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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is Amazon facing a crossroads with the coronavirus pandemic?
Amazon.com is reportedly delaying Prime Day 2020, typically held in July, at least until August as it faces extraordinary demand created by COVID-19. Is Amazon facing a make-or-break period based…
Retailers turn to government for help in a time of need
Friday was the first day small businesses — including thousands of retailers dealing with forced closures — could apply for loans as part of a $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package…
Will off-pricers be major share gainers post-coronavirus?
Analysts have upgraded TJX Cos. and Ross Stores in recent days as the uncertainty and downturn caused by the coronavirus spurs defensive measures from full-line retailers. Are off-pricers poised to…
Apple wants its store staff to try work-from-home tech support
Apple stores are closed, but the chain is planning for its employees to work from home — a move not popular with all employees. What do you think of Apple’s…
Will a new pot and pizza delivery concept become all the buzz in legal weed retailing?
Marie Janes Cannabis Connection will give “new meaning to the term pizza joint” after it became the first marijuana dispensary in the U.S. to add in-house pizza to its cannabis…
What’s going on inside the heads of consumers right now?
During a global health and financial-solvency crisis like COVID-19, tone-deaf messages will sound like nails on a chalkboard to consumers, threatening to imperil a company’s brand equity long after the…
How will this change us?
The coronavirus outbreak has accomplished something, perhaps fleetingly–many consumers and executives are seeing the real value of frontline workers for the very first time. Do you think the appreciation retail…
eBay pledges to get small businesses ‘up and running’ online
Small retail businesses across the U.S. are under pressure as they try to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Will eBay’s “Up & Running” program be successful in…
Will socially distanced shopping launch robot delivery for the masses?
The Broad Branch Market in Chevy Chase, Md. has begun utilizing robots for delivery in order to allow customers to get groceries with minimal human interaction. Do you see robotic…
L.L.Bean CEO: Congress needs to step up for ‘middle market retail’
Congress has stepped in with a number of pieces of legislation to help ease the pain being felt by so many, but it still has work to do. Do you…
What does the loss of sport mean for retail?
With last week’s decision to postpone the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which had been set to start July 24, the world may be without major sporting events until the fall…
Canceled orders and furloughed employees are part of today’s retail reality
WWD reported last week that moves by stores to cancel orders and postpone payments to vendors has increased as the operational and financial realities of the outbreak have become clear…
Teleconferencing workers change Walmart’s sales mix
Walmart has noticed that newly at-home customers are buying clothes differently since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S. What recent changes in consumer shopping behavior do you expect…
Why do so many people working in retail find AI scary?
While artificial intelligence is a hot topic right now, primarily because we now have the data and the computing power available to use it efficiently. But there’s also a lot…
Is Kroger’s pick-up only store a solution for grocers now and in the future?
A Kroger store in Cincinnati has converted to pickup-only. The store may now better suited to address challenges associated with the pandemic. Are grocery stores “super-spreading virus vectors” or are…
Crocs, Walmart, Unilever and others have stepped up during the coronavirus outbreak
Free coffee, donuts and shoes are among the items retailers and brands are bestowing on health professionals for the risks they’re taking combatting the coronavirus pandemic. What advice would you…
Should working in retail warehouses be safer than stores?
Net-a-Porter and Next last week suspended online operations as the accelerated spread of the coronavirus places greater safety risks on its delivery and warehouse workers. What are the biggest hurdles…
The coronavirus outbreak has shifted the online competitive landscape
Retailers and brands have ramped up e-commerce promotions, but with customers just as unconfident about their futures as retailers, it’s not a sure thing that they will spend. What can…
Can Nike’s coronavirus playbook work for others?
On its third-quarter conference call Tuesday, Nike said its experience managing the COVID-19 pandemic in China has provided an “operational playbook” for “an expedited return to profitable, capital-efficient growth.” What…
Should marketers ditch celebrities for micro-influencers?
Most marketers and agencies report having run influencer marketing campaigns last year, and the smaller the influencer follower size, the more likely they are to see future engagement. What are…
Should retail associates be treated like frontline health responders?
Minnesota and Vermont last week officially designated grocery clerks as emergency personnel, similar to paramedics and nurses, to give them access to free childcare. Do frontline grocery workers deserve special…
