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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
What makes a great sale?
Regarding the constant barrage of e-mails, commercials and other communications that consumers receive about the latest sales event, how many really stand out in the mind of consumers and result…
Retailers see minuses in plus-size sections
ModCloth, an up-and-coming e-tailer that caters to a younger, female audience, has folded its plus-size assortment into the rest of its apparel offerings. Does the removal of the plus-size distinction…
Will second-hand clothing drive more traffic to Target’s stores?
Target, which made its name from cheap chic apparel, is looking to bring its business to another level with … secondhand clothes. Do you see a growing market for second-hand…
Will marketers like Facebook’s emoji buttons?
In September, Facebook indicated that the social network’s users would finally be getting a long-asked-for “dislike” button, or at least ways to show empathy. It turns out Facebook is exploring…
Are demos just not worth it?
Respondents to an extensive phone and e-mail survey of frozen and refrigerated food vendors say demos are costly and inefficient compared with other — especially newer — forms of promotion…
Urban Outfitters asks workers to volunteer for work without pay
Urban Outfitters is facing criticism after it was leaked that the company has asked salaried employees in its Philadelphia headquarters to volunteer to work for free at its fulfillment center…
Finding the path to more relevant offers
Speaking last week at the Shop.org 2015, Doug Mack, CEO of Fanatics, the largest e-tailer of fan merchandise, discussed the challenges around delivering relevant offers to consumers and described what…
Better connecting the dots between e-mail and social media
By now, most retailers and brands have a handle on e-mail campaigns and at least a decent one on social media. But how many marketers are connecting all the necessary…
Is the time right to move to the cloud?
Despite the reported benefits of moving company core systems to the cloud, RSR’s Paula Rosenblum, in speaking with clients, was “surprised by the resistance to many of these applications …
Survey: Consumers would rather buy online from brands
While most purchases take place by way of third-party channels, consumers would prefer to buy directly from their favorite brands if given the option, according to a survey from BrandShop…
Uniqlo reads customers’ minds to sell t-shirts
From smart fitting rooms to touchscreen-enabled robots rolling through home centers, retailers are looking for new ways to improve the shopping experience. The latest experiment on this front comes…
Amazon looks to out-Etsy Etsy
Amazon’s long-awaited answer to Etsy is here. Yesterday the e-tail giant announced the launch of Handmade at Amazon, a new online store featuring items made by artisans and sold directly…
Jet.com ditches subscription fee
Jet.com was launched less than three months ago with an operating model to get by on lower margins than rivals by, similarly to Costco, charging customers an annual $50 membership…
Online has a long way to go to personalization
At a session Tuesday at Shop.org’s 2015 Digital Summit, Molly Baab, VP of product management at the flash site, Rue La La, lamented that most retailers efforts at personalization online…
QVC’s digital journey offers lessons for brick & mortar retailers
In successfully transitioning from a TV retailer to a digital, multi-channel retailer, QVC focused less on matching the level of its TV shopping experience and more on complementing and enhancing…
What can smart shelf tech do for Kroger’s business?
Kroger continues to excel at its core business, in part, because of its innovative use of technology. The most recent example of the grocer’s willingness to put technology to work…
Will omnichannel success drive up retail store rents?
In its “Envision 2020” report, the International Council of Shopping Centers predicts rent calculations across retail will evolve into a new formula that incorporates how physical stores are driving digital…
Should Whole Foods sell food made by inmates?
Whole Foods, finding itself at the center of a debate about the ethics of prison labor, has made the decision to stop selling foods that are produced by inmates. Which…
Will Sam’s new plan lead to sustainable growth?
In an email to associates sent last Friday, Sam’s Club president and CEO Rosalind Brewer wrote that after a nine-month review of the business, she was ready to share elements…
Making the case for shopper time management
Ask any retailer what their shopper’s average trip length is or how fast shoppers buy once they are in one of their stores, and you will likely get blank stares…
Do retailers need help managing their online reviews?
A host of companies have arrived over the last couple of years offering online review management for businesses looking to increase positive reviews and decrease negative ones. What steps should…
