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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Hudson’s Bay newest acquisition is no flash in the pan
Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns its namesake chain along with Saks and Lord & Taylor, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Gilt Groupe, one of the pioneers in the…
Can virtual reality reinvent the digital circular?
Retale, which enables consumers to browse weekly circulars from dozens of retailers on computers or mobile phones, is adding an Oculus Rift-based counterpart to its mobile app. How do you…
Will Save-A-Lot do better without Supervalu?
Last summer, Supervalu CEO Sam Duncan said Save-A-Lot, his company’s answer to Aldi, had “great growth prospects” and that he thought the business was most likely to achieve those on…
Will store closings and layoffs fix what ails Macy’s?
Macy’s, Inc., like many of its department store peers, found tough going in 2015. In response, the owner of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s has announced that it will close 40 stores…
Whole Foods uses tech to streamline operations
Pricing and public perception are areas in which Whole Foods has trouble winning. But despite a slew of bad press and a settlement in New York City over allegations of…
Will Chipotle recover from outbreaks and a criminal probe?
It wasn’t that long ago when analysts were pointing to Chipotle Mexican Grill as the restaurant chain that everyone was looking to emulate. That’s not the case anymore after multiple…
Should department stores go back to the future?
RetailWire will celebrate the fourteenth anniversary of its launch next month and yet, prior to that date, discussions were already taking place within retail industry circles about the viability of…
BrainTrust Predictions 2016: Niche specialist
According to Lee Peterson, EVP brand, strategy & design, WD Partners, a “Third Wave” of hybrid retail is arriving in 2016. “Whether they started in e-com or simply with the…
Brian Cornell continues Target’s makeover
It’s expected that when a new CEO comes into a company, particularly one that is struggling, that changes will be made within the executive ranks. In the case of Target,…
BrainTrust Predictions 2016: Broadlines/Grocers
Among broadline chains, Target is expected to see further recovery this year, recapturing some of its cheap-chic reputation, according to a poll of RetailWire BrainTrust panelists exploring 2016 prospects. In…
Will Samsung’s smart TV be the hub of the IoT home?
As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows in popularity, watchers have been on the lookout for the in-home hub that will tie the technology together. Samsung is trying to position…
Was Toys ‘R’ Us Times Square doomed by high rents?
While delivering experiences is often praised as the way physical stores can differentiate themselves from the online experience, two of New York City’s most experiential stores closed over the last…
BrainTrust Predictions 2016: Amazon’s momentum
Amazon easily emerged as the most likely retailer to find success in 2016 in a poll of a RetailWire BrainTrust panelists. Do you see Amazon gaining more momentum in 2016?…
The true cost of returns
A few articles last week explored the dirty secret around retail returns: Most don’t make it back to the selling floor. Is there more retailers can do to improve the…
Is m-commerce set to take off in 2016?
According to Bizrate Insights, mobile website purchases will increase by as much as 68 percent in 2016. The peak volume during the 2016 holiday season is projected to reach as…
The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge Goes Global – The Finals
Thirteen spots from retailers outside of the U.S. have been served up for your review over the past month. Now it’s time to pick the winner of year one of…
Could Starbucksization mean a Krispy Kreme comeback?
Krispy Kreme, a company that has long kept coffee on its back burner, is trying to up its game in the space where Starbucks dominates, testing out changes that will…
Why are women paying more?
A new study has found that a wide range of women’s products cost seven percent more than similar products for men. What are the biggest reasons women’s products are generally…
Online shopping exacerbates return headaches for retailers
The rise in online shopping is worsening the returns burden for retailers. Here we explore three underlying drivers. Of the challenges imposed by online returns, which do you see as…
Home Depot builds a store for Hollywood
Remodeling a basement is no simple construction project for DIY’ers, but building an alien landscape or a plausible spaceship control center has taken Home Depot places it hasn’t gone before…
Kroger launching fresh foods concept
Kroger, the nation’s largest operator of traditional supermarkets, is launching a new smaller banner, Main & Vine, described as a place “Where eating is healthy, affordable and fun!” Is it…
