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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will early out-of-stocks throw off Walmart’s holiday momentum?
Some customers weren’t entirely happy at Walmart this Black Friday: the chain ran out of some discounted inventory before the retail holiday’s official start. Do you think consumers are more…
Did Macy’s Black Friday credit card fail cost it the holidays?
A credit card system glitch prevented Macy’s from handling credit and gift card processing both in-store and online from noon until early evening on Black Friday. Did Macy’s handle its…
How would the end of net neutrality impact retail?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced plans last week to roll back net neutrality rules that require internet service providers (ISPs) to provide open access to their networks for all…
Customer data is grocery’s new battleground
The old model of using customer data simply to target coupons – pioneered by Dunnhumby in the U.K. and Kroger in the U.S. – is now merely table stakes in…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge Global Edition – Debenhams vs. House of Fraser
Today’s matchup pits two of England’s famous department stores — Debenhams and House of Fraser — against one another. Which do you think is the more effective of the two?…
Does it matter if social media is getting a bad rep?
Television, long disparaged as an “idiot’s box,” has nevertheless drawn enough eyeballs to serve many a marketer’s aims. Is social media facing the same issue? Is social media losing its…
Amazon launches exclusive with Calvin Klein
Amazon.com is selling an exclusive collection of Calvin Klein underwear this holiday season online and at two pop-ups in New York City and Los Angeles. What significance does Calvin Klein’s…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Big Lots vs. Kohl’s
Week one of the Christmas Commercial Challenge went to Nordstrom’s upbeat “Choir! Choir! Choir!” spot featuring the department store’s workers. This week, we present a matchup between Big Lots’ “Share…
Do retailers need a new approach to store brand marketing?
We’ve all heard about the impact Millennials are having on retailing and we all know Baby Boomers are still a generation of economic consequence, but what about Gen X? Well,…
Will Ocado’s robots help U.S. grocers solve their online delivery problems?
There is the type of automation that leverages robots to make people’s jobs easier, and then there is the kind that, through combining technologies, does away with human intervention entirely…
Who will be left standing after the next retail shakeout?
It’s apparent that only those retailers embracing at least two of the three fundamental consumer driven strategies in the retail industry will be around much longer. Do you agree that…
How open are consumers to AI-driven shopping?
According to a study from The Integer Group, 78 percent of U.S. consumers feel “curious” about using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to shop, but 66 percent also said they were…
Retailers get into Friendsgiving with Millennials
Friendsgiving, a newish pre-Thanksgiving holiday tradition created by young consumers on college campuses and in cities, is increasingly attracting marketers. What sales or marketing opportunities do you see around Friendsgiving?
Indie retailers can survive – even thrive – during the holidays
With online holiday sales expected to break new records this year, independent brick and mortar retailers need to band together and get creative to survive. Retail design strategist Karen Herman…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge Global Edition – M&S vs. Sainsbury’s
Week one of our Global Edition competition pits M&S’s “Paddington & The Christmas Visitor” against Sainsbury’s “Every Bit of Christmas.” Which do you think is the more effective of the…
Is private label grocery about to go to the next level?
A new report from Cadent Consulting suggests private label dollar share could swell as much as eight points to 25.7 percent by 2027 thanks to the influence of Amazon/Whole Foods,…
Amazon Go still plans to transform convenience in retail stores
It took longer than expected, but Amazon Go is now ready for its coming out party, Bloomberg reports. Will the concept be a success? Will Amazon roll out the technology…
Will breakfast at Tiffany’s attract Millennials in search of ‘Instagrammable’ experiences?
Tiffany & Co. has renovated the home and accessories section on the fourth floor to add The Blue Box Café, its first-ever dining concept. How might the café enrich the…
Tech lets gift receivers decide what they get for Christmas
Prominent retailers have implemented a GiftNow button as a payment option on their websites that allows the gift recipient to make changes to characteristics of the order before it ships…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Macy’s vs. Nordstrom
With Thanksgiving eight days away, we begin the fifth annual RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge. Which do you think does a better job of connecting with each company’s core customers while…
Yes, retailers can also reward non-transactional behaviors
Most loyalty programs boil down to incentivizing customer transactions with rewards — make a purchase and receive a point, free item or coupon. But beyond the traditional system, a big…
