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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Should big brands move call centers back to the U.S.?
In recent years, major brands have had to weigh the cost of having call centers in the U.S. with the cost savings that can be achieved by having those centers…
Target offers incentives to buy online/pick up in stores
In late July, Target ran a promotion offering $10 off any online order of $40 or more if the customer chose in-store pickup. By all accounts, it could be the…
Alibaba ousts gray market goods as luxury brands come on board
There probably isn’t anything that luxury goods manufacturers hate more than counterfeiters. A not too distant second on the scorn list are sites that sell gray market goods. According to…
Amazon vs. Google in same-day delivery showdown
This week might as well have been named same-day delivery service week. First, Amazon.com announced that it was expanding same-day deliveries to six new metropolitan areas. Then Barnes & Noble…
Walmart takes clinical approach to healthcare opportunity
With six in-store care clinics operating in South Carolina and Texas, and six more planned to open by year’s end, Walmart has a long way to go before it catches…
The best times to prospect IT executives
It takes a substantial amount of persistence to get a qualified appointment with an IT executive, according to a study by LeadJen of lead generation campaigns targeting lists of IT…
CVS revs up omni-channel for the holiday season
CVS is reaffirming its position as a top holiday destination by providing stocking stuffers, gift cards, decor, gift wrap and last-minute gifts, acting as a one-stop-shop for customers. But like…
America eats alone
When Americans sit down to have something to eat or drink, there’s a better than 50-50 chance they are doing it alone, according to new research from The NPD Group…
Etsy makes wholesale changes
Etsy is looking to bring its artisan-created goods to the world. It has officially launched Etsy Wholesale to enable boutiques to buy its handcrafted goods at wholesale prices. Do you…
Walgreens’ HQ to stay put in U.S.
Walgreens announced today that it has exercised its option to buy the remaining 55 percent of Alliance Boots that it did not already control and the combined company will base…
The price is right (right?)
A new survey of retailers from RSR Research shows that nearly half said their pricing strategy has become more promotions-driven over the past three years, while 55 percent reported an…
Demand grows for farmers’ markets
Farmers’ markets are popping up all over America. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are more than 8,200 farmers’ markets operating in the country today, a 76…
Walmart.com does its best Amazon imitation
Walmart may be struggling to drive traffic and sales increases in its stores, but it doesn’t have that problem online. Walmart.com saw its sales rise 27 percent last quarter following…
Inside the minds of the Millennials
In pursuit of business process improvement for consulting and marketing agency Hanifin Loyalty, the company sought out tools to help manage social media marketing, accounting, CRM, sales and project management,…
Nordstrom continues digital push with Trunk Club deal
Nordstrom is going digital in a big way and the latest evidence of that is the department store’s planned acquisition of Trunk Club, an online personalized fashion shopping service for…
Let’s talk about BOPIS (buy online, pickup in store)
According to a recent research study, BOPIS (buy online, pickup in store) is one of the most effective ways retailers can differentiate from, and compete with, Amazon and other major…
Whole Foods tackles ‘negative narrative’ with national campaign
In an effort to boost traffic and help eradicate its “Whole Paycheck” image, Whole Foods last week announced plans to launch its first-ever national marketing campaign. What messages should the…
Amazon explains digital pricing elasticity
Many budding writers claim to major in English because they hate math. But Amazon used a bit of math to explain its side in its prolonged contract dispute with publisher…
Where’s the ROI for social media?
An Instant Poll that recently appeared on the home page of CPGmatters.com sheds some light on an important part of social media evaluation; namely, ROI. Do marketers think social media…
Remote access apps a weak link in cyber security efforts
Hackers, it turns out, are looking to bring the mayhem with the least amount of work necessary. According to a report, hackers scan for remote access apps, use high-speed programs…
Are center store departments hamstrung by nutritional labels?
Frozen food units and volume haven’t been down for the past few years because of all the dollar stores, club stores, drugstores and haberdasheries taking away share. Are less stringent…
