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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is technology really making stores more like the web?
Whether we’re calling it omnichannel, phygital, experiential or something else, the influx of technology into the in-store shopping experience has been one of retail’s most significant trends this decade. Is…
Can local artists help Target create community support?
Target is partnering with local artists in its new small-format stores to support community building. The executions range from murals behind registers to installations in parking lots. How important is…
Counterfeit books vex Amazon
Counterfeit books are a problem for Amazon.com, according to recent articles in The New York Times. Allegedly many of these fakes are printed and sold on Amazon by third-party sellers,…
Will a rental subscription program lift Banana Republic’s results?
Next month, Banana Republic will debut Style Passport, a monthly service to appeal to younger female customers who want to both switch up their wardrobes and reduce the associated environmental…
Will a new grocery private label spur more Target runs?
Grocery is among the key categories on which Target has focused since Brian Cornell became CEO in 2014. Now the chain is taking another run at grocery success with the…
Kroger’s trucks roll into food deserts
Kroger has partnered to bring Zero Hunger Mobile Market — described as a “single-aisle grocery store on wheels”— to Louisville neighborhoods that lack a nearby supermarket. Do you see Zero…
Can Jill Soltau rebuild J.C. Penney?
On J.C. Penney’s second quarter conference call with analysts, CEO Jill Soltau made clear that her job and that of her team was not simply running the department store chain’s…
Does a new product donation program for marketplace sellers make Amazon the good guy?
Amazon has taken steps to answer its critics and improve its brand image at the same time. Yesterday, the company announced the creation of Fulfillment by Amazon Donations. Do you…
Pfizer relies on multiple data sources for better shopper insights
By mixing and matching data resources, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has been able to target shoppers more effectively and identify growth opportunities for its retailer customers. What advice would you have…
Will thredUP make Macy’s more thrifty?
ThredUP bills itself as the largest online thrift store. Soon it may also call itself the largest online thrift store inside the biggest department store chain in the U.S. What…
Is it time for retailers to tier up their loyalty/reward programs?
A classic “buy nine, get one free” loyalty program is often an effective way to squeeze a little more value out of a low- or mid-tier customer. Are these types…
New site wants to make independent grocery jobs into careers
It’s not always easy to find grocery workers who want to stick with a company — especially an independent — and move up, a fact The National Grocers Association Foundation…
Will Kohl’s shoppers like the ‘emerging brands’ chosen by Facebook users?
Kohl’s, like many other retailers, is looking to attract younger shoppers and keep them as customers. To do this, the chain is turning to Facebook for help. What do you…
Nordstrom’s Local concept needs work
Nordstrom Local, a hub for online order pickups and returns, is heavy on services and helpful staff but low on inventory. Do you think service-oriented “showrooms” shortchange customers, or is…
Can H-E-B win the autonomous delivery vehicle race in Texas?
When a van delivery from regional grocer H-E-B arrives at a customer’s house, there might not be anyone in the driver’s seat — if things work out with a planned…
Is Nike’s new subscription program for kids a parent’s best friend?
Nike Adventure Club is the athletic brand’s first subscription service designed for kids. Nike is promoting the service, which launched yesterday, as “a parent’s best friend.” Do you expect that…
Grocers develop their own tech responses to Amazon Go
When Amazon.com announced a c-store that would let people shop and walk out without physically conducting a transaction at a checkout, it seemed like a feat only they could pull…
Have emojis become digital’s ice breaker for consumers?
Adobe’s first ever emoji trend report shows how these graphic symbols have evolved as a way to break through the clutter of digital communications. What can emojis do that words…
Nike to marry predictive analytics and RFID to optimize inventory performance
Nike Inc. has acquired Celect, a predictive analytics firm founded by MIT professors, to accelerate its ability to match inventories to consumer needs. Is marrying predictive analytics and RFID a…
Does North Face’s new concept point the chain in the right direction?
The North Face has opened a store in SoHo with a new look and experiential bent, and it’s already planning to expand the new layout into the rest of its…
Is FedEx smart to say goodbye to Amazon’s U.S. business?
After ending domestic express deliveries for Amazon.com in June, FedEx indicated last week it would be ending domestic ground deliveries, as well. What do you think drove FedEx’s decision to…
