RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
RSR Research: The Store Manager – On the Cusp of Being Empowered?
Unfortunately, for many retailers, the road to getting store managers into their rightful new position of power is fraught with roadblocks, according to a new RSR benchmark study. How is…
Free Shipping Day Comes But Once A Year?
According to organizers Kinoli Inc, Americans made Free Shipping Day last year the third-heaviest day ever (at that time) for online shopping. Should retailers join Free Shipping Day? If retailers…
Retail Leaders Tout Legislative Wins
Sandy Kennedy, writing on the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s Retail Checkout blog, said retailers had a banner year when it came to chalking up legislative victories. What do you see…
Kindle Fire Owners Get Hot Under the Collar
Some may want to reconsider their proclamations that Amazon’s Kindle Fire was an iPad killer. As it turns out, some consumers are beginning to feel as though they didn’t get…
Stop & Shop and ShopRite in New Jersey Standoff
A local group is fighting to prevent a ShopRite from coming to town. The twist is that the group is led by Stop & Shop. To what extent should a…
Are Apple’s Stores Overly Ripe for Expansion?
Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing for Apple? A study by Asymco details some impressive performance metrics for Apple Stores but also indicates it…
BrainTrust Query: ‘I Don’t Use It (Social Media) But I Totally Get It’
One thing heard often from C-level leaders of companies is, “I don’t use it, but I totally get it.” They claim to understand the relevance of social networks and social…
A Foodies Christmas
Seemingly as popular as hot toy lists for the kiddies are the lists of hot foodies gifts for adults. A quick Google search by RetailWire editors using the terms “holiday”…
FD Buyer: Food – The New Tobacco?
Health activists will use a heavy dose of scare tactics and equate eating with smoking cigarettes to further their cause. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. For some time now, activists have…
RSR Research: Who Pushes Who? Vendors vs. Retailers
Retailers push vendors. “We are constantly pushing our vendors to do more in price optimization.” Vendors push retailers. “We understand what needs to happen, but retailers aren’t making the big…
CVS and Walgreens Compete for Mobile Shoppers
CVS is the latest chain to offer consumers the option of ordering products via mobile devices. The chain took the move, as a company press release points out, because of…
Martha Stewart is Apple of Penney CEO’s Eye
Ron Johnson, CEO of J.C. Penney, has said publicly that he is out to do no less than transform the department store experience, and it appears he has taken a…
Is Walmart’s Shopycat Worth Copying?
Walmart’s new Shopycat social gift recommendation app makes gift suggestions based on areas of interest gleaned from Facebook activity. As to Shopycat in practice, there are some issues. Do you…
Retail TouchPoints: Digital Gift Card Services Increase Loyalty, Create Seamless Exchange and Redemption Process
With the increased adoption of mobile commerce, digital gift cards are a new tactic to drive in-store traffic and loyalty without focusing on discounting strategies such as coupons and daily…
Amazon Looking to Turn Every Store Into Its Showroom
If Jeff Bezos and company have their way, the term “Amazon’s showroom” will fit just about every brick and mortar store, with Amazon’s mobile Price Check app. Do you see…
Mobile Marketing a Work in Progress
Despite all of the hype surrounding mobile commerce, only 36 percent of chief marketing officers have included mobile in their holiday marketing strategies this year, according to a recent BDO…
Postal Service Delivers Bad News to Retailers
Retailers count on the U.S. Postal Service to make deliveries in all kinds of conditions and on most days of the week. But that’s about to change with the announcement…
BrainTrust Query: Looking Back on Retail Technology Predictions for 2011
What will 2012 and beyond look like for retail? Before going there, RetailWire BrainTrust panelist David Dorf reviews this past year’s predictions before making new ones for 2012. Which retail…
Group Publishes List of Chains That Are ‘Against Christmas’
The American Family Association (AFA) recently published a “Naughty or Nice” list of retailers “for” and “against” Christmas. The organization wants its supporters to spend with those who are “for”…
Roundy’s IPO: What’s the Point?
Not going to happen. That was the basic reaction of RetailWire BrainTrust members to reports earlier this year that Roundy’s was looking for a buyer. Now comes reports that Roundy’s…
Google Looks to Take On Amazon Prime
Google is reportedly in talks with Gap, OfficeMax and Macy’s on an alternative to Amazon’s Prime two-day, shipping service. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google’s fee-based service will be…
