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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
24-Hour Christmas Shopping
A handful of major U.S. chains stayed open round the clock last week to chase down last-minute procrastinators. The extended hours comes amid data from ShopperTrak indicating five of the…
White Castle Considering Alcohol Sales
White Castle, known for its square “slider” burgers, is testing the sale of beer and wine. The 90-year-old chain is already selling glasses of wine for $4.50 and beer for…
BrainTrust Query: Happy Holiday From a Friend
While the reappearance of layaway programs have been great news for many, something even better is happening across America. In Grand Rapids, Michigan a woman entered a Kmart and asked…
Starbucks Extends Caffeine Fix to U.K. Drivers
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Americans pride themselves on exporting their best-loved products and services. Now Starbucks plans to open drive-thru stores in the U.K. Have drive-thrus helped…
Groupon and eBay Launch So-Called Anti-Amazon Promotions
In what many saw as strike-backs against Amazon’s controversial promotion that rewarded consumers for using its mobile app to compare prices in-store and then buy online, both Groupon and eBay…
Gadget Fatigue Sets in
In a new survey from Underwriters Laboratories, nearly half of consumers (48 percent) “feel high-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them.” Is there a disconnect…
How the 1% Shop for Groceries in the Richest Zip Code in America
The food desert in the richest zip code in America is no more. Publix had shut down their location in Palm Beach, FL to do a remodel. Even rich shoppers…
CPGmatters: Will Shoppers’ Quest for Value Spur New TPM Strategies?
To succeed in promotional activities, suppliers and retailers need to collaborate more, but this is hindered by friction between trading partners when deals aren’t systematically developed and tracked and payment…
BrainTrust Query: Dropping the Floor, Raising the Roof, and Recalibrating the Brand Continuum
Tough markets call for tough measures and everything is a race to the bottom. But as Walmart takes pains to buttress its low price floor, it is simultaneously raising the…
BI-LO to Acquire Winn-Dixie
BI-LO on Monday said it agreed to acquire Winn-Dixie Stores in a deal valued at $560 million, establishing the ninth largest U.S. supermarket. What do you think of a BI-LO/Winn…
BrainTrust Query: How to Deal With a Bad Commission Salesperson on Your Payroll
Do you have a bad salesperson on your sales team? The one who has to say to the other salesperson while the customer is at the register, “I greeted them,”…
FD Buyer: Dehaize America Plans ‘Preferred Broker Network’
Delhaize America wants to allow only “preferred” brokers (on a list it created) to meet directly with its category managers. Does this break the law? Would it set a harmful…
RSR Research: Privacy and the Public Domain
In late November, there was a big flap in the U.S. about Footpath by Path Intelligence, a tracking software that detects the signal coming out of your mobile phone and…
Inflation Making Dining Out the Value Option
A new report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch concludes that that eating out is becoming increasingly cheaper, on a “relative” basis, than buying groceries to eat at home. Are…
CSD: Who Was Your Mentor?
Mentoring starts where training ends. Training is an obligation, where mentoring is passion. A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself. Don’t we all really…
Too Many Unhappy Returns
It’s buyer’s remorse big time this holiday season. Shoppers are again expected to return a large chunk of the holiday gifts they bought this year before the gifting even takes…
Compete: The Male vs. Female Debate Goes Mobile
A year ago, when Compete segmented smartphone owners by gender, the male population dominated the marketplace. But sometime in early 2011, that trend shifted and women started adopting smartphones in…
Retailers Pursue Market Share Over Margins
Best Buy’s share price slipped more than 15 percent this week. The chain’s quarterly profits were way down due to the use of heavy discounts and free shipping on online…
PL Buyer: Has Private Label Hit a Plateau?
Some recent reports have said private label sales at supermarkets have peaked as national brands have stepped up marketing. Will the pattern continue in 2012 and how will the economy…
Supermarkets Invite Customers Out to Eat
A recent Boston Globe piece discussed the evolution of in-store dining options at supermarkets. Many grocers now offer higher quality dining experiences as means to building their brands and driving…
Lowe’s Takes Heat for Pulling Ads on Show Featuring Muslims
Controversy surrounds Lowe’s home improvement chain after pulling ads from the TLC show “All-American Muslim.” What should Lowe’s have done when first confronted with protests about buying time on the…
