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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Home Depot commits $50M to create trade jobs and secure its future
Home Depot says it will invest $50 million to train 20,000 tradespeople over the next 10 years in order to fill a growing shortage of construction and other trade workers…
Will acquiring tech startups help Nordstrom boost its digital ops?
Nordstrom is the latest retailer trying to fill in its digital gaps by acquiring the right startups. The department store chain last week announced the acquisition of two tech startup…
Amazon shifts to a subscription model for Prime Pantry
Amazon’s Prime Pantry service is shifting to a $5 monthly subscription model from the $6 it currently charges per box. Does it make sense for Amazon to shift Prime Pantry…
Will steel and aluminum tariffs hurt American retailers?
A number of retail trade groups have railed against President Trump’s move to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, concerned that the actions, concerned that the actions may spark a…
Why does Lowe’s seem to have a problem turning shoppers into customers?
Lowe’s Hardware has more customers coming through the door these days, but those customers aren’t spending like the chain needs them to spend. Does Lowe’s failure to drive higher conversions…
Music stores play the blues as consumers play on(line)
Online selling has taken its toll on the selling of guitars. But the CEO of Gibson Guitars believes the in-store experience at music stores is also partly to blame. Do…
When it comes to Millennials, focus on the HENRYs
Marketers need to stop treating Millennials — who ranging from college co-eds to minivan driving parents — all the same, argues Maritz Motivation Solutions in a new report. Should brands…
Amazon offers special Prime rate for millions of Medicaid recipients
Amazon.com wants to make sure anyone who wants to shop online can do so. The e-tail giant has taken its latest step in democratizing retail by offering a substantial discount…
Robots become the moving force behind Zara’s click and collect ops
Zara’s customers really like ordering from the fast-fashion chain online before heading to a store to pick up their purchase — so much so that shoppers sometimes encounter long waits…
A retailer’s Instagram-worthy packaging creates social buzz and sales
Supermoon Bakehouse has won rave reviews since opening. The bakery is making the most of its notoriety with bright iridescent boxes and witty slogans, demonstrating that great packaging can help…
Target looks to out-people competition
Target CEO Brian Cornell says it’s the company’s employees that set it apart from its many rivals and he’s committed to continue making investments to attract the best talent even…
Retailers finding answers in-house, through partnerships and acquisitions
Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, Walmart’s portfolio-building plays, J.C. Penney’s appliance ramp-up and a host of other forays — retailers are opting for diversification. The looming question becomes “buy, build…
Are photos of packages on doorsteps helpful?
Amazon’s drivers are increasingly taking pictures of where they put the packages they deliver and even including the images in delivery notifications sent to customers. Where do you see the…
Will all retailers soon go cashier-less?
Last week, a start-up said it is getting ready to deliver the “first scalable checkout-free solution” suitable for mega-retailers and affordable for mom and pops. Does it make sense that…
Walmart debuts prepared meals and meal kits
Walmart is playing catch up. The retailer announced yesterday that it was following a long line of other grocers in offering a line of prepared meals to customers while joining…
What do we really know about Gen Z?
Much of what we know about Gen Z is based on statistics that we’ve heard tossed around for so long that we’ve accepted them as fact. Which assumptions about the…
Is AI the key to finding the right location, location, location?
The conventional wisdom is that being in the right location is critical to success in retail. And one Japanese convenience store may be getting some non-human help to decide where…
H-E-B’s reusable bag causes fashion frenzy
H-E-B on Friday drew long lines and a quick sellout for a surprise limited-edition item. No, it wasn’t some ultra-hyped designer collaboration that drew the crowds. The item was a…
J.Crew partners with WeWork and LinkedIn to reach younger consumers/workers
In a partnership with WeWork and LinkedIn, J.Crew is hosting a panel discussion series featuring the “next generation of entrepreneurs and goal-getters,” selling items inside some WeWork locations and featuring…
Aldi to open grocery stores next to Kohl’s
In January, Kohl’s CEO Kevin Mansell said the retailer had “identified a whole list of partners” from the convenience and grocery channels to lease space within Kohl’s stores that had…
Will automation make retail teams less efficient?
While the arrival of AI-supported automation in the workplace has led to concern about the potential loss of jobs, a new paper by a Wharton marketing professor explores the fate of…
