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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Social sites move to boost retail sales
Photo sharing social sites have become hugely popular over the past few years as consumers check out clothing and other products. The challenge has been to figure out how to…
Former loss prevention workers accuse CVS of racial profiling
Minority consumers have long complained about being treated unfairly in stores. Now, four former CVS employees have filed suit charging the chain with racial profiling and for terminating their employment…
France bans edible food dumping
In an effort to curb food waste, France is making it illegal for large stores to throw away any unsold but still edible food. Stores will have to sign contracts…
Retailing trains workers to work outside retail. Huh?
A new National Retail Federation study finds the skills developed working in the retail business are attractive to hiring managers in other industries. While it may be good news for…
Retailers use gamification to drive engagement
As any adult who has downloaded Candy Crush or Angry Birds can attest, gaming isn’t just for kids anymore. As many retailers can tell you, gamification strategies are a great…
CVS is muy serio about engaging Hispanics
When CVS announced last July that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Navarro Discount Pharmacy, the largest Hispanic-owned drugstore chain in the U.S., the reason behind the deal…
Are retailers relevant?
Today, it’s no longer about customers being loyal to brands; it’s about brands being loyal to customers. If you really want to get your customers’ attention — consistently — you…
Loving customers who complain the most
In George Anderson’s early days as a young account executive at an agency, a mentor taught him to value clients he called “screamers.” Loudly voiced objections demanded a response, he…
Social marketing in the age of emojis
The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. The same may not be exactly true for emojis. The usefulness of these symbols for quick communication is quickly…
GameStop gets personal with Millennials
Millennials love video games. In an interview with RetailWire, Mike Hogan, GameStop’s executive vice president of business strategy and brand development, said the company is focused on personalization largely through…
What wins customers back after a customer experience failure?
According to a recent global survey, 82 percent of customers experiencing a “worst customer experience” said they are interested in fixing the problem, but only about one in five of…
Macy’s and Bloomie’s tailor the online experience
When a suit you buy at Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s doesn’t fit, getting it fixed right is a pretty straightforward proposition. But what happens when you try to recreate the process…
Walmart EVP discusses plan to grow grocery sales
With majors such as Target and Kroger on one side and oodles of digital upstarts on the other, Walmart faces a daunting challenge in grocery, a make-or-break business for the…
Finding the line between digital creepy and cool
A survey has found that digital enhancements that help shoppers find relevant products and information, and navigate the store are generally considered “cool.” Digital capabilities that identify, track and use…
Google tests hands-free payments
At its I/O developer conference last week, Google revealed a prototype of a “Hands Free” payment feature that will allow customers to pay without taking out their wallet or phone…
Amazon rolls out free same-day delivery
Amazon on Thursday began offering free same-day shipping on “over a million” items to Prime subscribers in 14 major metropolitan areas. Is extending free same-day delivery a game changer for…
Gap is still waiting for a turnaround
When Art Peck came on as the CEO of Gap Inc., the plan called for him to breath new life into the company with the tech-savvy approach displayed in his…
Is Amazon set to become the next big CPG powerhouse?
Amazon pulled the plug on its private label diapers due to complaints about poor quality, but the diaper fiasco has not deterred the company as it is pursuing a broad…
Ahold’s market share gains come at a cost
While there are no current updates on the merger talks between Ahold and Delhaize, there was plenty of talk yesterday about Ahold’s first quarter earning report. Do you think a…
Will new gen vending units make their mark on retail?
While threatened by the backlash against soft drinks and sugary snacks, kiosks selling premium goods are promising to reinvent the vending machine. How would you characterize the opportunity to grow…
SpartanNash goes from no frills to sushi bars in Omaha
Talk about a difference of night and day. SpartanNash is transforming six stores into its Family Fare format, which includes organic food sections, panini and sushi bars, craft beer selections…
