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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Banks and retailers hop on Apple Pay bandwagon
Yesterday was Apple’s big day. The tech giant introduced its new Apple iPhone and its long awaited Watch. While both of those products may be big news, what’s inside them…
Walmart to convert Express stores to Neighborhood Markets
When it comes to shopping at a Walmart Express or a Walmart Neighborhood Market, consumers are pretty much motivated by the same things – quick shops and fill-in visits. Now,…
Does eco-friendly translate to inferior?
According to new study from researchers at Yale University, consumers are less likely to purchase a product if they think helping the environment was the intended purpose of a product…
Home Depot data breach could dwarf Target’s
Home Depot confirmed yesterday that its POS systems were compromised by malware that may have begun collecting information on the chain’s customers going back as far as April. How will…
Whole Foods makes aggressive move into e-grocery biz
During Whole Foods’ third quarter earnings call in July, co-CEO Walter Robb discussed plans to move ahead with the chain’s “digital roadmap.” Yesterday, the chain’s plans became clearer with the…
Should CVS’s competitors also say bye to tobacco?
A month sooner than planned, CVS last Wednesday pulled all remaining tobacco products from its pharmacies nationwide. Despite increasing pleas from legislators and health advocates, its competitors are showing no…
Will the Postal Service add fruits and veggies to its daily deliveries?
The United States Postal Service is making fresh food deliveries for Amazon in San Francisco as part of a two-month test. Do you expect Amazon’s test of grocery deliveries with…
Starbucks to launch express and premium tasting locations
Starbucks last week announced plans to launch two formats: one express concept targeting busy commuters and the other a tasting room targeting more-leisurely coffee connoisseurs. Do you see a bigger…
Is it better to understand the shopper journey in the moment?
Unilever believes that understanding the shopper’s path to purchase requires a shift from traditional recall studies to research “in-the-moment,” said Aske van der Werff, the company’s global shopper insights director…
Will new retailer CurrentC change how consumers pay for goods?
Back in 2012 when major retailers made public plans to develop a mobile payment system as part of the Merchant Customer Exchange, expectations for success were high. Now comes word…
Are time-lapse videos the next big retail marketing thing?
Instagram, the world’s most popular photo app owned by Facebook, released its second standalone app last week, Hyperlapse, which brings time-lapse videos to the smartphone. Do you think time-lapse videos…
Caution: Skill assessment pitfalls ahead
Skill assessments are appropriate and a highly recommended step for retailers to take to manage change and prepare for new challenges. However, they are best done with certain cautions to…
Whole Foods is Manhattan’s low price grocer
In case you didn’t already know it, it’s expensive living in the Big Apple. How else can you explain a Bloomberg Intelligence report, which found Whole Foods having lower prices…
Should Staples acquire Office Depot?
When Office Depot and Office Max merged last year, the idea was the combined company would be in a better position to compete. But according to Gary Balter, an analyst…
Does celebrating celebrity CEOs set retail on a perilous path?
The recent media focus on the relatively young age of Burger King’s CEO Daniel Schwartz, in light of Burger King’s Tim Hortons acquisition, reveals a growing tendency to glorify young…
Amazon widens its moat
Last Christmas Eve, Amazon received a patent for “anticipatory package shipping.” This combined with other actions Amazon is pursuing indicates how the online giant is working to widen the already…
Google now testing drones
When Jeff Bezos announced Amazon’s intentions to deliver packages via flying drones, some felt it was just a publicity stunt to boost holiday sales. Last week, the technology’s potential was…
Should Walmart make a bid for Family Dollar?
Evidently there are people who think it would be a good idea for Walmart to throw its hat into an already crowded ring of parties looking to acquire Family Dollar…
Market Basket offers Labor Day lessons
Arthur T. Demoulas has returned as the head of Market Basket, the 71-store grocery chain based in New England. A $1.6 billion deal was reached last Thursday for Mr. Demoulas…
Is trendy tech really Abercrombie’s problem?
Abercrombie & Fitch’s ongoing struggles are often blamed on the rise of fast-fashion chains such as H&M, Forever 21 and Zara, but a bigger hurdle may be fashion’s increasing challenge…
Packaging changes reflect Millennials’ preferences
It may be as much about feelings as facts for Millennials. What packaging says – both literally and figuratively – seems to have a significant impact on purchasing decisions for…
