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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will six fewer holiday shopping days matter to retail performance?
The holiday selling season is six days shorter and will include one less weekend this year. With only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, compared to 32 days in 2018,…
AI needs to be more than just a bright, shiny object
Retailers are being taken for a ride by consultants and software companies who use the term artificial intelligence as a strategy to promote their products and charge higher fees. How…
When customers think Casey’s, will they think community?
Convenience store chain Casey’s General Stores considers itself committed to the communities that it serves and is launching a new campaign called “Here For Good.” Are c-stores in a better…
What makes voice assistants creepy?
Almost half of 5,000 consumers in Europe and North America say they use voice assistants in a recent survey. Yet with increased use, concerns are growing. Is there a way…
What will drive food trends for 2020?
For the fifth straight year, Whole Foods Market has come out with its top 10 list of most anticipated and innovative food trends for the coming year. Which 2020 food…
REI’s new #OptOutside message: Save the planet
REI has closed on Black Friday in the past to encourage employees and customers to forgo the craze of commercialism at malls and explore the outdoors. This year, it’s looking…
Free next-day shipping hits Amazon in its bottom line
Amazon’s earnings miss of $4.23 a share in the third quarter, down from $5.75 last year, is being tied to the company’s switch from free two-day shipping for Prime members…
What does artificial intelligence mean for loyalty marketing?
The one-to-one relationship aspect of true loyalty marketing isn’t possible to create at scale, nor even sustainable at present levels, without the disciplines and tools that are central to artificial…
What makes a great assistant store manager?
An assistant store manager is a bridge between the manager, who is frequently unavailable on the sales floor, and associates. They also often become store managers themselves. Should the assistant…
Walmart creeps on Christmas with promo deals before Halloween
Walmart announced yesterday the launch of special early deals for Christmas on walmart.com to get a head start on the selling season, which is six days shorter this year because…
Will customers get the ‘social proof’ they need from Fomo Storefront?
Being able to see what other customers have recently purchased has become a familiar part of the e-commerce shopping experience. Now one vendor is using in-store touchscreens to bring this…
Will Nike’s new CEO accelerate its consumer-direct digital transformation?
Nike announced earlier this week that its longtime chief executive, Mark Parker, would be stepping down from that role and be replaced by former eBay CEO John Donahoe in January…
Do angry shoppers make happier customers?
A new university study finds that consumers who are angry when they are shopping are often more satisfied with their choices than those who were fearful, sad or feeling neutral…
Best Buy is ready for Christmas with free next-day deliveries for almost everyone
Best Buy announced the launch of free next-day delivery on thousands of items that it sells online, with no minimum purchase or membership required. How important is speed of delivery…
Will going fur-free move the needle on Macy’s brand image?
Macy’s, Inc. announced earlier this week that it will end the sale of garments with animal fur by the end of its 2020 fiscal year. How will going fur-free impact…
What should retailers do when brands post fake reviews?
What are retailers to do when they find brand partners are looking to tilt the selling scale in their favor by posting fake positive reviews of their own products online?…
Can b8ta do for fashion what it’s done for consumer tech?
B8ta announced the launch of Forum, a place to demo and experience new products from brands, and collect data on how customers are interacting with their products in-store. Can b8ta…
Seven things store managers should do now to be ready for Christmas
A focus on implementing a few best practices now can ensure a store’s team is optimally prepared for Christmas selling. What suggestions would you have for store managers on establishing…
Will Barneys find success setting up shops inside Saks Fifth Avenue?
A buyer has emerged in Barneys’ bankruptcy proceedings with the intention of opening Barneys shops inside Saks. Do Barneys-themed in-store shops inside Saks stores make sense for Saks and Barneys?
Should Amazon be charging for ‘curated’ toy guide placements?
Amazon.com charged as much as $2 million for brands to be featured in its just-released Holiday Toy List guide. Is paying big money for a toy circular sponsorship in line…
Jungle Jim’s delivers a foodie adventure
Part traditional supermarket, part theme park and part United Nations, a visit to Cincinnati-based Jungle Jim’s International Market is truly an event. Is retailtainment easier or harder for a supermarket…
