RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Kohl’s sets CEO succession plan
Kohl’s Inc. announced that Michelle Gass, who joined the mid-market department store operator in 2013 from Starbucks, will become its new CEO in May 2018 when Kevin Mansell retires. Does…
Will centralized buying make Whole Foods a more formidable competitor?
Whole Foods is accelerating its shift to more centralized buying under Amazon.com’s ownership while also eliminating brand representatives from selling on store floors, according to reports. Is centralizing buying a…
Will Target’s wage hikes be a differentiator?
Target Corp. announced on Monday plans to raise its minimum hourly wage to $11 in October and to $15 by the end of 2020. To what extent will increased starting…
Goodwill finds the need to spin off a down-market concept
Goodwill isn’t what it once was — something Goodwill itself acknowledges. So, the company is piloting a new store concept to address the perception that it is moving too upscale…
Would a radical partnership help Walmart thwart Amazon?
Amazon.com is viewed by pundits and analysts of every stripe as unstoppable and unconquerable. Why is Amazon be the exception that can never be toppled from on high? Would a…
Target guides customers through the aisles with beacons
Shoppers may soon have an easy way to find what they’re looking for in Target stores, thanks to a new Bluetooth beacon-enabled mapping feature on the retailer’s mobile app. Will…
Pirch: Is it a first mover case study or a flawed model?
Last week’s announcement that Pirch will be closing most of its stores while overhauling its operations came as a shock. The bright beacon of store experience, Pirch was named one…
Walmart’s Christmas plans do not include seasonal hires
The Christmas selling season is fast approaching and early indications are that seasonal hiring may be on the rise. Walmart, however, will not be a major contributor to the increase…
Hilton Honors members go shopping with points on Amazon
If you’re one of the 66 million members of the Hilton Honors rewards program, you are now eligible to redeem your points for purchases on Amazon.com. What do you see…
Why are marketers increasing their online influencer budgets?
A recent poll found that 59 percent of marketers are planning to increase their influencer marketing budgets year-over-year. Working with such connected individuals was also found to be the most…
Are retailers getting comfy with click & collect?
During a panel at the CONNECT Mobile CX Summit in Philadelphia, panelists from Jersey Mike’s, Kohl’s and Brookstone talked about unintended consequences from their early efforts at click & collect…
Will a new lunch menu make Starbucks a food giant?
Long lines queue up most mornings at Starbucks across the country as people look to get their caffeine boost and perhaps a breakfast sandwich or pastry to go with it…
Albertsons buys its way into the meal kit business with Plated acquisition
Albertsons Companies, the second largest operator of supermarkets in the U.S., announced yesterday that it has reached a deal to acquire Plated’s meal kit service. How will Albertsons’ acquisition of…
Kohl’s to accept product returns for Amazon
Only a few weeks ago, retail experts were discussing whether Kohl’s was letting a Trojan Horse in through the front door by opening Amazon.com smart home experience shops. Now, Kohl’s…
Will retailers drive the next phase in digital marketing?
What are the ingredients of success for an important advertising platform? Reach? Of course. Unified IDs across devices? in a programmatic age, yes. Proven impact? Definitely. Do you see retailers…
Will others follow Neiman Marcus’ return to a full-price focus?
Neiman Marcus recently announced its intention to close more than 25 percent of its Last Call off-price outlets. The retailer has expressed hopes to reestablish itself as a leader in…
Toys ‘R’ Us files for bankruptcy, enters ‘new era’
Toys “R” Us announced yesterday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the chain hopes that restructuring will allow it to manage its $5 billion debt load while…
Five skills every retail manager needs to succeed
Most retailers promote from within, and while that can be good for morale, many times it is bad for business. There are certain skills that go a long way to…
Does aggressive seasonal hiring portend a merry retailing Christmas?
Holiday hiring has already begun and some experts are taking announcements of increased seasonal hiring numbers as a sign that there will be a strong job market this Christmas season…
Did this startup make a big mistake calling itself Bodega?
Two former Google employees are hoping to reinvent convenience retailing with plans to roll out thousands of automated vending machines near apartments, offices, dorms, gyms and other consumer centers. What…
Can v-commerce give brands the edge they need online?
The executive chairman of Fanatics believes the next online wave will be “verticalization commerce,” or v-commerce, in which online retailers produce their own merchandise closely tied to orders. Does the…
