RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Did Starbucks turn its POS outage into a win?
An unspecified number of Starbucks stores were unable to process payments yesterday due to problems caused by a software update to the chain’s point of sale system. The issue prevented…
Will Walmart’s next-gen store fly with shoppers?
Walmart seems to be trying to shed its old-fashioned, spartan image while still maintaining a low-price appeal. The latest example of this can be found in the next-gen store layout…
Has J.C. Penney figured out a fix for its fashion problem?
Same-store sales at J.C. Penney have declined for four of the past five quarters and weakness in the chain’s clothing sales has been a consistent drag on performance. While Marvin…
Are digital CX initiatives being lost on Baby Boomers?
Generational differences may play a larger role in attitudes toward digital innovations than company executives originally thought, according to research from the IBM Institute for Business Value. Is mobile engagement…
Will mobile wallets replace plastic loyalty cards?
According to a survey from CodeBroker, the biggest consumer complaint with loyalty programs is simply carrying the plastic card itself. Will mobile payment likely replace the need for plastic loyalty…
Can retailers keep up with Gen Z’s digital savviness?
While more digitally-savvy, Gen Z is expected to differ from Millennials in a few other ways, according to an American Express survey. How do you think Gen Z will differ…
Will consumers decide meal kits just aren’t worth buying?
Why have meal kit delivery services “exploded into a $1.5 billion market in just the past few years and appear on track to at least double that number in the…
Will Amazon dominate the online furniture market?
Wayfair.com, Williams-Sonoma and any other retailers selling furniture and appliances online beware. Amazon.com has its sights set on ruling the online market for these products and is building “four massive…
Do customer reviews suffer from a herd mentality?
The belief that online user ratings are good indicators of product quality is largely an illusion, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study. Should retailers attempt to do…
Will Unilever’s investment in an organic meal kit maker pay off?
Sun Basket, the meal kit service that delivers weekly recipes with organic ingredients, has just picked up a $9.2 million investment from Unilever’s venture capital business and other investors, according…
What’s the ‘STORY’ with Jet.com’s grocery store?
It was nearly a year ago today that reports surfaced on Jet.com’s pilot of fresh grocery deliveries in communities along the East Coast. The latest news is that Jet is…
Is marketing research suffering from an identity crisis?
Marketing research has an identity crisis. So now we have the Insights Association and a speaker at the annual MRS conference in the UK saying we should no longer use…
What makes consumers so loyal to Publix, Wegmans, Trader Joe’s and H-E-B?
Americans love Publix and Wegmans best. The two chains came out tied for the top spot in a consumer survey of more than 12,700 shoppers by Market Force Information. If…
Are pricing bots a boon or bane for consumers?
It’s a common plot twist — a scientist invents a new medicine or technology intended to help humankind, but in the end its original intent is perverted to cause harm…
Has Fabletics bridged the digital/physical divide with its omnicart tech?
Connecting shoppers’ in-store habits with their online behavior without appearing invasive has proven to be tough for retailers. But activewear brand Fabletics’ omnichannel fitting room could provide a lesson. Do…
Is facial recognition a viable solution for reducing shoplifting?
As identification accuracy improves and costs come down, more stores are installing facial recognition security cameras to reduce shoplifting. But their use is largely being kept a secret from shoppers…
Will next day delivery make Target an omnichannel force?
Target announced yesterday that it has begun testing a new next-day delivery program involving around 8,000 everyday products such as coffee, granola bars and laundry detergent. Do you take Target’s…
Should more brands offer rewards linked to store purchases?
Starbucks and Kellogg are among the few brands that have figured out a way to tie their rewards programs to grocery store purchases. Why aren’t more vendor loyalty programs linking…
Will online grocers redefine hotel room service?
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham has launched a new pilot program with Peapod and Instacart to make deliveries directly to hotel guests. Do you see an opportunity for online grocers and…
Can Walmart dash past Amazon with its own product replenishment system?
Moving a step beyond Amazon.com’s Dash button, Walmart is seeking to patent a delivery system that automatically reorders items when they run out. Do you see a big opportunity in…
Do consumers want experiential rewards?
In March, Kayla Watters, a Kohl’s Yes2You Rewards member, participated in a fashion shoot in Palm Springs to support the just-launched LC Lauren Conrad Festival Collection. Her modeling debut came,…
