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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Facebook delivers digital brands to the Market @ Macy’s for Christmas
Macy’s and Facebook are teaming up to create pop-up space for digital brands at the department store’s busiest locations throughout the holiday season. Will the addition of digital brands create…
Will L.L.Bean find success in Canada where others have failed?
L.L.Bean has formed a partnership with Toronto-based Jaytex Group to make its first expansion into Canada. The partnership includes wholesale distribution, a dedicated website and stores. Does it make sense…
Did Amazon just crush Target and Walmart’s free holiday shipping moves?
Americans do not like having to pay shipping charges, particularly at Christmastime. Now Walmart, Target and Amazon.com are now trying to outdo each other in this respect. Will Amazon’s free…
Consumers say online recommendations are the worst
Three out of four online global shoppers worldwide fail to regularly see product recommendations that interest them, according to a survey sponsored by SAP. What’s holding back a higher level…
Is Toys ‘R’ Us starting its comeback in Kroger’s aisles?
Kroger announced a partnership to open Geoffrey’s Toy Box popups this holiday selling season featuring brands that have been exclusive to Toys “R” Us. Do Geoffrey’s Toy Box holiday popups…
Walmart reimagines its big boxes as town centers
Walmart has made a lot of upgrades in recent years that appear to reach beyond its traditional shopper base. Now, the chain has begun to reimagine some of its stores…
Why do landlords say they’re happy that Sears is shuttering stores?
At least publicly, a number of U.S. mall owners have stated that any Sears locations closing as part of bankruptcy proceedings will provide a long-awaited chance to redevelop their shopping…
Are Target and Walmart customers dreaming of a mobile checkout Christmas?
Target and Walmart are so me-too. This week, the two retail giants made separate announcements that mobile checkout technology is now available in each chain’s stores across the country. Will…
Is there a failure to communicate between retail HQs and stores?
Retail’s corporate teams are facing challenges in finding the best way for district and store managers to interpret and roll out company-wide strategies at the local level. What challenges do…
Shoppable ads need to tone down the sales pitch
New research shows that mobile shoppable ads with a call to action work better than those that do not include that type of message. But as to what the call…
Will Albertsons have robots filling online grocery orders in its stores?
Albertsons announced earlier this week that it is engaging in a pilot to test a micro-fulfillment center that makes use of artificial intelligence and robotics to fill online grocery orders…
Has CVS found an answer to blunt Amazon’s move into the pharmacy business?
CVS is testing a subscription program that allows members to get free deliveries on prescription medicines and front-end merchandise for $48 a year or $5 a month. Has CVS found…
Will Goodyear roll over rivals with new Millennial-friendly showroom concept?
Plenty of brands have begun to experiment with small, experiential concepts. Goodyear, however, is the first automotive products brand to try upgrading the tire buying experience with a next-gen retail…
Survey: Time is the biggest barrier to personalizing marketing messages
More than half of marketers, advertisers and brand creatives find it difficult to personalize content at scale. What’s holding them back? Do you see long-term challenges personalizing advertising content at…
Kohl’s CEO rejects department store tag
In a recent interview, Michelle Gass said Kohl’s bears little resemblance to struggling department chains. She believes the company’s success is largely a result of coming up with different solutions…
Is Sam’s reimagining the future of warehouse clubs?
The headline claims that the chain’s latest store concept is “reimagining the future of retail.” While that may or may not be so, there’s no doubt that the new Sam’s…
Why are Foot Locker and Nike sending ‘sneakerheads’ on AR scavenger hunts?
On October 20, smartphone-touting sneakerheads ventured across Los Angeles to participate in Foot Locker’s first “The Hunt” augmented reality (AR) scavenger hunt. Can techniques used in Foot Locker’s “The Hunt”…
What if artificial intelligence is biased?
Artificial Intelligence, which promises to eliminate the inefficiencies that come from subjective human assessments and assumptions, is facing heightened concerns that the technology includes hidden biases. How big a concern are…
Can Brandless deliver on its lofty goals in a pop-up?
Brandless, which sells everyday items “from snacks to soap to serving spoons” for $3.00 each, opened its pop-up in New York City for four reasons: community, taste and trial, range…
Stores find that kids can be scarier than a bull in a china shop
It’s tough to take small children into new places and expect them to behave like adults when they naturally want to explore. But it is also tough for retailers to…
Should retailers respond to every consumer review?
Retailers closely monitor reviews posted by consumers online, but should they respond to them? According to a recently completed survey of U.S. consumers, the overwhelming response to that question was,…
