked its in-store and online operations, and as it slowly begins to reopen its locations, management is counting on seamless shopping experiences to help put customers at…
Will COVID-19 turn us into a society of health nuts?
The spotlight on health from COVID-19 is expected by some to take the health and wellness movement to another level. Do you expect the pandemic to elevate the health and…
Customers ask Wendy’s, ‘Where’s the beef?’
If you order a hamburger online from a Wendy’s in the U.S., you have roughly a one-in-five chance of getting a message that your local restaurant is out-of-stock on that…
Auction winner will get to pitch products to Walmart’s CEO
The founder of online sportswear retailer Fanatics has launched a series of sweepstakes and auctions offering singular, high-ticket experiences as prizes. Walmart is the first retailer to take part. How…
Can J.C. Penney make it without Sephora?
J.C. Penney has had its share of problems in recent years, but a positive constant for the chain have been the Sephora shops operating inside its stores. Now, however, Sephora…
