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Will content help Publix and Whole Foods cook up online engagement?
Publix and Whole Foods Market are looking to connect online with customers by offering content that results in more enjoyable meals. Which do you see resonating most with consumers: Publix’s…
Zola de-stresses the wedding planning experience for Millennials
People planning weddings often complain about the stress, a factor one retailer hopes to address in a new pop-up. Are services such as those offered by Zola an effective way…
Is it now or never for J.C. Penney?
What a difference a year makes. Around this time last year, then J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison was touting the department store’s success in turning its business around. Penney’s story…
Some question if digital assistants will ever live up to the hype
Voice-activated digital assistants are again in the spotlight at CES. The jury is still out, however, on whether they’ll become key to connecting smart homes. How important will smart speakers…
Why are Millennials apparently addicted to Chinese knockoffs?
It may come as no surprise that, when it comes to buying illicit merchandise, frugal, impulse-buying Millennials are leading the charge. Do you think that Millennials, in particular, fall prey…
Is Lowe’s doing it right with its new tagline?
As Lowe’s Hardware struggles to turn itself around and get out of Home Depot’s shadow, it is branding itself with a new tagline that has struck some as a little…
Should Dollar Tree sell Family Dollar?
A New York hedge fund, which recently took a small stake in Dollar Tree, is pushing the company to sell its Family Dollar business and is seeking seats on the…
Sephora adds choices and personalization to rewards program
Sephora has updated its Beauty Insider rewards program, adding more choices and personalization. Do you see the upgrades to Sephora’s Beauty Insider helping to personalize the program for members?
Sears likely headed for liquidation
Today, Reuters and CNBC are reporting that Sears Holdings is planning to ask a bankruptcy court judge today for permission to liquidate its business. What is your postmortem for Sears…
What’s holding back in-store mobile engagement?
According to the 2018 Digital Commerce Survey from Boston Retail Partners (BRP), 60 percent of retailers offer a mobile website and 57 percent offer a mobile app. Mobile, however, still…
The new boss is different than the old boss at Starbucks
Leaders with the vision of Howard Schultz are few and far between in retailing. It’s clear, by his own admission, that Kevin Johnson is no Howard Schultz. Is it cause…
Retailers are shutting down their NYC flagships
Three retailers — Lord & Taylor, Ralph Lauren and Gap — recently closed or will soon close major flagships in Manhattan. Should the decision to open or close a flagship…
Will AI, tariffs or some other news be the big retailing story of 2019?
Will social shopping finally take off? Will tariffs rattle global supply chains? Will automated self-checkout take another leap forward? What are your predictions for the retail industry in 2019? Which…
What can IoT really do for retailers?
RSR’s most recent research on the Internet of Things found out something pretty fascinating: the bigger a retailer is, the greater the enthusiasm is for IoT’s ability to help create…
E-commerce forces CPG brands to think differently
CPG giant Procter & Gamble is among the first to dip its toes into the direct-to-consumer space. One example of this is P&G’s Tide Eco-Box, an ultra-concentrated liquid detergent contained…
Will PepsiCo’s robots replace the pizza delivery guy on college campuses?
At the University of Pacific in Stockton, CA, PepsiCo, in partnership with Bay Area-based robotics startup Robby Technologies, has rolled out an autonomous delivery robot known as the “snackbot.” …
Can David’s Bridal appeal to ‘every type of bride’ with its new campaign?
David’s Bridal believes it can meet its many challenges with a new campaign that features what Ad Age describes as “non-traditional brides.” This includes same-sex brides and those who enter…
Will smart shelves work for Hannaford and its customers?
Grocery shoppers at the new, tech-enhanced Hannaford concept will find information on the products they’re buying easily available, right when they lift them off the shelf. What do you see…
Pier 1 seeks yet another turnaround strategy
Pier 1 Imports said last week that its CEO, Alasdair James, had stepped down and that Credit Suisse has been retained to explore financial alternatives. What retailers do you think…
Retail industry mourns the loss of Blake Nordstrom
The retail industry has begun reacting to the news that Blake Nordstrom, co-president of the department store chain that bears his family name, has died. What are your thoughts on…
Whole Foods to expand nationwide to drive Prime Now growth
Amazon.com is reportedly planning a nationwide expansion of Whole Foods with the support of — and in support of — its two-hour Prime Now grocery delivery service. How aggressively should…
