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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Safeway in sale talks
Safeway could be under new management in the near future. The second-largest supermarket chain in the U.S. said on Wednesday it is engaged in talks that could lead to the…
McD’s moves out the old folks
Despite free WiFi, McDonald’s doesn’t attract the laptop crowd. More likely patrons are the elderly needing a place to go, teens hanging out, or homeless people escaping the cold, and…
Brands fail to deal with social complaints
A new survey concludes that, while a growing number of people are going on social media sites to complain about products and service, more than 50 percent of companies and…
Should Walmart acquire Family Dollar?
If you’ve ever tuned into sports talk radio, you know that there are always fans who suggest trading away players to pick up a favorite from another organization. The latest…
Gap raises its minimum wage saying store staff behind its success
Entry-level workers at Gap Inc.’s six companies are getting a boost in pay. Yesterday, the company announced it would increase its minimum wage to $9 an hour this year and…
Will mobile personalize shopping?
As most retailers think about how to extend their brand into the digital domain, and specifically to mobile, they are still thinking about “pushing” their offering towards consumers. But according…
When it comes to retail tech, consider gray matter before gray hair
When one look across the landscape of purveyors of in-store technology, many that offer either dated or “me too” concepts are represented by people of a “certain era.” Are retailers…
Amazon expanding Sunday deliveries
Amazon.com’s same-day delivery service may not be the greatest challenge to its brick and mortar competitors. Stores perhaps should be more concerned about the online giant’s ability to deliver packages…
Supermarkets continue to give ground to other channels
The term channel-blurring is almost nostalgic these days, as it’s been many years since it was first identified that consumers were going to a variety of retailers to buy products…
Mobile phones act like ‘cookies’ in stores
Since the early 1990s, technology has enabled great leaps forward for e-commerce sites while the brick-and-mortar world has remained relatively stagnant. By-and-large the web world retains a big advantage. Will…
CVS tobacco decision a lesson in filtering loyalty programs
CVS Caremark’s decision to discontinue the sale of tobacco products has triggered positive smoke signals from health advocates and the White House, but what is less clear is how it…
Are mid-week circulars better for supermarkets?
Kroger announced last week it was planning to standardize the release of its weekly ads online and across all its stores on Wednesdays. With the move, the chain apparently joins…
Can Walmart afford not to be the low price leader?
Market basket studies have been published showing Walmart or its dollar store competitors – alternately – with the lowest comparative prices. For companies with consumers so focused on stretching their…
What does it take to motivate today’s chain store associates?
QuickChek, RaceTrac and Ricker Oil are all working to engage employees by creating a strong culture, working to reward and recognize employees and gain their continued feedback in order to…
Mass merchants need displays
Consumers who shop at mass merchandisers make a lot of decisions to buy at the shelf. Getting them to buy more has a lot to do with retailers’ in-store media…
Are CPG companies giving up too much to Amazon?
Are CPG companies consciously deciding to align with the logistic powerhouse of the future instead of the distribution giants of the 20th century? Early signs indicate that’s where we are…
Independent grocers need new consumer engagement technology
At the National Grocers Association Show in Las Vegas this week, attendees heard all about the impending takeover of shopper marketing activities by digital marketing tools and saw dozens of…
Will in-vehicle pickup replace in-store pickup?
Sears is looking to go one better on the convenience scale of online ordering/in-store pickup by enabling customers to place orders online and then pick up their purchases without having…
Walmart presses on in California, Trader Joe’s gives up in Oregon
Walmart knows all about resistance to opening a new store in a community. Trader Joe’s — based on its relatively small store size and the fact that people have been…
Are Millennial moms not quite a chip off the old block?
Female members of the Millennial generation are acquiring a larger share of the “mom market,” and as such, their wants and needs are quickly shifting. Do you agree that Millennial…
Winter storms a good news/bad news scenario for grocers
There’s nothing like an impending storm for emptying grocery store shelves. On the other hand, winter storms can make it difficult for stores to replenish inventory. How would you rate…
