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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Has mobile created a new marketing moment of truth?
In what some observers are equating to the next evolution of marketing’s “moment of truth,” Google has come up with a new term, “micro-moments,” to define how the omni-presence of…
Staples chooses to be different, closes stores on Thanksgiving
It has become expected that most large chains will open for consumers who simply can’t wait until midnight or some other ridiculously early hour on Black Friday to start shopping…
Leading from the back(room)
Most of the time we talk about leading from the floor, but there are times you need to be in the back. Here are some tips and reminders for how…
Can a fast fashion vet steer Ralph Lauren’s ship?
Shocking many fashion insiders, Ralph Lauren Corp. hired Stefan Larsson, a former H&M executive and president of Old Navy, to replace Ralph Lauren as CEO. Do you think Ralph Lauren…
Amazon dumps rival Apple and Google streaming devices
Amazon.com has announced it will end the sale of Apple TV and Google Chromecast video-streaming devices because those products do not work well with its own Prime Video service. Was…
What does it take to be a great manager?
There is an underlying theory that some people are natural leaders and therefore the best managers, whereas others are not and are destined to be not-so-great managers. The reality? Lots…
Target takes price-matching to a whole new level
Price matching is a common tactic in retailing with chains typically identifying a small number of key competitors whose prices they will meet. Beginning today, Target is taking the practice…
Will surge pricing become the new normal?
For some, “surge pricing,” the use of algorithms to automate price increases on products and services in periods of high demand and limited supply, adheres to a basic principle of…
Target challenges associates to shape up with Fitbit
Target plans to give each of its 335,000 U.S. employees a free or discounted Fitbit activity and sleep tracking device as part of its Fall Fitbit Challenge. What do you…
Bringing digital into stores won’t work
Pie in the sky statements about tectonic changes in stores don’t help the industry. And it’s not agencies that are going to affect changes, but retailers. Yet all efforts to…
Will Macy’s experiment solve its Millennials problem?
When it comes to trying to court the much sought-after Millennials shopper, Macy’s appears to be sparing no expense. The retailer recently redesigned its flagship location specifically to feature what…
Will consumers spend $370 for a Coke?
Having succeeded at hot beverages, it has long been rumored that Keurig would create a new machine to do the same for cold drinks. Now comes the long awaited Keurig…
Is data eliminating the need for chief merchants at retail?
With software increasingly driving allocation decisions, some recent industry coverage explores how the chief merchant role is evolving. Traditional roles have become less important with algorithms taking over, inferring that…
Will job cuts affect Whole Foods’ image as an employer?
Whole Foods announced plans yesterday to cut 1,500 store-level jobs over the next two months, 1.6 percent of its workforce, as part of a plan to invest in technology and…
Customer service reps need to throw away their scripts
One of the keys to excelling as a customer service rep is the ability to read people. Being able to read scripts is not a skill on the being a…
What’s the answer for costly online returns?
A new survey from HRC Advisory identified online returns — with their high occurrence and direct and indirect costs — as the biggest pain point facing retailers seeking to transform…
Are older workers retail’s ideal employees?
Many older boomers are delaying retirement. And when they do, they sometimes wind up getting a part-time job at retail. A movie, “The Intern,” that came out Friday paid homage…
Study: Incentives are not the way to drive multichannel shopping
A university study found that financial incentives are not always required to drive customers to try something new, including multichannel shopping. In fact, they can be counterproductive. Do you agree…
Big Data is all that, except when it isn’t
While retailers may be saying they are doing a better job of using personal data to reward customers for past behavior and to anticipate their future needs, it’s not so…
Do smaller living spaces mean smaller retail opportunities?
The number of people living in rural areas has been on the decline as populations shift to urban areas in support of jobs outside of agriculture. And with urban areas…
Are retailers ready for the EMV deadline?
In the midst of the steady stream of press releases and pitches about the Oct. 1 deadline for businesses to be able to accept new EMV credit cards, the issuers…
