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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will Google’s new devices give Apple and Amazon some competition?
Some might say that Google’s big reveal of new devices yesterday represents a me-too move to rivals including Apple and Amazon.com. Is Google ready to provide real competition to devices…
Why aren’t more retail apps being downloaded?
A new comScore study finds that part of the reason retail apps are seeing meager downloads is that people only want to engage with a limited number of apps overall…
Will Craftsman be better off without Sears?
Sears Holdings’ stock price got a lift yesterday on reports the retailer is moving closer to receiving bids on the company’s Craftsman tool brand that could reach as high as…
Best Buy speeds start-ups to selling floor
Best Buy has launched a new program that supports innovators and entrepreneurs largely by showcasing and selling their gadgets to consumers. Do you see programs such as Best Buy’s Ignite…
Are the alternatives any better than annual performance reviews?
When it comes to workplace events that produce resentment and anxiety, few score higher than the big annual performance review. Are you a fan of annual performance reviews for…
Will limiting incentives make Amazon reviews more credible?
Amazon has decided to put further controls on incentivized ratings, only allowing those that pass through its authorization system to be posted. Do you think consumers trust reviews on Amazon.com…
How can retailers satisfy entitled consumers?
Shoppers research products before entering a store, search for better values online while in a store, and sometimes know more than a store associate. A Forrester session at Shop.org showed…
Costco sticking to store-first approach
While Costco acknowledges shortcomings in its digital approach, Richard Galanti, EVP and CFO, last week inferred the wholesale club has no plans to become an omnichannel retailer. Does “shop anywhere,…
Will customers give Amazon the keys to their smart homes?
Amazon is exploring the idea of offering in-home deliveries, that is, having delivery people place items in the home of the customer when he or she is not in the…
Is Walmart arming for a global battle with Amazon?
Walmart’s recent acquisition of Jet.com, its strategic alliance with JD.com in China, and now reportedly in talks to invest up to $1 billion in Flipkart, the largest online retailer in…
Will Zappos reap rewards from its new loyalty program?
Zappos’ first-ever loyalty program is a four-tier, progressive benefits platform that offers rewards for writing a review and logging onto Zappos.com across devices. What do you think of the Zappos…
Best Buy takes the midnight madness route for new PlayStation
It’s not unusual for retailers to open their stores at midnight to drum up excitement and sales for Black Friday, but Best Buy is doing just that on Oct. 13…
Can Snapchat Spectacles avoid the missteps of Google Glass?
Snapchat has surprised the tech community by changing its name to Snap Inc. It has also shocked its peers by introducing the company’s first hardware product, Spectacles, which instantly drew…
Will opening hotels help West Elm sell more furniture?
West Elm is launching a number of boutique hotels. The home furnishings retailer will design, furnish and market the hotels. Guests will be given the opportunity to purchase items found…
Will retailers benefit from greater supply chain transparency?
Retailers have been changing the way they do business to appeal to, or avoid alienating, an increasingly socially conscious consumer base. Should retailers make it a point to publish information…
Could heat mapping be an equalizer for brick & mortar?
E-commerce sites can gain a huge benefit from the ability to track a browser’s every move. In the physical retail realm, cameras equipped with heat mapping software are promising to…
Are private labels the key to beating Amazon?
While Amazon.com has had mixed results with its own label products, it sees these products as a means of differentiation. As it turns out, Amazon’s rivals also see private labels…
How Target’s retail accelerator gave Blueprint Registry a leg up
Knowing the slim chances of startups making it alone, Blueprint Registry applied to Target’s highly competitive retail accelerator program, and was one of 11 companies chosen. What do you…
Facebook customizes ads to local inventories
Facebook has introduced “dynamic ads” that enable retailers to showcase products available in the store that’s closest to the person seeing the ad. Do you see customizing digital ads to…
Can a revamped Office Depot compete with digital?
Office Depot, one of the last office supply chains standing, is hoping to breathe new life into its physical retail presence. Can Office Depot’s store redesign that features enhanced services…
Target wraps up its first tech accelerator program
Mimicking the reality TV show, “Shark Tank,” 11 “dreamers, doers and makers” on Sept. 20 delivered pitches in front of nearly 1,000 tech and retail experts at Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall…
