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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
When the going gets tough, the tough get transparent
The sustainable shoe e-tailer, Rothy’s, recently started a marketing campaign to launch a new shoe design. On the day of the big launch, however, Rothy’s sent out an “Ouch” email…
Will an online deal with Fanatics prove to be a big win for Kohl’s?
Kohl’s announced that it has signed an exclusive long-term deal to sell Fanatics’ licensed sports merchandise on Kohls.com. Will the online deal with Fanatics help make Kohls.com a destination for…
Should Kohl’s buy At Home?
Kohl’s is holding preliminary discussions to acquire At Home, the home decor superstore with 188 locations, according to Reuters. Do you see more pros than cons in Kohl’s acquiring At…
Just how big is Amazon’s ethics challenge?
Axios Harris’ 2019 poll of the 100 Most Visible Companies shows that just 41 percent of U.S. respondents agree Amazon.com shares their values. Will any of the ethical questions surrounding…
Kroger launches accelerator fund
The Kroger Co. has launched PearlRock Partners, a platform to make early-stage investments and support the growth of emerging consumer brands. How do you see Kroger potentially benefiting from the…
Do treasure hunt experiences provide the key to discounters’ fortunes?
A growing number of cost-conscious consumers are coming to believe that they can get the lowest prices by shopping online. What do you see as the primary reasons why some…
Can grocers digest their way to zero waste?
A growing number of grocery stores are using anaerobic digester technology in their operations to minimize the amount of their food waste ends up in landfills. Does anaerobic digester technology…
Gen Z survey: Brands get drowned out in all the cause marketing noise
66 percent of young consumers like brands with a social cause yet only 12 percent had “top of mind” associations between brands they were familiar with and a social cause…
Why does loyalty program ROI remain so murky?
According to LoyaltyOne’s “Loyalty Big Picture” report, marketers are increasingly looking at loyalty programs “through an opportunity cost lens.” Yet finding trustworthy ROI remains complex. What suggestions would you have…
Study says Whole Foods is the priciest grocer of them all
Despite Amazon.com’s publicity push to promote price cuts at Whole Foods, the chain remains the highest price grocer in the land, according to a new study. How long before Whole…
Is Crazy Cazboy’s pricing too crazy or just crazy enough?
Retail has its established pricing structures and new data-driven experimental pricing structures. Then there’s the new discounter, Crazy Cazboy’s, that has a pricing structure all its own. Is the Crazy…
Why is Amazon paying employees to quit their jobs?
Amazon needs to build its fleet of delivery vehicles and is looking to its own employees to help put trucks on the road. What impact might having former Amazon employees…
Is Apple’s App Store a monopoly?
An antitrust class action lawsuit brought against the tech giant alleges Apple uses monopolistic power to raise prices on the apps sold on its platform. Do you think Apple’s App…
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show exits network TV
After a nearly two-decade run, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is leaving network television. How would you reinvent the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show?
Did Walmart just one-up Amazon on next day deliveries?
No one expected that Walmart would stand pat after Amazon.com announced last month that it was cutting its standard two-day delivery time for Prime members to a single day. …
Lands’ End is looking to get out of Sears like a bat out of hell
Lands’ End simply cannot do this Sears thing anymore. The retailer has announced that it is closing its remaining 40 store-within-a-store locations. What do you think are the keys to…
Is the gig economy sustainable?
The poor IPO debuts of Uber and Lyft have reinforced concerns about the transformational potential of the on-demand economy. Are the challenges facing Uber and Lyft representative of the broader…
What’s wrong with the (fill in the blank) category?
On April 9, The Wall Street Journal opined that “Yogurt’s big sales run has expired.” What strategies and tactics should retailers and vendors follow when a formerly hot category begins…
Why is Party City closing profitable stores?
Party City has announced plans to close 45 stores. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks in Party City’s decision to evaluate the health of leases by market rather than…
Petco opens in-store kitchen for pets
Petco has opened a “health and wellness kitchen” for pets in a partnership with JustFoodForDogs. What do you think of the expansion opportunity of JustFoodForDogs inside and outside of Petco’s…
Is anyone going to buy Sears’ rebranding?
After spending decades on a downward spiral, Sears is looking to make a brand new start. The big question is will anyone buy it? What do you think of the…
