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New c-store concept is high-tech inside and out
Convenience stores and gas stations are changing fast, and a small Denver-based convenience store and natural grocer is one retailer that’s trying to get ahead of the game with new…
Should ‘best by’ dates expire?
Carrefour is launching a social media campaign asking consumers to help choose new wording to replace “best before” on food packaging. France’s largest food retailer said the phrase is misleading…
‘Frictionless’ is the annoying word of the year
The promise of a “frictionless shopping experience” has come up so many times this year that I’ve started to cringe whenever I see or hear it. How well do you…
Does anyone pay the full retail price anymore?
We are all in search of bargains and shop around to get them. That’s the central finding of the latest quarterly Consumer View report from the National Retail Federation. Is…
Walmart and Advance Auto Parts join forces online
Walmart and Advance Auto Parts have announced a strategic partnership between the two chains to create an auto specialty store on walmart.com in 2019. How do you see the deal…
Will anything change for Sears after Chapter 11?
If there was any surprise in Sears Holdings’ bankruptcy announcement it was that the retailer had decided to reorganize under Chapter 11 protection rather than liquidate the business under Chapter…
Will J.C. Penney’s new private brand connect with Instagram-savvy moms?
Earlier this month, J.C. Penney debuted a new private label collection “inspired by Instagram moments” and created for moms. Do you expect J.C. Penney’s new Peyton and Parker collection will…
Shopify opens a storefront to support its online merchants
Shopify, the e-commerce platform provider, has become the latest online specialist to open a physical location. What do you see as the greatest appeal of a physical Shopify location to…
Cannabis-infused drink and food makers are high on grocery opportunities
For a peek inside the nascent cannabis-infused beverages market, consider what’s happened to the cans of CBD-laced Sprig sparkling soda in the refrigerator cases at Bristol Farms supermarkets in southern…
Is Amazon on the right path to improved product discovery with Scout?
Amazon Scout is a new visual search engine and, while it seems to employ a simple and intuitive method for culling preferred items, without a rework, the author believes it will be…
Will comics, movies and music take tween retailer Justice to new heights?
Justice is launching an entertainment division called Justice Studios to create graphic novels, video series, music, documentaries and more — content all in line with the brand’s stated values of girl empowerment. How might…
Would biometric feedback shopping carts creep out Walmart’s customers?
Walmart has filed an application for a patent on shopping cart technology that uses sensors in the handles to track not only the speed of the cart but the heart rate and body temperature of the…
Re:Store concept mixes co-work and co-retail
Describing itself as “retail meets WeWork,” Re:Store is an early startup seeking to help online-only brands secure both co-working space and their first physical storefront. Does Re:Store’s co-working element boost…
Is disruption coming to the alcohol beverage business?
With 20 years of experience watching other seemingly entrenched industries (music, books, disposable razors, taxis, etc.) being disrupted, the author sees three reasons why a disruptive e-commerce player could lead to the demise of…
Will Best Buy’s golden years strategy deliver long-term success?
While most retailers seem to be obsessed with finding ways to attract younger consumers, others such as Best Buy see business opportunities in catering to the needs of the nation’s senior citizens. How…
Will Starbucks prosper or suffer under a hedge fund’s influence?
Bill Ackman and his hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital, has accumulated 15.2 million shares (about 1.1 percent of the total) in Starbucks with plans to double that stake over the next three…
Amazon pop-up gets the Good Housekeeping seal of approval
Good Housekeeping is partnering with Amazon.com on a holiday pop-up store at the Mall of America. The selections are curated by the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI), the women’s magazine’s product testing unit. Is…
Will foodie culture save the mall?
A study from WD Partners finds that a number of different food concepts could be helpful in lifting traffic at malls. Would bringing food culture be a minor or major step in increasing the social relevance of malls?
Is it too late for a new store concept from Barnes & Noble?
To get customers coming through the doors again, the last big box bookstore chain is launching a 17,400 square-foot prototype store in the Chicago suburbs which is meant to have…
Gap sends its Visa cardholders to Amazon and Target
In what appears to be a pilot, Gap Inc. has rolled out a new promotion that provides its Visa Signature cardholders with bonus points for shopping at Amazon or Target…
Giant Food expects big things from a new, mini-grocery store concept
Giant Food Stores announced plans to introduce a mini-grocery concept for urban markets, Giant Heirloom Market, measuring only 9,500-square-feet. Will endless aisle technology and pickup/delivery options overcome any shortcomings of…
