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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Date-certain shipping is the new holiday imperative for retailers
With over 90 million active Prime memberships in the U.S. and with Amazon capturing close to half of all ecommerce revenue, most American shoppers are accustomed to having delivery date…
Was Amazon scamming or searching for its HQ2 location?
If by announcing a search for a second headquarters Amazon.com intended to play one city against another and generate millions of dollars in free publicity, it has worked. What should…
Will this be the year REI regrets opting out of Black Friday?
Its own recent history suggests that REI shouldn’t take too much of a business hit closing its stores and giving its workers a paid day off on Black Friday. But…
Large brands and retailers expand the subscription economy
The subscription economy continues to grow and innovate. Another trend is emerging under the radar — the launching of subscription programs from large brands and omnichannel retailers. What do you…
Gillette’s odd promo delivers some very weird results
The “Gillette Sends Razor for 18th Birthday” promotion has been running nationwide for at least 11 years and seems to backfire as often as it works. What lessons should be…
New pop-up concept is a capital idea
Pop-ups keep getting more popular. Now one location is using the retail model to rethink an already popular type of brick-and-mortar experience — the café. Do rotating restaurant pop-ups offer…
‘Tis the season to hype those Christmas deals
November began yesterday and retailers wasted no time in touting the great savings, exclusive offers and special events they have planned for the Christmas selling season. Do you think retailers…
Would store associates benefit from acting lessons?
In the U.K., John Lewis is providing 322 store associates at its new store in Oxford with acting lessons from The Oxford Playhouse to help “teach them the art of…
Consumers plan to get started early on Christmas shopping
Fewer and fewer consumers are likely to be heading out to malls and stores in the final days before Christmas as more go shopping earlier in the season, according to…
Walmart plans to party hardy throughout the holidays
Walmart has a lot of plans in place to drive sales during the holiday season. Will “doubling down” on the in-store experience with holiday helpers, product demos and parties help…
Is inventory or staffing the biggest omnichannel challenge for stores?
As the lines between online and in-store continue to blur, retailers see order fulfillment and limited staffing as equally difficult challenges at the store level, according to a recent survey…
Corona owner is getting into the legal pot business
Constellation Brands, a maker of beer, wine and spirits, has signed an agreement to acquire a 9.9 percent stake in Canopy Growth Corporation, the largest publicly traded marijuana company in…
Arby’s has the meat – and it’s gamey
Arby’s is renowned for sandwiches stacked with thin-sliced roast beef. But the chain recently offered an option that was uncharacteristically gourmet, both for itself and quick-service restaurants in general –…
American Eagle invites college kids to do their laundry
American Eagle Outfitters is opening a new prototype, AE Studio, in Manhattan’s Union Square, close to New York University (NYU), that provides students with free laundry services. Will free…
What would acquiring Aetna mean for CVS retail?
CVS’s potential blockbuster takeover of Aetna is being seen by many as a necessary guard against Amazon.com’s speculated entry into pharmacy. Some see ways Aetna could become a major traffic…
Johnson & Johnson takes aim at digital disruption
How should CPG brands adjust to the changes in the traditional sell-in channel? The rise of pure-pay retailers and manufacturers selling brands directly to consumers is threatening the traditional go-to-market…
Walmart puts robots to work with humans in more stores
A test of shelf-scanning robots in a small number of stores has gone well enough that Walmart has announced it will add the units to 50 additional locations. Do you…
Can live streaming make online customers feel like they’re in-store?
Tightening the relationship between online presence and in-store experience has become a running theme in the retail world. But one Dutch retailer has taken it a step farther, allowing customers…
When are text messages welcome from retailers?
While shoppers typically prefer to receive messages from retailers via e-mail (especially for record-keeping), they’re warming up to text messages and push notifications. How can retailers determine what types of…
Nike turns its back on ‘undifferentiated, mediocre’ retailers
Nike plans to put its eggs in fewer baskets going forward. The athletic wear brand announced yesterday a plan to focus its organizational resources on 40 key retail partners and…
Will Amazon conquer digital advertising platforms next?
Brands and retailers are shifting major advertising budgets to the Amazon platform at the expense of incumbents like Google and Facebook. Relative to other advertising channels, brands can reach customers…
