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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
BrainTrust LIVE: Does Your Social Media = Social Commerce?
While the LEAD conference covered practically every aspect of loyalty, engagement, analytics and digital marketing, the RetailWire BrainTrust LIVE panels tended to home in on the practical challenges of turning…
When Food Should Be Sold vs. Used
According to Newton’s laws of physics, every action has a reaction. So it is with British government advice that food packaging labels should not include sell-by dates or display until…
RSR Research: Workforce Optimization and Unintended Consequences
A recent study by The Center for WorkLife Law found that employers are creating structural issues that naturally drive the high turnover and absenteeism that is often found in hourly…
Business is Booming for eBooks
New research from Harris Interactive shows that 15 percent of Americans now own some device for reading eBooks, up from eight percent last year and that a similar percentage are…
Chanel Goes After Counterfeiters
In the latest move to protect its own brand, Chanel filed a suit charging 399 websites of selling counterfeit items, alleging these same sites are using its name to generate…
Starbucks Plugs Up Electricity For Some
Starbucks last month admitted that it has started covering some electrical outlets at some busy Starbucks coffee shops in New York City to discourage laptop users from overextending their stay…
Retailers Face Holiday Inventory Challenge
A Bloomberg News report recalls that in the lead-up to the 2009 holiday retailers failed to properly anticipate consumer demand and questions whether 2011 will bring a similar situation as…
Sites Combine Fashion and Editorial to Attract Men
A number of websites are providing men with information, quality merchandise and the convenience of online shopping. But will men turn to these sites instead of shopping in stores, and…
Study: Confidence Readings Failing as an Indicator
Given the depths to which consumer confidence figures have recently plunged, retail revenues have been holding up much better than expected. At least according to one economist, the disconnect is…
Netflix CEO Offers Apology and New Plan for Business
Back in July when Netflix eliminated its single $9.99 monthly subscription plan in favor of two separate plans for home and online delivery, a large number of customers were more…
Saks CEO Makes First Visit to Tulsa Store
A piece on the Tulsa World website seems intended to put employees of a local Saks Fifth Avenue store at ease. The CEO of the company, Stephen Sadove, had made…
FD Buyer: More Smaller/Regional Brands at Grocery?
In an August survey, FD Buyer asked a number of supermarket frozen and dairy retail executives to rank a variety of statements on a scale of one to 10. One…
eBay Launches Ad Targeting Mobile Users
Seeking to change its perception as an auction marketplace, eBay last week launched what is believed to be the first major ad campaign aimed at the mobile consumer. Is emphasizing…
Take a Break to Increase Productivity
A survey from Harris Interactive found that recess was key to improving workplace health and productivity, and re-energizing employees. The survey was sponsored by Keen, the footwear brand which earlier…
Three Lessons Retailers Can Learn About Service From the Airlines
As a frequent flier with over 1.5 million Aadvantage miles, it struck Al McClain on the way home from Shop.org that the retailing industry should use the airline industry as…
PL Buyer: Is Everything All White?
When it comes to private label packaging, white is the new white. White is also the new black, and the new yellow. In short, white is everywhere on new private…
Deja Vu All Over Again in SoCal Labor Talks
There were some grocers that came out ahead in the 2003/2004 grocery workers lockout/strike. Unfortunately, neither Albertsons (now owned by Supervalu), Ralphs (Kroger) nor Vons (Safeway), the companies involved in…
Macy’s and Bloomie’s Seek Retail Technology Edge
Macy’s, Inc. is going all omni-channel and the retailer took the unusual step this week of issuing a press release to announce ways it is testing and deploying various technologies…
Amazon and 7-Eleven in Drop-Off Location Test
Amazon customers are being offered a new way to receive their purchases. Instead of waiting at home, standing in line at a depot or getting to the post office during…
Walmart Makes Pledge to Women
Walmart announced the launch of a major new public relations initiative aimed to help deal with some of the negative publicity around its treatment of female employees, specifically related to…
BrainTrust Query: The Shopper’s Trophy, Part 2 – Creating the Crave
The quest to create craving is not new. It’s what marketers tackle every day. What drives a craving purchase in the in-store shopping experience? Overall, what conditions do you think…
