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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will the coronavirus pandemic change how retailers and consultants work together?
Retailers and their consulting partners must adapt to the coronavirus. Probably the biggest change in their business model is the travel ban. What do you see as the biggest challenges…
Is Alibaba’s online marketplace a good fit for IKEA?
IKEA announced the kickoff of a six-month test selling its products to Chinese consumers on Alibaba’s Tmall online marketplace. Are third-party platforms becoming increasingly critical for retailers selling to U.S…
Should retail close?
Apple, Nike, Warby Parker, Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, Glossier and Allbirds were among a number of retailers that have closed or announced plans to close their U.S. stores to…
Which retailers are less vulnerable to the coronavirus and whatever comes next?
Last week on his company’s fourth-quarter conference call, Todd Vasos, CEO at Dollar General, said he expects his chain’s proximity to consumers to be beneficial should calls for social distancing…
Robots are everywhere!
Robots were certainly pervasive at ProMat last year, but Modex 2020, which alternates with ProMat as the major material handling trade shows each year, featured even more. What are the…
Is Bookshop.org a compelling Amazon alternative?
Bookshop.org was founded with the understanding that, while independents have seen a revival, Amazon sells more than half of all books, online sales will expand and the majority of indies…
Is blockchain the answer to supply chain visibility?
Using live data from three brands, the Auburn University RFID Lab has proven that a blockchain network can share item-level data encoded in RFID tags. How confident are you that…
Publix gets more personal with its new, free club membership
Publix’s customers love shopping there for a variety of reasons. While they may not know it, perhaps the biggest reason for them to feel this way is the grocer’s continuing…
Why is Neiman Marcus shuttering its Last Call off-price business?
One might argue that no retailer does off-price better than TJX Cos. but Nordstrom and Macy’s have also done well with the format. The same can’t be said for Neiman…
Is opening pharmacies in other chain stores CVS’s new thing?
CVS has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Schnuck Markets’ retail and specialty pharmacy businesses. Is the acquisition of pharmacies operating inside of big box chain stores a growth model…
Coffee chain’s turbo-caffeinated expansion driven by data
A coffee chain in China has outdone Starbucks — at least in terms of its physical footprint — and has done so by using data to drive an uncommonly rapid…
Are online sales metrics irrelevant for brick and click retailers?
Dick’s Sporting Goods became the latest retailer to tell Wall Street it will move away from reporting online metrics. Are online growth and/or penetration metrics becoming irrelevant with increasing omnIchannel…
Brands have a lot of reasons for working with Amazon
According to a survey from Feedvisor, brands are looking to use Amazon.com for many reasons beyond simply selling products. If you were a brand manager, what would be your top…
Will the second time be the charm for Albertsons’ IPO?
Albertsons Companies, the second-largest supermarket operator in the U.S., is ready to go public after nearly 15 years of private ownership by Cerberus Capital Management. What do you see as…
Will rival retailers buy Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology?
Amazon.com announced yesterday that it has begun selling the technology behind its Amazon Go and Amazon Go Grocery concepts to other retailers. Will other retailers buy Amazon’s Just Walk Out…
Target wants to unlock its videogaming potential with a new concept store
A few years ago, Target launched a store specifically to showcase its connected home offerings. Now, it has converted the IoT-focused Target Open House into a new concept store specifically…
What’s blocking gender pay equity?
Timed for International Women’s Day, Lululemon reported that it had reached 100 percent gender pay equity — or equal pay for equal work — for the third year in a…
Can retailers ensure stores are coronavirus-safe?
Suspending in-store sampling, not accepting reusable cups, sending letters to customers and deep cleaning are some steps retailers are taking to reassure customers it’s safe to shop amid the coronavirus…
Burlington Stores walks away from e-commerce
Burlington Stores surprised some last week by announcing it is winding down e-commerce operations. On its fourth-quarter conference call week, Michael O’Sullivan, CEO, said three factors drove the decision. Do…
Will augmented reality tech effectively bring the try-on experience online?
Burberry, 1-800-Flowers.com and ASOS recently became the latest retailers to infuse augmented reality (AR) into their apps to help online customers make more informed purchase decisions. How confident are you…
Instacart just leaves deliveries at the door as customers hole up against the coronavirus
Instacart announced yesterday a new feature — Leave at My Door Delivery — after seeing increased demand from customers in recent days as a result of concerns over the spread…
