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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Study: Consumers Complain More When It’s Their Fault
According to a new study from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, although consumers tend to feel better when they complain, it all changes if the consumer…
Target Sells Credit Cards, Cuts Debt, Focuses on Retailing
Target, which has said for a couple of years that it wanted to sell its credit card business, announced yesterday that it had reached a deal to sell its portfolio…
Amazon Takes Heat Over Unauthorized Low Prices
3P (third-party) deals are causing Jeff Bezos and company grief as manufacturers, whose products are also sold by Amazon, are complaining that unauthorized sellers on the site are low-balling goods…
Microsoft Sweats Merchandising Details for Windows 8
According to the headlines, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is betting the tech giant’s future on Windows 8. A Wall Street Journal report makes clear that Microsoft is playing a more…
IKEA Declares Energy Independence
In the U.S., retailers and consumer products companies are among the leaders in using what once was described as “alternative” sources of energy, primarily solar and wind. Do you…
Publix Seeks Reputation as Easy (Deli) Pickup
Taking on quick-service restaurants, Publix is testing a deli online ordering/pick up system. The free service debuted in August at its Lakeland, FL store and was expanded in October to…
Business 2 Community: Trader Joe’s Fearlessly Goes Where Others Will Not
Trader Joe’s describes its monthly mailer, The Fearless Flyer, as “A cross between Consumer Reports and Mad Magazine, The Fearless Flyer is kind of like a newsletter, a catalog…
Consumers: Keep Explanations Short and Sweet
When it comes to novel products, a new study finds that consumers are more commonly “explanation foes,” than “explanation fiends,” according to the study led by the University of Colorado…
Where the Teens Are, PBTeen Pops Up
PBteen, Pottery Barn’s tweens and teens furnishings concept, will open five pop up stores in October and November in the Durham, NC; Cincinnati; Edina, MN; Houston and Miami areas. …
The eTail Blog: @DKNY Gives Tips & Tricks on Twitter for Major Luxury Brands
For those who presume social media is handled by interns, it may come as a surprise to learn that Aliza Licht, SVP, global communications at Donna Karan International, is the…
Macy’s Makes Millennials a Priority
Earlier this year, Macy’s announced a three-year plan to put itself in the position of becoming “the store of choice” for Millennials. What will it take for Macy’s to connect…
Amazon Goes to School on Growing Kindle Sales
Amazon rival Apple had a long history of keeping its products in the conversation through partnerships with school systems across the U.S. On Wednesday, Amazon announced that it was making…
Lance Armstrong’s Nike Deal Comes Crashing Down
Nike tends to stand by the troubled star athletes who front its products far past the time when many other companies have cut and run. However, yesterday Nike announced that…
99 Cents Only Wants Spot on Rodeo Drive
While dollar store locations have spread far beyond lower-income communities, 99 Cents Only is causing a stir by seeking to open a flagship location on Rodeo Drive. What’s driving dollar…
Best Buy Tablet Going Up Against the Big Boys
It’s not that Best Buy has no chance introducing its own tablet. But they better bring their “A game” going against the multitude of formidable competitors that are rolling out…
Paint Target Ridiculous, Runs Christmas Spot in October
A DailyFinance poll a couple of years ago asked consumers to list things that irked them most about retailers. On that list were retailers promoting Christmas items before Thanksgiving. …
Walmart Banks on Bluebird to Reach the Unbanked
Walmart hopes to convert unbanked customers to a prepaid debit card, dubbed “Bluebird,” in efforts to gain share of the demographic. Bluebird is touted as an alternative for consumers turned…
BrainTrust Query: Are Phone Carriers Crimping Consumers?
An recent article in The Wall Street Journal describes how consumers are adjusting to increasing cell phone costs. It quoted consumers who were cutting back on restaurant spending, weekend getaways…
Gartner: Fake Online Reviews Becoming a Bigger Problem
Ten to 15 percent of social media ratings and reviews will be fake by 2014 and at least two Fortune 500 brands will face litigation from the FTC over the…
Amazon Snares Consumers With Break-Even Kindle Pricing
One of the best kept secrets is out. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos told the BBC that the company sells its Kindle devices at “cost.” Does Amazon.com’s approach to pricing its…
Consumers Experience Loss of Self Control at the Checkout
It may be that consumers need to be protected from themselves at the checkout lane. Do you agree with the logic that “candy at the cash register” constitutes a…
