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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Windows Everywhere, or Nowhere
A recent speech given by a Microsoft executive has the blogosphere abuzz with speculation on whether Microsoft will brand Windows on just about everything it does or eliminate the brand…
Aging in Suburbia
As those involved in retail and related industries are aware, an aging population has wide-ranging implications. According to a report discussed in The Washington Post, the mature population of the…
FDBuyer: It Ain’t Just Walmart
A manufacturer friend e-mailed Warren Thayer to vent his frustration about working with Walmart lately. After asking around, Warren found that his friend was not alone in his frustration, and…
Netflix Taking Heat Over Price Increase
It’s normal for grumbling to take place when the price of a product or service goes up. However, the displeasure being expressed by consumers about a 60 percent price increase…
Target to Sell Google e-Reader, Amazon to Launch Tablet
The e-reader and tablet computer categories are in the process of getting more competitive. Earlier this week, Target announced it would be the exclusive retailer of the iriver Story HD,…
CPGmatters: Digital More Effective Than Print for Attracting New Product Users
Digital print-at-home coupons are more effective than print FSI coupons at getting first time product trial, but they yield an 18 percent lower ROI than print FSI coupons, according to…
To Self-Checkout or Not
From the very first moment that a self-checkout appeared, there has been a debate in retailing circles over the relative merits of traditional human-based checkouts versus systems where consumers handle…
New Look Drives Comp Sales at Old Navy
It’s expected that a store that undergoes a remodel will see increased sales. Fortunately for Gap Inc., the company can report that remodels of Old Navy stores have resulted in…
BrainTrust Query: The Squeeze on Dollar Stores
Dollar stores are facing new competition from big-boxers who are determined to downsize their way in by shoving small formats into previously unexplored urban and rural markets. How vulnerable are…
Retailers Beware, Amazon is Coming
A Wall Street Journal article back in March discussed the market share threat that Best Buy faced from Amazon.com. Best Buy isn’t the only chain that needs to be looking…
National Free Slurpee Day
July 11 (aka 7/11) is a big day for the 7-Eleven convenience store day. To celebrate the chain handed out free 7.11 ounce Slurpees, around five million in all, to…
RSR Research: What is a Retail Winner, Anyway?
“So what is a Retail Winner, exactly? And how did RSR come up with the term?” It’s a cornerstone of RSR’s benchmark reports and anyone who has read one will…
Safeway Canada Tiers Up New Loyalty Program
Mimicking the tiered rewards programs of airlines, Canada Safeway last month quietly launched a loyalty program focused on just its best customers. What do you think of the SafewayClub Elite…
Luxury Site Sees Opportunities in Aha Moments
Austerity, recession, belt-tightening and bargains have become watchwords for retailers and consumers over the past few years. But have they destroyed the joy of shopping? The flash sale website Ahalife.com…
CSD: Preparing for the Demand Revolution
At the 2011 Sweets & Snacks Expo, Rick Kash of The Cambridge Group and author of “How Companies Win,” spoke on the changing landscape that operators and manufacturers must navigate…
No Swoon in June: Retail Numbers Climb
Hot weather and hotter deals are being given the credit for unexpectedly strong same-store sales numbers rung up by retailers in June. What is your take on the June retail…
Merchants Feed Consumer Dependence on Discounts
Al Ries, chairman of the marketing strategy firm chairman of Ries & Ries, views rampant discounting by retailers in terms of infectious disease. Do you also see discounting in terms…
Bah, Humbug to Christmas in July Promos
A piece on The Street website maintains that the number of retailers running “Christmas in July” promotions is down from last year and that’s a positive since the events do…
Grown in the USA!
Consumers like to see “green” claims such as natural, organic or sustainable on food labels, but “Grown in the USA” also is gaining popularity, according results of a recent survey…
Amazon Goes Multi-Channel as Quidsi Opens Stores
There are a number of thoughts that come to mind when Amazon.com is mentioned, but ‘brick and mortar stores’ is not normally one of them. That said, Amazon’s Quidsi business…
BrainTrust Query: Six Sins of a Startup Retail or Franchise Business
These are by no means all the things that frequently go wrong in a startup but they have a common theme: leaping before you know how deep the water is…
