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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
BrainTrust Query: Can Mobile Break Retail’s Grip On CPG Sales?
Today, although consumers can buy CPG items online, physical retailers aren’t feeling much of a pinch from those sales. But what if a more enhanced/convenient form of selling in the…
Convenience Stores Not Happy with Swipe Fee Deal
The proposed $7.25 billion settlement that retailers hammered out over credit card swipe fees was generally hailed as positive when the news was announced last week. Some, however, see the…
Rumor Mill: Amazon Exploring Same-Day Delivery
The Financial Times reported last week that the reason Amazon is setting up scores of distribution centers across the U.S. is so it can soon start making same-day deliveries. How…
Groupon Opens Store in Singapore
Groupon in early July officially opened its first retail concept internationally in Singapore. In a press release, the daily deal website’s Singapore division said the store “was created for Groupon…
Retail TouchPoints: Email Marketing Best Practices for the 2012 Holiday Season
Retailers traditionally have utilized batch-and-blast delivery strategies for their holiday-themed campaigns, but a communication plan filled with fun and intriguing messages, offers and calls-to-action may increase email opens and overall…
The British Invade Nordstrom
Yesterday, Nordstrom announced that it would participate in the latest British invasion with the introduction of Topshop and Topman shops in 14 of its stores across the U.S. What…
Two Buck Chuck: Good or Bad for Wine Retailing?
Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Wine turned ten years old in 2012. The anniversary has elicited homages to “Two-Buck Chuck” from many of its ardent fans, but it’s also fed another…
Former McD’s CEO Key to Walgreens’ Global Plans
Walgreens announced it has named former McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner as non-executive chairman of its board of directors. What do you think of Jim Skinner assuming the role of…
Supervalu Exploring ‘Strategic Alternatives’
Grocery giant Supervalu is exploring a sale of all or parts of the company following on the heels of a quarter where same-store sales fell 3.7 percent and earnings declined…
Michael Vick’s Comeback Continues with Clothing Line
When Michael Vick went to prison several years ago for his participation in illegal dog fighting, there were many who thought his reputation could never be rehabilitated. But now the…
Teens Need Not Apply
Traditionally, retail jobs have provided many teenagers with their first experience in the working world. Unfortunately, chances for teens to land a job today at retail or elsewhere are few…
Target More Chic Than Cheap in Neiman Marcus Deal
Yesterday’s announcement from Target and Neiman Marcus was something of shocker. While the deal is clearly a winner for Target, there are real risks that Neiman Marcus may tarnish its…
Tesla Borrows From Apple to Sell Cars
Foregoing traditional dealerships, car salesmen and even an advertising budget, Tesla Motors is opening stores in high-traffic areas to get the word out on the just-launched Model S, its first…
Americans Sticking with Store Brands
Even before the bottom dropped out of the U.S. economy back in December 2007, American consumers were turning to private label items, as product quality has improved and everyday prices…
BrainTrust Query: Marketing Must Build Both Halves of the Sales Equation
It has been shown that fans on Facebook were already eight times more likely to be visiting a brand website before “liking the brand.” What are the best ways…
Circular Logic: Grocers Find Print Works Best
Retail marketing may be changing over to a bright new digital future, but a recent study of the grocery industry suggests that old-fashioned print circulars are still delivering the best…
Apple Readies iPad ‘Mini’
The blogosphere, twitterverse, etc. have all been aflutter recently with rumors that Apple is planning to introduce a smaller iPad. The objective: to swat away competition looking to gain entry…
Ladies and Gentleman, It’s Grocery Showtime!
A study identifying America’s top-100 brands delivering the best customer experience found four retailers in the top 10 landed there largely due to their ability to create a “sense of…
BrainTrust Query: Sony’s Retail Reinvention
Even as retailers and brands leverage social media and digital marketing to deepen connections with consumers, Sony Electronics is making organizational changes that shift resources away from buying office support…
Campaign Brings Together Strange Dinner Fellows
For a brand, finding genuinely unique sales points (USPs) has never been easy. So when marketers stretch to make lateral connections with complementary brands, they often run the risk of…
BrainTrust Query: Are Digital Loyalty Rewards Rewarding for Local Retailers?
If the recent flow of investment money is any indication, digital loyalty is poised to hit it big with customers at local restaurants, cafes, bars and salons faster than you…
