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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Can Walmart’s sweepstakes game teach the unbanked to ‘bank’ their money?
In order to let the unbanked and underbanked portion of its customer base take part in things like online shopping, Walmart has launched programs that make the retailer look a…
Is a self-service model Macy’s ticket to success?
Back in March, RetailWire reported on Macy’s effort to put greater emphasis on self-service in stores. As it turns out, self-service pilots in shoe departments have proven so successful, Macy’s…
Are some retailer CEOs too old to learn new tricks?
Hindsight, it has frequently been said, is 20-20. So, what does Mickey Drexler, CEO of J.Crew Group, see when he looks back on his company’s performance over the past 10…
Can Hershey help grocers transition to a digitally-dominated future?
In an unusual initiative for a CPG brand, Hershey just released a report, “New Retail in a Shopper’s World,” that details how retailers can transition to a digitally-dominated future. Should…
Will Amazon’s use of data transform how retailers operate stores?
How does Amazon Books differ from Barnes & Noble as well as the many book chains that have bitten the dust in recent years? Discovery and data. That’s what Jennifer…
What does it take to thrive in an over-stored marketplace?
The over-storing of America is perhaps the most immediate and imposing problem facing retailers. Retailers need a radical change of focus and success metrics aimed at customer growth rather than…
Will recruiting military vets give Walmart and Amazon a competitive edge?
Many retailers have identified the value of recruiting military veterans as employees. Several large businesses have in fact established goals for recruiting workers who have served in the armed forces…
How should retailers balance personal versus impersonal experiences?
In many c-stores today, the customer must order what they want at a kiosk, as if any dialogue between the employee and customer was not allowed. Some love it because…
Will J.C. Penney find success with its new B2B venture?
Marvin Ellison is letting his Home Depot roots show once again. J.C. Penney’s CEO is behind the department store chain’s latest venture, which involves selling items directly to businesses placing…
Can offline word-of-mouth be used to drive business results?
Despite the hype, conversations about retail and apparel brands still mostly happen offline, in face-to-face conversations, as opposed to online conversations taking place via social media, according to Engagement Labs…
How should self-checkout be incentivized?
In the U.K., Asda’s customers in some situations have to use the self-service checkout lane if their purchases amount to less than £100. The revelation came in a Daily Mail…
Will pop-up only malls catch on?
In Detroit, a local accelerator and a community development group have launched a pop-up only retail environment aimed at helping mom-and-pop retailers find a broader audience while they figure out…
Will Hy-Vee’s grocerant strategy set it apart from rivals?
Although it’s in the grocer’s DNA, Hy-Vee recently redoubled its commitment to prepared foods. Is the combination of sit-down restaurants and grab-and-go prepared foods a viable positioning strategy for supermarkets?
Is Walmart on track to offer customers a seamless shopping experience?
Yesterday, Walmart announced that same-store sales had increased 1.4 percent year-over-year as store traffic improved. The company’s online sales jumped 63 percent, with most of the gains attributed to organic…
Is Dick’s Sporting Goods smart to wait on more retail failures before opening new stores?
Believing lease costs are heading south, Dick’s Sporting Goods earlier this week said it was “significantly” reducing new store openings in the years ahead. How should retailers alter their real…
Is influencer marketing all that it’s cracked up to be?
While influencer marketing packs many potential benefits, all brands and retailers need to be aware of some serious issues. Do you see more pros or cons for retailers and brands…
Is the $400B prescription drug business ripe for an Amazon disruption?
CNBC reported yesterday that Amazon.com is hiring an executive to lead its entry into the pharmacy business. Two unnamed sources familiar with Amazon’s plans told CNBC of the planned hire…
Will Apple get customers to go back to school?
Less than a year after Apple began dropping the word “Store” from its storefronts to drive home the impression that its retail outlets are for more than just buying products,…
How safe is America’s food supply?
The 2017 Food Safety Summit, held last week in Chicago, featured panels and keynote presentations that focused on how food safety professionals are coping with the Food Safety Modernization Act…
Why is Walmart so concerned about Aldi and Lidl?
Walmart knows a thing or two about Aldi and Lidl occupying the same market based on its experience in the U.K. and Europe. Perhaps that’s why The Wall Street Journal…
How many training hours are appropriate for store-level workers?
According to early findings from RSR’s annual Store Report, retailers think training their store personnel is fairly important, but there are serious snags in how much training those personnel receive…
