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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Walmart tests matching Prime delivery speed
In an effort to provide a better answer to Amazon Prime, Walmart’s ShippingPass subscription service will offer delivery in less than two days rather than three. How does Walmart’s private…
Will Google’s smart home controller overtake Echo?
Amazon’s voice-activated smart home control center now has competition from another tech giant — and one of the few that has more data on its hands than Amazon. What will…
CurrentC gets put on a shelf by MCX
What does the suspension of CurrentC and the rollout of Walmart Pay say about the future of mobile payments? Do you see QR codes or near field communications emerging as…
Will Amazon.com become the king of private label?
Amazon is preparing the launch a slew of private label lines across a wide variety of product categories within weeks. Will the new lines be game changers in and of…
Study: male retail workers receive preferential treatment
At least in Ontario, frontline male workers are paid more than women in every occupational category at retail, according to a new study from Brock University. Are there reasons beyond…
Are shipping losses the new normal in retailing?
Will Amazon have to sharply reduce shipping and fulfillment costs to below a quarter of merchandise revenues to build sustainable profitability into its business model? Is a loss on shipping…
Will Jet.com’s online fresh grocery pilot crash or soar?
With millions in funding and visions of out-Amazoning Amazon.com in CEO Marc Lore’s eyes, Jet.com has launched a test of fresh groceries in communities in several eastern states. Will Jet.com’s…
Sears to open standalone appliance store. What took so long?
Retail industry watchers have long urged various regimes running Sears to dump clothing and other poorly performing categories to focus on the chain’s strengths. Sears is now putting the advice…
When did tech companies lose their point of view?
A phrase heard lately from tech vendors has been: “Any way they want it.” Is today’s rapidly shifting environment compelling technology vendors to become more flexible when formulating solutions with…
FTC and judge make mistake in ending Office Depot/Staples merger
It’s a common view in retailing circles that merging two struggling companies gets you one larger, still struggling business. But with the proposed merger between Office Depot and Staples, the…
Will Topshop discover the next big wearable device?
It has become commonplace to see Fitbits and other health trackers on the arms of consumers. Now British apparel retailer Topshop hopes to find, co-develop and sell the piece of…
Will 3-D printing ever make it at retail?
According to Ovum, the technology research and advisory firm, 3-D printing will have only a limited impact in the retail space, at least over the next 10 years or so…
This Bud’s – er, America’s – for you
It’s certainly not unusual for brands trying to sell more units to wrap themselves in the American flag. Now comes news that the maker of Budweiser will replace the brand’s…
Will robotics give Lord & Taylor and Saks an e-commerce edge?
Hudson’s Bay Company announced last week that it will open “a new state-of-the-art, all-channel fulfillment center that will make use of robotic technology that’s three-times faster than the tech commonly…
1-800-Flowers introduces AI concierge
1-800-Flowers is using artificial intelligence to provide gift suggestions and product recommendations with GWYN (Gifts When You Need), an AI version of a personal shopper. What do you think of…
Did Penney announce its appliance rollout to change the discussion?
In today’s 24/7 cable news and social media world, it’s become imperative that organizations are ready to respond to and/or move the media away from the latest story in a…
Study: E-commerce is eroding retail profitability
A study from HRC Advisory finds that operating earnings as a percent of sales has declined by up to 25 percent for retailers due in part to a shift from…
H-E-B takes third-party route to deliver groceries
H-E-B, one of the most respected and successful supermarket operators in the U.S., is hopping on the online grocery bandwagon. Or should that be bandwagons? Do you see the decision…
Women are a majority in Best Buy’s top executive ranks
Best Buy has become one of the few major retailers to have women make up a majority of its c-suite. Do you agree with the premise that having more female…
Are store conditions driving consumers online?
One less talked about advantage of online shopping is avoiding the grime, odors, sloppiness and other forms of annoyance that often occur at physical retail. What are the most persistently,…
Is Samsung’s fridge $5,799 worth of smart?
After gaining much hype at the CES show, the Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator last week became available to the public. Does it make sense for refrigerators to become the hub…
