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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Where’s the art in data-driven marketing?
Marketing today tends to be more science than art, though it’s not at the scientific level of software development and IT. At least that’s the view of participants in a…
Will new payment options make Amazon Prime memberships even more popular?
Amazon.com has recently announced new ways to pay that may expand the rolls of its Prime subscription program and make it more likely that consumers will turn to the e-tailer…
Are consumers ready to use automated purchasing tech on a wide scale?
At the IRCE in Chicago, Ken Cassar, principal analyst and vice president at Slice Intelligence, shared findings about the current state of purchase automation, with some big insights into what…
How can grocers capitalize on small brand allure?
Why are small food brands suddenly such big sellers? Thanks to technology-driven companies, Millennials are accustomed to having lots of choices for niche products and services that meet their very…
Who owns the in-store experience?
Who owns the customer experience? The discussion usually focuses on the conflict between merchandising, which “knows” the customer best, and marketing, which owns customer data and communicates with the customer…
Can fitness centers save malls?
Southdale Center in Edina, MN, the nation’s first indoor regional shopping mall, is bringing in a three-story Life Time fitness complex as one of its anchors to reposition as a…
How smart is Jet.com’s decision to delist Costco’s Kirkland brand?
Walmart apparently has no problem selling Amazon.com’s Echo and Fire devices on its website, but the company has to draw the line when it comes to allowing its Jet.com business…
Can retailers escape the scourge of free shipping?
If retailers are hurting today, among the wounds — both self-inflicted and imposed from outside — is free shipping. How can retailers reduce consumers’ expectations around free shipping or at…
Will Best Buy increase gadget sales with a try-before-you-buy offer?
Best Buy is looking to reduce buyer’s remorse and drive sales of open box items with a new program that allows customers to rent gadgets on a short-term basis before…
Has Rainbow Shops created a compensation model aligned with omnichannel realities?
Apparel chain Rainbow Shops suspected that not factoring online sales into its store compensation model was creating tension between the brick-and-mortar and online areas of the company. Is there any…
Is Walmart’s innovation leader right that the AR revolution is a sure thing?
The main takeaway from a session at last week’s IRCE, presented by Imran Ansani, principal manager of innovation at Walmart Labs, is that big names in the retail world are…
Would Nordstrom be better off private?
Last week, members of the Nordstrom family indicated they are exploring taking the retailer private. What are the pros and cons of the Nordstrom family taking the retailer private?
Could ’embeddables’ in wearable tech give brands a clearer view of consumers?
Under Armour attributes its success thus far to creating products that deliver “performance, innovation and advantages” to their customers — all of whom they refer to as “athletes.” Do…
Is it time for stores to ditch the free Wi-Fi?
With inexpensive unlimited plans now regularly promoted by carriers and consumers less worried about overage charges, free Wi-Fi spots aren’t as popular as they used to be. Should retailers continue…
Is IKEA really going to start selling on Amazon’s Marketplace?
IKEA has continued to grow in recent years due to management’s willingness to adapt to the rapid changes taking place in the market. The most recent example is IKEA’s plan…
Will ‘Project Gigaton’ give Walmart a sustainable competitive edge?
Walmart is partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund on a green initiative called Project Gigaton, which will reduce a gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions from Walmart’s supply chain by 2030…
What does it take for retailers to thrive amid shifting consumer preferences?
In a presentation during the 2017 Retail Innovation Conference, Josh Wais, emerging technology and strategy lead at Jet.com, shared five key takeaways he felt retailers must follow if they want…
Can a failed department store find a second life as an off-price retail chain?
To survive in a market that’s otherwise drying up, one longstanding traditional department store has decided to rebrand itself as an off-price chain. Should struggling department stores consider rebranding entirely…
What does At Home know that Amazon, Wayfair and other online furniture sellers do not?
Furniture is among the fastest growing categories online. But despite the rush to gain a sales edge online, not everyone is following suit as evidenced by At Home, a fast…
Are ‘free’ product days worth retailers’ efforts?
On June 2, “National Donut Day” also known as“National Doughnut Day” saw a number of large and smaller doughnut sellers give away free products to customers. Do you see annual…
Is the ‘exosuit’ the breakthrough the wearables market has been waiting for?
Researchers are still working on coming up with a wearable device that will really stick with consumers. Two new full-body, physics-leveraging wearables might point to a new direction for the…
