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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is Blue Apron smart to pin turnaround hopes on Weight Watchers alliance?
Blue Apron, the meal kit pioneer, is hoping that a new partnership with WW Inc., formerly known as Weight Watchers International Inc., will help stabilize its business. Will the WW…
Why are retailers publishing paid-subscription magazines?
In a recent column for Wired, Federico Marchetti, CEO of YOOX Net-a-Porter, explained that the luxury e-tailer publishes its subscription magazine, Porter, in print because retail content is integral to…
Are dollar stores bad for cities?
Dollar stores may have good prices, but they’re developing a bad reputation. Customers and municipalities alike are no longer so enamored with the popular retail format, according to a new…
Camp brings a playground to retail
Buzzfeed, the media company best known for its lighthearted lists and quizzes that go viral, has come up with a new retail concept for kids called Camp that packs the…
Has retail figured out last-minute holiday fulfillment?
Retailers scored high marks this season meeting guaranteed shipping dates, according to the 2018 Holiday Shipping study from Kurt Salmon. Where do you still see the pain points in last-minute…
What are the takeaways from the best holiday season in six years?
According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales in the U.S. from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 expanded 5.1 percent, the strongest growth rate in the last six years. Do you see…
Kroger’s private label hits get their own store-within-a-store
Kroger wants foodies to have a special place on their shopping list for its private label products, so the company is carving out a branded section in the center store…
RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: The Finals
After seven weeks of head-to-head competition, it’s time to pick the champion of the 2018 RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge. Which retailer commercials do you think were worthy of note for…
Nike sees online eclipsing offline sales
Nike just joined a growing crop of brands that now expects over half of its sales to eventually originate online. Does it make sense for a category such as Nike’s…
Will showrooms work for fast fashion?
Visitors to a new clothing store by the owners of Uniqlo can “just walk out” after their visit — but they can’t take any of their purchases with them. Does…
Delivery drivers land on Santa’s Nice List
For more and more shoppers, the sales associate with timely advice or cashier with a smile is no longer their favorite retail helper in the purchasing process — it’s the…
Is Amazon Prime not what it’s cracked up to be?
A new article claims Amazon is not living up to the inherent promise of Prime, two-day delivery in exchange for an annual fee. Is Amazon Prime really about free two-day…
Should Santa be modernized?
A survey catching some attention last week explored how Santa should be rebranded to become more modern. Two updated Santas — Fashion Santa and Hipster Santa — in fact already…
Should the Marlboro Man be vaping?
In a deal steeped in conflicts, Altria, the largest tobacco company in the U.S., on Thursday closed on a massive investment in Juul, the U.S. leader in e-vapor. How do…
Why are holiday gift returns spiking before Christmas this year?
Revealing another wrinkle in the rise of online selling, the peak volume of holiday returns for the first time has arrived before Christmas, according to UPS. What do you see…
RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Cost Plus World Market vs. Meijer
The shopping days until Christmas have dwindled to a precious few, but retailers are still using the spirit of the season in their commercial messages in efforts to bond with…
Joann invests to bring 3D-laser cutting to stores
Joann, the craft and fabric specialty retailer, is investing in a startup that enables customers to experiment with 3D laser cutting and engraving on their DIY projects in-store. How much…
Can Barnes & Noble’s in-store experts beat algorithms?
Supported by a new ad campaign, Barnes & Noble is using its associate expertise as a prime selling point for the holidays. Will the message of in-store experts resonate with…
Will 7-Eleven’s cashier-less store take hold?
What would it mean for cashiers around the world if the largest global convenience store chain went fully-automated with cashier-less technology? With 7-Eleven in Japan now exploring such a move,…
Mall of America’s hologram concierge offers gift suggestions
For the holiday season, the Mall of America introduced what it claims is the “first-ever Shopping Hologram Concierge.” Do you see interactive holographic sales assistants largely serving as attractions for…
Who will win the battle for holiday gift procrastinators?
On Monday, Target became the latest retailer to plug its wide range of in-store, online and hybrid options for last-minute holiday shoppers. Which last-minute holiday options resonate most with holiday…
