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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Too many meetings and reports undercut promos
Are too many meetings, too much paperwork and too much manual data entry driving you crazy? You’re not alone. Where do you see the biggest pain points in the promotions…
Retailers told to forget social media
At the IRCE 2018 in Chicago, Jamie Salvatori, founder of Vat19, tore down some myths about the efficacy of social media marketing. Do you agree with Jamie Salvatori’s assertion that…
Is AI the key to legacy brands’ revitalization?
Faced with a new selling landscape and the advent of direct-to-consumer apparel sales, family-owned luxury lingerie brand Cosabella turned to artificial intelligence (AI) tech. How useful do you see AI technology…
Why did Bon-Ton fail while Macy’s did not?
Many factors played into the demise of Bon-Ton Stores, but its turning point may have been when it acquired Saks’ Northern Department Store Group. But Macy’s made its own risky move…
Retailers get real with high-touch service
In a session at the IRCE 2018 in Chicago, Ryan Lane, founder of Dream Beard, gave some advice about creating a high-touch customer service experience online that steers clear of…
How many e-mails are too much?
According to a study from Brand Keys, 88 percent of consumers feel they receive too many emails too frequently from retail brands. Are retailers sending out too many e-mails or…
Neiman Marcus results show the latest sign of department store life
Kohl’s, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus have been trending upward of late with signs that they have plans in place to stay relevant to consumers beyond the next earnings report. What…
Costco workers get a raise and the retailer gets more good press
Costco plans to raise its starting wage by $1 an hour and bump up the hourly rate it pays other workers between 25 and 50 cents an hour. Do you…
Macy’s taps staff for their influencer clout
Macy’s is turning its store associates and personal stylists into social media brand ambassadors, allowing the retailer to exert more control over its influencer network, according to Glossy. What do…
Mental health is a retail management issue
The news yesterday that Kate Spade died of an apparent suicide has shocked many within the industry. In taking her own life, Ms. Spade’s act reflects government figures that show…
What will Starbucks do without Howard Schultz?
When Howard Schultz stepped down from his position as CEO of Starbucks in April 2017, many wondered how well the coffee giant would fare without its longtime leader in the…
Is data-driven marketing holding back storytelling?
Much has been made of the difficulties marketers face with accessing data, integrating data across technologies and even trusting their data. But some companies are facing an even bigger problem…
Rue La La acquires Gilt Groupe in a flash
Hudson’s Bay has agreed to sell its Gilt Groupe to its flash site rival, Rue La La. The move is seen as part of Hudson’s Bay plan to rid itself…
Can department stores be reinvented with a pop-up approach?
Neighborhood Goods, a start-up that just raised $5.75 million in seed funding, is seeking to reinvent the department store by infusing the model with the continuous discovery and community vibe…
Does it pay for retailers to price-match their own websites?
A study from Harvard Business School finds “self-matching” — or enabling in-store shoppers to request they be charged a retailer’s lower online price — can be profitable and may be…
Retailers can make personalization work
More often than we see good examples of personalization, we see the bad. There are countless examples across social media of customers experiencing companies that are missing the point when…
Walmart’s newest service brings texting and personal shopping together
Walmart announced the limited launch of a new personal shopping service, Jetblack, that combines real people and artificial intelligence to offer product recommendations for everyday staples and birthday gifts to…
Are podcasts the next big ad opportunity for brands?
While it’s easy to think of platforms like Instagram and Facebook as being the prime new media outlets for companies, wellness brands are successfully getting customers’ attention through an advertising…
Will Rite Aid be of much benefit to Albertsons?
After its Rite Aid mega-merger is completed later this year, Albertsons will have a whopping 4,900-plus locations nationwide, serving more than 40 million customers per week. Will Albertsons’ position be…
New Whole Foods’ store-within-a-store concept is ‘rooted in nature’
One of the most closely-watched players in the grocery world, Amazon-owned Whole Foods, has opened a boutique in one of its locations that takes the retailer into new, non-food territory…
Walmart looks to win talent war with new education benefit
With unemployment in the U.S. at a 17-year-low, retailers and other employers are finding it difficult to fill open positions. Walmart has added a new educational benefit that enables associates…
