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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Shoppers saying no to in-store snooping
According to a recent survey from OpinionLab, eight out of 10 shoppers do not want stores to track their movements via smartphone. Only 12 percent of respondents stated that shoppers…
Millennials go window-shopping
Millennials love to shop and they use every channel available to them to do so. They enjoy shopping so much, new research shows, that they are continually engaged in the…
Netflix to raise subscription prices for new members
Typically when a company offering a service puts out offers for new members, it gives them special introductory rates to try the service. Now comes word that Netflix is going…
Gap to test online ordering in stores
In June, The Gap Inc. will start trialing “order in-store” to capture customers who would otherwise leave the store after failing to find their size, style or color. How appealing…
Better merchandising will elevate the customer experience
When it comes to the brand experience, retailers should be thinking inside the box – that is, the box of detergent, cereal or juice on the shelf. It’s a matter…
Should markdown codes be better hidden?
An age-old practice still in wide use, price codes on tags continue to alert staff when an item is heading to clearance. Now, blogging snoops are regularly telling the shopping…
Target expands subscription service
Some may think Target is late, but the company says it is ahead of schedule when it comes to developing a successful subscription plan. The retailer announced it has expanded…
General Mills requires coupon users to give up right to sue
General Mills must have some pretty valuable digital coupons. In its newly updated privacy and legal policy, the Cheerios manufacturer requires individuals who want to download offers to agree not…
What does it take to create a shopper-centric online discovery experience?
If the retail industry wants to keep up with customer expectations, they need to open up the conversation to their shoppers for more transparency and collaboration. Here are five effective…
Should Walgreens move its HQ to Europe?
A group of shareholders who own close to five percent of Walgreens’ stock want the company to use its takeover of Alliance Boots, headquartered in Switzerland, as the rationale to…
Retail workers want their discounts
Many people pick up retail holiday work primarily to take advantage of the associate discount. But some retailers seem to use employee discounts as a year-round recruitment and retainment tool…
Americans make the move to cities
For decades, Americans have left cities to move to towns with more open spaces. But in recent years, a change has taken place as young adults and even some older…
Retailers to establish center to deal with cyber threats
The National Retail Federation (NRF) announced on Monday it plans to establish an Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) to provide retailers with information on cyber security threats identified by…
What makes it go viral?
Ever since the very first cute kitten video went viral, individuals and marketers have been looking to post content online that attracts millions of views. Now, researchers from Stanford, Facebook…
Do food courts need an overhaul?
The recent bankruptcy filings of Sbarro, Quiznos and Hot Dog on a Stick had some observers lamenting on the sorry state of food courts and regional malls. How would you…
Walmart sees $3B opportunity in fixing out-of-stocks
Early last year when Bloomberg first broke the news that Walmart faced severe challenges with inventory in its stores, a company spokesperson challenged the accuracy of the reporting. Now, the…
Retailers seek refunds
Every year millions of Americans file their taxes with the knowledge that Uncle Sam is going to be sending them some money back. According to the National Retail Federation, 10.7…
Retailers can learn a lot from the hospitality industry
The bar has been set incredibly low in retail customer service. Fulfilling even the most basic aspects of customer service has become a cause for celebration. Retailers would do well…
Will Heartbleed strike at retail’s digital heart?
While the long-term repercussion of the holiday credit card breaches at Target and other retailers are still largely unknown, last week’s revelation of the Heartbleed bug appears much more mysterious…
How to create a drama free store
Staff drama can have a negative impact on morale, the customer experience, and sales results. Unfortunately, retail is essentially a Petri dish for drama. Is drama unavoidable at retail? What…
Amazon pays warehouse workers to quit
Taking a page from sister company, Zappos, Amazon is paying its fulfillment center workers up to $5,000 to quit. The policy, entitled Pay to Quit, provides that after the worker…
