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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Has Best Buy solved the Amazon riddle?
Do you remember showrooming? Best Buy was among those retailers most often cited as being at risk, but something(s) changed along the way as evidenced by the company’s rebound and…
What will Trump’s TPP rejection mean for retail?
Donald Trump has announced that scrapping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is one of the actions he plans to take in his first day in office. What do you think rejection…
Ten tips to a stress-free, enjoyable and productive holiday
The holidays can be wonderful and, from time to time, a bit trying. Here’s a list of tips and actions anyone working retail can use for a reasonably stress-free, enjoyable…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: J.C. Penney vs. Kohl’s
What is your critique of J.C. Penney’s “Flying Again” and Kohl’s “The Doll” commercials? Which do you think does a better job of connecting with each company’s core customers while…
How important is convenience to motivating online holiday shoppers?
According to Adobe’s 2016 Digital Insights Shopping Prediction, lower prices and free shipping remain the primary reasons people shop online during the holiday season, but convenience is on the rise…
Patagonia to donate all Black Friday profits to green groups
Patagonia is looking to do-good its way to a stellar Christmas selling season. The retailer has announced that it will donate 100 percent of the profits it makes from Black…
Will table service be a difference-maker for McDonald’s?
McDonald’s last week announced plans to roll out table service to all of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. After customers place their orders at a touch-screen kiosk and pick up a…
Here’s one way retailers can measure cross-channel influence
How much do stores really influence online and how much does online really influence stores? The topic came up at a recent event focused on omnichannel and the future of…
Will Alexa-exclusive deals bring holiday cheer to Amazon?
This past weekend, Amazon.com held its first ever “voice shopping weekend,” offering exclusive deals only available through its Alexa virtual assistant. Could exclusive virtual assistant deals alter the dynamics of…
Will hundreds of small stores produce big results for Target?
Target CEO Brian Cornell sees big opportunities for the chain to grow by moving into densely populated urban areas and college towns. That’s why the company is focusing on opening…
Retailers go beyond (below) price-matching for the holidays
Under its “Price Match + 5%” guarantee, if a customer shows a competitor’s price is lower, Academy will beat it by five percent. Would you advise retailers in some…
Are Neiman Marcus and Rent the Runway meant for each other?
Neiman Marcus and Rent the Runway seem an unlikely match. But today the retailer is opening a 3,000-square-foot Rent the Runway shop inside its store in San Francisco.Do you think…
Do consumers now expect two-day delivery?
While free shipping has become a requirement for many online buyers, is speedy delivery that far behind? Is Amazon’s fast delivery becoming as important a differentiator as free delivery?
Are retailers carrying enough inventory for Christmas?
Retail sales in September and October achieved their highest month-to-month gains since early 2014 and some see that improvement as a sign that this year’s holiday selling season may exceed…
Who destroyed American Apparel?
American Apparel is headed back to bankruptcy court for the second time in a year. The future of the embattled fashion brand/retailer is uncertain, if not downright bleak. Who do…
Will adding off-price shops lift Macy’s full-price stores?
Macy’s is setting up shops promoting its off-price Backstage concept in 45 of the chain’s full-price stores in time for Christmas. Will the addition of Backstage shops inside of Macy’s…
Nike goes big with an experiential concept in Soho
Nike is making a full-court press into experiential retail with its new store in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood.
The five-story operation, which opened in mid-November, is home to an array of high-tech…
Gamification reaches the next level
For some brands, gamification has emerged as a productive tactic in an era when keeping customers engaged has become increasingly difficult. Though the approach has been in practice for years,…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Kmart vs. Walmart
What is your critique of Kmart’s “Disguise” and Walmart’s “Holiday Helpers”? Which do you think does a better job of connecting with each company’s core customers while reaching out to…
How will the ‘sentient enterprise’ spark shifts in company culture?
Retailers consistently rank analytics as a strategic priority because they know that data management is the core foundation of getting things right. Likewise, they know that uncovering and acting on…
Can revenue-sharing programs save independents?
Some vendors are taking unusual steps to support independent specialty shops that are dealing with heightened competition from online rivals. What do you see as the pros and cons of…
