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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Google’s mobile search update could hit retailers hard
Google’s big search algorithm switch happened on Apr. 21, meaning mobile-friendly sites will enjoy the most searchability from mobile devices and retailers, especially small businesses without mobile-friendly sites, could take…
Instacart delivers pricing transparency
Instacart, the popular grocery delivery service, has partnered with more than half the retailers on its platform to guarantee its prices are the same as the ones a shopper gets…
Staples chat: That wasn’t easy!
We’re all looking to take a few shortcuts when shopping, especially online, so when Al McClain recently ran into an issue on Staples.com, he opted to give “chat” a try…
Four tips for turning around a bad day
The bad day. It inevitably happens every now and again in every store. You know, the kind of day that seems destined to fall far short of goal. Hopefully you…
Ahold earns rave reviews for Everything Fresh concept
Ahold USA has developed a new, small box concept that focuses on organic foods and prepared meals at “cray cray low prices” while, according to reports, is delivering outstanding service…
Home Depot gets out ahead of toxic flooring controversy
A new report released this week has praised Home Depot for being “far ahead” of its home improvement store rivals when it comes to requiring flooring suppliers to stop using…
Study: Drones could take off as retail delivery vehicle
If the FAA gives Amazon clearance for commercial rollout of its drone delivery service, the price a consumer would pay for the delivery of a five-pound package could be as…
Starbucks brews up latest limited edition money maker
Adding an air of exclusivity and collector’s appeal to retail items seems to be a burgeoning trend. Starbucks has been at the game for a while, and now is upping…
Going to work with dad
Today, as George Anderson sits writing this article next to his seven-year-old daughter who is hanging with her dad as part of the national “Take Your Kids to Work Day”…
Bentonville here you come!
The appointment has been made. Your bags are packed. Prototype products are pristinely mounted on their display board. A professionally-produced video of the company and PowerPoint containing testimonials have been…
Martha Stewart is still alive and she’s at Staples
Is she still alive? That’s the question George Anderson got asked by one of the resident Millennials while reading a Staples’ press release announcing the chain had reached a deal…
Will going green put retailers in the black?
Earth Day is getting a bit old — 45 years to the date to be exact — but the goal of reducing waste and costs is alive and well in…
Ticking off ‘guests’ is a good thing for Target
There are a lot of Target customers, AKA guests, who are unhappy with the chain today and the company’s management couldn’t be happier. The chain has gotten some of its…
Will Wall Street ruin Etsy’s social and eco values?
Etsy’s share value nearly doubled in its first day of trading last week as a public company. But with the company’s commitment to social and environmental accountability over shareholder value,…
Home Depot claims Black Friday for its own
While most retailers bank on a solid Christmas holiday selling season, DIY chains also look to the spring to boost sales. Home Depot, which first launched its “Spring Black Friday”…
Omnichannel puts retailers in the red
Buried by the high cost of fulfilling online orders across multiple channels, only 16 percent of companies can fulfill omnichannel demand profitably today, according to a new study from JDA…
Competing in the age of wicked fast delivery
After choosing the one-hour delivery BrainTrust Panelist David Dorf received a text message at 8:11 a.m. stating, “Your Amazon Prime Now order will arrive soon.” Then at 8:21 a.m., a…
Will Frederick’s of Hollywood’s succeed as an e-tailer?
Frederick’s of Hollywood reportedly plans to file for bankruptcy protection and sell the company to the highest bidder. For now, Frederick’s will operate as an online-only retailer, according to its…
Stepping back in time to re-imagine the future of malls
Looking back to the days when shopping centers were not just about commerce but entertainment and community as well could help explain some of the most significant changes currently being…
Toys ‘R’ Us transformation to be built on fun
For years, analysts have said Toys “R” Us could not hope to compete on price with the likes of Walmart and Amazon. And for years, management at the toy chain…
How long before androids replace humans at retail?
We’ve seen the future of retail and it includes robots. And in the case of the Mitsukoshi department store, the robot known as Aiko Chihira from Toshiba looks like a…
