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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Yoox looks seeks AI’s help for design inspiration
Designers of Yoox’s latest apparel line are getting a little inspirational help; the line is based on information collected, aggregated and “powered by artificial intelligence.” Does it make sense for…
When are outside Amazon experts better than inside ones?
Today, with a wide range of complexities, Amazon experts come in all shapes and sizes. What advice would you have for brands on handling advertising and other aspects of their…
Will porch pirates ruin Christmas?
Many municipal police departments have reported a continued rise in the theft of packages from doorsteps and apartment building lobbies over the last few years as online selling expands. Which…
Are retailers getting over their SKU management hurdles?
Determining which products deserve a spot on shelves — and which no longer do — used to be straight-forward. Is using sales-based hurdle rates still the best way to determine…
RH’s new location is a ‘luxury compound’
RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), in its pursuit of the luxury customer, has built an experiential one-off location in Napa Valley that’s so big they’re calling it not a flagship, but…
Does Starbucks have a big delivery opportunity?
At its investor day on Thursday, Starbucks said that, in a partnership with Uber Eats, the chain will roll out home delivery to nearly one-quarter of company-owned stores in the…
Does fear motivate workers or make things worse?
Research shows that, as tools for motivating workers, fear and intimidation come with a lot of risk and have been largely discredited for some time. And yet the use of…
H-E-B puts mobile scan and go tech in customers’ hands
Regional grocery powerhouse H-E-B is the latest to try to tackle the challenge of long lines at the checkout by putting a tech solution in the hands of its customers…
Retailing success doesn’t depend on silver bullets
Anyone who’s spent considerable time in physical retail has heard the silver bullets as they’ve been loaded into the figurative magazine. If it were easy, wouldn’t everyone have figured it…
Will the maker movement inspire a new creative direction for malls?
The commercial real estate management firm, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle), has opened its first permanent store, Rose & Loon, with a focus on homemade merchandise from local artists at a…
Are holiday shoppers getting more ‘appy’?
The bulk of holiday shoppers during the first part of this holiday season were not Millennials or Gen Zers, but they still used their smartphones to shop. Does research showing…
Where will Amazon go with its cashier-free concept?
Reuters reports that Amazon opened a scaled-down version of Go inside one of the company’s offices in Seattle. What do you think of the upside potential for Amazon to open…
Is Kroger following the Sears playbook for self-destruction?
Last week, Kroger reported its third quarter earnings, and one industry expert has questioned whether the grocery giant is on the right path or if it is making the same…
Kraft Heinz ‘embraced failure’ in digital transformation
To drive its digital transformation and fully explore new solutions, Kraft Heinz had to create a “culture that really embraced failure.” What advice would have for larger CPG vendors around…
Should Amazon buy Target?
A lot can change in 12 months, but for one analyst a conjecture made around the start of the year still stands as we get ready to ring in 2019…
Will ‘Practice’ make for perfectly loyal customers at Lululemon?
Lululemon is testing its first-ever membership program. While including elements similar to other loyalty programs, the yoga-themed apparel chain sees it as an empowerment initiative. Has Lululemon designed a winning…
RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Chewy.com vs. Petco
The first four weeks of RetailWire’s Christmas Commercial Challenge has advanced TJX Companies, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Target into the finals. This week, we line up pet category…
Will Dollar General’s DGX concept be a hit with urban Millennials?
A big dollar store chain that’s been described as “taking over rural America” is now upping its urban presence with a new store concept tailored specifically to the city. What…
Will Walgreens win the prescription delivery race?
Move over CVS and hold on Amazon.com, Walgreens last week announced a partnership with FedEx on the nationwide launch of a next-day prescription delivery service. Does Walgreens gain much of…
Walmart wants your walls
With its latest planned digital-property purchase, Art.com, Walmart is looking to help customers fill out their walls. How much and in what ways do you see Art.com helping Walmart address…
Have retail store associates fallen into a hypnotic state?
Like long, boring drives, the monotony of tasks can lead to hypnosis for store associates. What common practices on selling floors lead associates towards hypnotic-like states?
