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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Who won the Super Ad Bowl this year?
The creativity of commercials produced for the Super Bowl has been slipping for a few years. Many of the 2016 crop were barely up to preseason game standards, let alone…
What are BOPIS’s most glaring growing pains?
BOPIS gained greater acceptance with consumers globally last year but its challenges were highlighted in a new survey, as more than a third of U.K. shoppers who used BOPIS encountered…
Study urges shopper-centric category management approach
A new study finds that 85 percent of retailers have made either “no change” or “moderate change” to the initially-prescribed eight-step category management process that arrived with the ECR movement…
Does the world need a lower-than-low-price grocer?
In recent years, grocers have picked up on fresh and organic food trends. One new grocer in the U.K., however, isn’t concerning itself with that. The store, called easyFoodstore, makes…
How do video contests help retailers?
The Container Store recently launched its first video contest, joining in on a trend that has included several other brands and retailers in recent years. How can video contests engage…
The new Supervalu CEO is a dealmaker
Supervalu has named Mark Gross as its new president and chief executive, succeeding Sam Duncan who will retire from the company at the end of the month. What do you…
Will CVS and Target be stronger together under one roof?
One day in the near future, you’ll walk into a Target store. The pharmacy’s logo will still be red, but it will have a heart and read CVS instead of…
The positive power of negative reviews
A study from Northwestern University’s Spiegel Digital and Database Research Center in partnership with PowerReviews finds that negative reviews have a positive impact on brands because they help establish trust…
Does it pay for grocers to give free fruit to kids?
A Piggly Wiggly in Racine, Wisconsin has caused a social media stir by handing out free fruit to kids who are shopping with their parents. A fruit stand in front…
Is Amazon planning a big bookstore rollout?
When Amazon.com came along in the 1990s, it changed the way Americans buy books. So what does Amazon want to do now? According to Sandeep Mathrani, CEO of General Growth…
Diversity Barbie
Long criticized for her unachievable body proportions, Mattel last week unveiled curvy, petite and tall versions of Barbie. Will girls better relate to the new range of body types for…
Will Dov Charney finally have his revenge on American Apparel?
A bankruptcy court judge’s recent approval of American Apparel’s reorganization plan over a $300 million bid by another group of investors led by Dov Charney does not appear to be…
Will the third time be a charm or last strike for Circuit City?
Some hear the name Circuit City and think iconic retailer. Others hear the name and failed retailer comes to mind. According to reports, the Circuit City name is being revived…
Macy’s taps Etsy to reach Millennials
Etsy, the homemade crafts online marketplace, will open a shop in Macy’s Herald Square in New York City, located in One Below, the newly renovated lower level that’s aimed at…
Under Armour set on winning athleticwear crown from Nike
Stephen Curry doesn’t have the same skill set as Michael Jordan on the court, but Under Armour is counting on the Golden State Warrior all-star to help the brand achieve…
The Big Game gets bigger for retail
Promising “awesome deals on party essentials to make a fantastic football bash,” Kmart last week became one the first retailers of the season looking to capitalize on the ever-expanding Super…
Will humans shop at a store run mostly by robots?
SoftBank Group Corp., the Japanese parent of Sprint, will test what it claims to be the first store to be run largely by robots. How open do you think American…
Kroger ignites category captain brewhaha
Kroger Co. is drawing controversy with a plan to move away from relying on “category captains,” such as Anheuser-Busch InBev and Diageo, to guide how wine, liquor, and beer are…
Study finds widespread benefit to lenient return policies
New research from The University of Texas at Dallas has found that lenient return policies have a positive effect on consumers’ purchasing decisions in surprising ways. What lessons should retailers…
How high can McD’s go with all-day breakfast?
McDonald’s is lovin’ its decision to go to a limited all-day breakfast menu after posting a 5.7 percent increase in comparable sales in the first quarter since making the change…
How great is it to work at the Apple Store?
The head of Apple’s retail business, Angela Ahrendts, is all about the company’s culture. And it’s that culture that Ms. Ahrendts is counting on to continue to separate Apple from…
