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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will new retail associate roles drive Apple’s sales even higher?
In addition to removing “store” from its Apple Store name, Apple is adding three new positions at the store level. Is the system of job hierarchies part of Apple Store’s…
Will Lands’ End hit pay dirt on Amazon?
If you can’t beat ‘em, join their marketplace. That appears Lands’ End’s plan with the announcement the company will begin selling on Amazon.com by the end of the month. Do…
Why are retailers struggling to get social media right?
According to a new report from Boston Retail Partners (BRP), 81 percent of retailers using social media to engage with customers indicate that their processes need improvement. Why has the…
Walmart cuts in-store back-office jobs
Walmart is eliminating approximately 7,000 accounting and invoicing positions inside its U.S. stores. How confident are you that Walmart can eliminate many of its in-store administrative jobs without repercussions?
Why do consumers like retail apps?
A new report from research group Arc by Applause finds a variety of reasons why consumers prefer one app versus another. Why do retail apps seem to be highly relevant…
Can edible packaging help solve retail’s eco problem?
A preliminary breakthrough in technology could find CPG manufacturers replacing non-biodegradable plastic packaging with material that can be eaten. How realistic is it to think edible packaging can help retailers…
Amazon to test 30-hour week
To support recruiting efforts, Amazon plans to test a 30-hour workweek. The test will initially involve a few dozen people in human resources. Do you see more of an upside…
Has American Girl made a wise move into Toys ‘R’ Us?
After years of being available only online, in catalogs and in its handful of “experiential” shops, American Girl will start selling in select Toys “R” Us stores beginning in late…
Schnucks bans solicitors from outside its stores
Schnucks has banned solicitors from the front of its 100 locations, ostensibly to provide a more pleasant shopping experience. But some suspect there’s is more to this than meets the…
Abercrombie is abandoning teenagers
Following the flagship’s 14th straight quarter of negative comps, Abercrombie & Fitch is forging ahead on a plan announced earlier this year to go after a slightly older customer: 18-to-25-year…
Can fresh foods revive department stores?
The department store model could use some fresh ideas. For an upscale department store chain in Australia, one of the ideas they’re trying out is fresh food. Could fresh or…
Is good karma the newest customer reward?
Some consumers are being rewarded for actions they take, but a difference is that they aren’t earning money but an incentive they can’t take to the bank: good karma. Do…
J.Crew to sell inside Nordstrom
J.Crew Group Inc. will sell an edited assortment of its flagship J.Crew brand at select Nordstrom full-line stores and on Nordstrom.com, beginning September 12. Which company will benefit most from…
Retail executives have no clue about digital
Despite at least 10 years of massive investments in brainpower trying to understand and predict what digital means for retail, the shopping experience in 2016 still looks an awful lot…
Is the Millennial car shopper Amazon’s next big audience?
Amazon has announced the launch of a site called Amazon Vehicles, a research destination and community meant to help people with the notoriously complicated process of purchasing a vehicle. …
Target holds first storewide sale
Storewide sales are a regular occurrence at department stores but a rarity for a big-box discounter. Do the benefits of its one-off storewide promotion outweigh the risks for Target?
How much loyalty do off-pricers have?
TJX Cos. has had consistently strong financial results — the envy of most retailers — but is this the result of something specific to the company or a consumer trend…
ConAgra, Unilever mull delivering meals to the home
Start-up companies such as Plated and Blue Apron have carved out a niche in the food business by delivering meal kits to the home. Now some major food makers are…
Can we finally let Webvan rest in peace?
The ghost of Webvan has been banished forever. Today, some of the largest grocers in the country offer online sales with either on-site pickup and/or door-to-door delivery. How do you…
Are wearables on the way out?
According to a new study, wearables aren’t trending upwards in popularity the way they were just a year ago. Have retailers and brands overemphasized the importance of wearable technology?
Can Dollar General afford to price it out with Walmart?
While Dollar General had succeeded in gaining market share in the most recent quarter, the chain is taking aggressive steps to address price cuts made by Walmart and others. Can…
