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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Should executive pay structures change to address slower growth at retail?
With profits, sales and stock prices declining for many retailers last year, executive compensation for the industry took a hit. Do you agree that current pay structures for retail executives…
Is agile fulfillment the solution to retail’s renaissance?
Retailers have thrived in the past by creating repeatable, high-scale, low-cost, hardened processes built on monolithic systems that supported a (formerly) profitable business model, but destroyed agility. Do you agree…
Will Lidl’s fresh approach to the U.S. grocery market prove successful?
Unlike its arch rival Aldi, the Lidl product mix includes national brands. Also unlike Aldi, Lidl is aggressively pushing its fresh lines, highlighting local produce. What are the biggest competitive…
What made GameStop decide to open on Thanksgiving this year?
This year, one retailer has already announced that it plans to reverse course and open for business on Thanksgiving Day. Is the good PR of staying closed on Thanksgiving still…
Will Amazon’s new return policy help or hurt its marketplace sellers?
Customers who have had a problem with an order placed on Amazon.com know that returns for products sold directly by the e-tailer are a no hassle affair. The policies of…
Are the four Ps of marketing irrelevant for retailers?
For centuries, retailing has been based upon the four Ps — product, price, promotion and place. Retailers still “sell” products at a price both online and in-store. So why are…
Can customer journey methodology level the playing field for brick and mortar retail?
Segmentation, predictive analytics, evolving real-time customized offers. Sounds like the sole domain of ecommerce pure plays, but brick and mortar retailers are moving toward the deployment of these and other…
Are retailers squandering store traffic?
Much has been said about declining traffic in brick-and-mortar stores. Yet there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that, even when there is traffic in the store, retailers are failing to…
Will grocery stores become the new mall anchors?
As shopping malls try to figure out how to return to relevance, more big names in grocery are starting to see mall space as a worthwhile investment. Do you think…
Can vending units help Uniqlo achieve success in the U.S.?
Uniqlo has not had an easy time of it in the U.S. The Japanese fashion chain had to hit reset a couple of years ago and is still trying to…
Are there too many grocery stores?
J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Sears have been closing stores in large numbers in an acknowledgment that there is simply not enough business to support their continued operation. Other channels have…
Will talking about pain points make Babies ‘R’ Us the go-to retailer for parents?
As part of a major marketing push, Babies “R” Us has come up with a new “Be Prepared-ish” tagline, an effort to position the retailer as the place parents can…
Should user-generated content move beyond product pages?
As many as 90 percent of shoppers report that user-generated content (UGC) influences their purchase decisions, according to a survey from TurnTo and Ipsos. The impact of UGC outranks all…
How disruptive is Alexa to CPG brands?
The existential threat of Alexa should shake brand managers to their core. The in-store marketing model that has ruled the consumer products industry for more than a century is being…
Will Gen Z demand a new level of collaboration?
While much has been said about the digital prowess of the Gen Z generation, less attention has been paid to their yearning to contribute and participate with brands. Do you…
Are private equity firms the true retail chain killers?
It’s common to hear Amazon.com mentioned as a culprit when retail chains filed for bankruptcy. Less commonly heard is the role that burdensome debt built up under the ownership of…
Is ‘free’ a big enough incentive to get consumers to try click and collect?
According to the survey from JDA, 80 percent of shoppers would give greater consideration to buy online/pick up in-store (BOPIS) services if discounts or incentives were offered. Do you see…
Has Amazon created another high-draw shopping model with its Treasure Trucks?
This past Saturday, Amazon.com stealthily launched a flash sale in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles using its only once-before-seen Treasure Trucks. Has Amazon created yet another coveted shopping…
Will Lowe’s UpSkill Project empower more consumers to tackle home improvement jobs?
Some home improvement projects aren’t as easy as the pros make them look on TV or in YouTube videos. For some of those aspiring DIYers whose skills don’t quite match…
Have men become the primary grocery shoppers in America?
It’s been a longstanding practice for grocery executives to use the pronoun “she” when referring to their core customer. If a new study from Men’s Health is to be believed,…
Should stores entertain bored tag-along shoppers?
While some U.S. stores have comfy chairs and couches available for tired or restless shoppers, a mall in China has installed “husband storage” pods for men who would rather play…
