RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Are retailers overlooking their communities?
A new study finds community involvement by stores can help make customers less price-sensitive and less likely to patronize other retailers. While not a new strategy, researchers believe it is…
Social influencers to find a home on Instagram’s new, longer video platform
Retailers would be wise to take notice of Instagram’s new longform video platform. The new app, called IGTV, is presumably Instagram’s attempt to snag some of YouTube’s market share. Do…
Former CEO wants to bring Toys ‘R’ Us back from the dead
Former TRU CEO Larry Storch has been working with other investors including Fairfax Financial Holdings, which acquired the toy retailer’s Canadian operations, to put together a deal to keep the…
QuickChek takes fresh approach to convenience business
QuickChek, the Whitehouse, NJ-based convenience store chain, has begun rolling out a new concept that it claims will raise “its ability to provide fresh products and food-to-go to a whole…
Survey finds marketers struggle to deliver personalized content
Delivering personalized content is the most challenging barrier to marketing automation success, although the integration of all marketing systems is a close second, according to a new report. Where do…
Analyst: Prime perk could eventually double customers at Whole Foods
With yesterday’s announcement that Prime members will receive added discounts on sale items and other selected products at every Whole Foods in the U.S., the potential for the organic grocery…
Ralph Lauren’s Club Monaco takes pop-up strategy beyond its flagship
Rotating pop-up shops in-store seems to be working for Club Monaco. So, the Ralph Lauren-owned apparel brand is expanding its pop-up strategy from its New York City flagship into more…
Frito-Lay scores by personalizing consumer experiences
Speaking at the IRI Growth Forum, Jennifer Saenz, chief marketing officer for Frito-Lay North America, said that expectations for interaction with brands are set by the extreme individualization allowed by…
Dollar General pilots scan & go tech
Dollar General has become the latest retailer and the first dollar store to introduce a scan & go app. Does scan & go checkout technology make sense for the Dollar…
Past browsing does not indicate future purchase
After years of articles about personalization efforts falling short, perhaps it’s time we realize it’s not the fault of retailers; it’s a faulty idea. Do you agree that basing targeting…
Why are there so few women in c-level positions?
Under-representation of women at the c-level continues despite multiple studies showing that companies with the most gender diversity consistently outperform their less-diverse counterparts. What’s driving the significantly higher turnover rates…
Supreme Court rules e-tailers must collect state sales taxes
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that online sellers must collect sales taxes in states where they exist. Groups representing retailers have hailed the ruling in the case as the…
Will Cirque du Soleil help malls perform better?
In an extreme step for retailtainment, Cirque du Soleil, famed for its jaw-dropping acrobatic spectacles found in Las Vegas, plans to open “family entertainment centres” in malls. What do you…
Study: Customization becoming more commonplace
According to a YouGov survey, 26 percent of Americans have purchased a personalized product, also known as customization, either for themselves or someone else. Do you see customization reaching another…
Apple’s Ahrendts sees a ‘bigger purpose than just selling’ for retail
Success, according to Angela Ahrendts, the leader of Apple’s retail business, also has a lot to do with how people who work for the company see its role. “Apple,” she…
Home Depot to make same- or next-day deliveries virtually everywhere
Home Depot revealed plans to spend $1.2 billion adding distribution sites and shipping hubs over the next five years to speed delivery to most of the U.S. market within a…
Are Stitch Fix and Trunk Club toast?
Prime Wardrobe, Amazon.com’s answer to Stitch Fix and Trunk Club, has moved beyond its by-invitation only beta status and is now available to Prime members across the U.S. What impact…
Joann Fabrics’ new concept is all about the experience
Many more traditional retailers have been pursuing revitalization through reinventing the in-store experience. Now, 70-year-old retailer Joann Fabrics is launching a new experiential store concept geared towards getting customers to…
IKEA says no to plastic
IKEA, the first major retailer to stop using plastic bags in 2007, has committed to getting rid of all single-use plastic by 2020. Do you expect to see other retailers…
CVS looks to one-up Walgreens, other rivals with nationwide Rx deliveries
CVS Pharmacy announced yesterday that it is now offering same- and next-day deliveries of prescription drugs nationwide. What will CVS same- and next-day delivery mean for competitive balance within the…
Will an online dating site formula work for pop-ups?
Pop-Up Shops, a startup describing itself as Match.com for “spaces and brands,” is looking to connect entrepreneurs looking for a short-term lease with property managers seeking to fill vacant storefronts…
