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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Microsoft to open flagship store in NYC
The Microsoft Store plans to take a bite out of the Big Apple with a flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The decision to expand its retail footprint with a high-priced…
Peapod just keeps on, keeping on
Many have come and gone (Webvan, Streamline, etc.), but Peapod remains. And yet, competition for online grocery is stepping up as Amazon.com, Door-to-Door Organics, FreshDirect, Kroger, Wakefern, Walmart and others…
Should loyalty efforts begin earlier in the process?
Many marketers believe that loyalty efforts should kick in at the retention stage, but the author believes this is a narrow and out-of-date way of thinking about loyalty. Are changing…
Amazon Wish Lists get the hashtag treatment
Extending its collaboration with Twitter, Amazon.com’s new feature lets shoppers quickly add items to an Amazon wish list by replying to a tweet with the hashtag #AmazonWishList. What do you…
Which brand attributes matter most to Millennials?
Three in 10 Millennials are cynical about the way brands market to them, finds a new study. With such skepticism evident, brands should demonstrate their commitment to social causes and…
Negative employee = negative results
We can all agree that positive people have a positive impact on customers and results. So why aren’t employees with a negative attitude assumed to have a negative impact on…
Ron Johnson is getting back in the game
Ron Johnson, formerly of J.C. Penney and Apple, is getting ready to launch a new venture being described as “Best Buy’s Geek Squad meets Apple’s Genius Bar.” How do you…
Giant Food issues challenge to national brands
Giant Food’s management is confident enough about the quality of the chain’s private label that they are bringing back their “Buy Theirs, Get Ours Free Challenge” to prompt customers to…
Low-tech solutions for employee theft
While high-tech solutions are being increasingly tapped to safeguard against employee theft, other lower tech options, including training and consistent monitoring still need to be part of the equation. Are…
Claire’s brings its bling to Toys ‘R’ Us
Claire’s, the “tween” accessories chain best known for its glittery barrettes, plans to open in-store shops at 12 Toys ‘R’ Us stores in the U.S. by the end of the…
Amazon is winning more price battles than not
A new report indicates that, despite the new imposition of state taxes, price is still a significant factor in why a good number of people buy products on Amazon.com. How…
Walmart says, ‘Save Money. Bank Better.’
Walmart and Green Dot announced the nationwide launch of a new mobile checking account service available exclusively through the retailer. The accounts do not require a minimum balance or charge…
Will Americans give up Amazon for Alibaba?
Relatively few American consumers had heard of Alibaba prior to its record-setting initial public offering. While many more may now be aware of the ecommerce giant, the question is whether…
Target low-balls Walmart in Canada
Aside from out-of-stocks, Canadians have been particularly peeved that Target’s prices in Canada have been higher than in the U.S. Now, Target has an independent source to assure consumers up…
Four in 10 senior execs don’t measure customer lifetime value
According to a new Forbes Insights and Sitecore survey of North American senior executives, more than three-quarters say that average customer lifetime value is a highly or extremely valuable indicator,…
Did someone cook the books at Tesco?
Tesco has suspended four key executives after announcing that the company overstated profits by nearly $409 million over a six-month period. What do you make of the accounting irregularities at…
Kroger has an edge with private labels
Kroger is a notch above most of its competitors when it comes to own brands. While private label represents about 20 percent of dollar share in all supermarkets, according to…
‘Everyday Earners’ prefer high-frequency loyalty programs
More loyalty program members earn points and miles on everyday purchases than through any other rewards-collecting method, according to research data from Points. Is there a missed opportunity for retailers…
Are advertisers ready to sack the NFL?
The NFL remains by far the country’s most popular sports league but a series of domestic abuse incidents involving its players this year has led to an outcry by scores…
Location matters to online shoppers
Wharton School professor David Bell, whose specialist subject is digital marketing and e-commerce, has made headlines with a new book, Location is (Still) Everything, proclaiming consumers’ physical locations play a…
Millennials’ prefer face-to-face to social media
Millennials are indeed highly social but it’s not all driven by social media. According to new research from Keller Fay Group, 84 percent of Millennials’ word of mouth (WOM) impressions…
