RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Does Amazon need bricks to make its online grocery business click?
For all the mystique that surrounds the company, Amazon.com has encountered the same problems with its AmazonFresh service as others who have tried to tackle home delivery of groceries. Now…
How can retailers foster staff enthusiasm for better customer experiences?
Staff enthusiasm is a key element of a great customer experience. Enthusiasm creates a more energetic, engaging location, and thus more interest and excitement for the customer. That leads to…
Sam’s says it’s scoring with club pickup
Club Pickup — the Sam’s Club version of click-and-collect fulfillment — is gaining traction with business customers and is poised for growth, said Jamie Iannone, president and CEO of Samsclub.com…
Is ‘experiential retail’ taking a new form?
There are few buzzwords more buzzier today than “experiential retail.” Everyone from apparel merchants to supermarkets are being told to embrace this trend. But what does experiential retail mean? How…
Do retailers need middle men to match them up with tech startups?
Build, invest or buy? That is a question being asked among retailers today who are increasingly turning to middle men to help evaluate startups and disruptive technology. Should retailers…
How will automation transform selling floor jobs?
According to a new report from PwC, 44 percent of workers in the U.K. in the wholesale and retail trade are susceptible to losing their jobs to automation from robotics…
Lowe’s innovates because it has to
At last week’s Shoptalk conference, the executive director of Lowe’s Innovation Labs detailed why innovation is so important for retailers. Should major brick and mortar retailers invest heavily in innovation…
Will ‘ambitious store redesign’ lift Target to new heights?
Described as its “most ambitious store redesign to-date,” Target is opening a new prototype that addresses both quick trippers and browsers. What do you think of Target’s prototype for addressing…
Should retailers ditch five-star ratings?
Five-star online ratings for reviews are common across retail (Amazon, Macy’s, Walmart, etc.), but Netflix believes the system is too complicated and biased. Is the five-star ratings system too flawed…
Will struggling retailers find new lives as pure play e-tailers?
In recent years, successful e-tailers have begun to realize that they can do even better with some sort of brick-and-mortar presence. But some struggling physical retailers are taking an opposite…
Will smaller stores and omnichannel pay off for Kohl’s?
While many rivals are closing stores, Kohl’s is adding them. The rationale is straightforward, the chain’s CEO Kevin Mansell told attendees at this week’s Shoptalk conference in Las Vegas. Do…
Can Nordstrom.com compete on experience over price?
Competition in online retail has long been characterized by a relentless focus on low prices and free delivery. In a world where cheap and fast usually wins, Nordstrom.com is bucking…
Will customer tracking help save shopping malls?
When it comes to re-mapping the mall to make it more attractive to shoppers, some of the technologies they are using might put some customers on edge. Can malls gain…
Is social media influence the new key to building brand loyalty?
According to research from Inmar, 83 percent of shoppers are more likely to buy products recommended by friends or social network influencers. What advice would you have for driving brand…
Is ‘wantedness’ something that marketers need?
A recent Wunderman study contends that there is a new measure of customer engagement called “wantedness” or “the degree to which a brand provides their commitment to earning a customer’s…
What do know-it-all shoppers want?
According to a survey from Tulip Retail, 83 percent of shoppers believe they’re more knowledgeable than store associates. Do knowledgeable shoppers want more knowledgeable associates or will they prefer to…
Will tech innovations change foodservice?
With the integration of touch screen ordering kiosks into big chains, there has been a lot of speculation about how technology will ultimately reshape fast food — both for the…
What happens now that Alexa is on the iPhone?
In a move onto Siri’s turf, Amazon has added Alexa to its iOS shopping app, letting users chat with the virtual assistant through an iPhone or iPad. What will Amazon…
Why is the U.S. so bad at airport retailing?
For the eighth year in a row, London’s Heathrow Airport won the “Best Airport for Shopping” in the Skytrax’s annual World Airport Survey. No U.S. airports ranked in the top…
How can sales associates successfully juggle customers?
Do we ever want to leave a customer and risk making the customer feel rejected and losing the sale? In this day of budget scheduling, salespeople at times more than…
Using a social app to prepare for a U.S. retail launch
Retailers often use social media to get the pulse of their industry and better understand their customers. But one Japanese apparel e-tailer has turned the process on its head, launching…
