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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
When Customer Reviews Are Defamatory
Online customer reviews are proving particularly popular with consumers. But one website that has particularly benefited from the practice, TripAdvisor, is facing possible legal action over claims that its reviews…
Retail Customer Experience: What Will Bookstores Look Like in Five Years?
The book store segment has already changed much in the past two decades, with stores becoming more like entertainment destinations, and now with the burgeoning e-reader market. What will the…
Frito-Lay Puts a Charge Into Chip Deliveries
Frito-Lay plans to have the largest fleet of all-electric commercial trucks in North America and is headed in that direction with the announcement that it is putting five trucks on…
Toys “R” Us Takes Express Route for Christmas
Toys “R” Us must have been really pleased with the performance of the 90 Express pop-up stores it opened for last year’s Christmas holiday season because it plans to open…
The Local vs. Conventional Food Battle
With concern growing about food insecurity, shortages and price increases, there is less resolution than ever about the relative wisdom of where and how our food should be produced. Where…
Tesco to Open First Airport Store
Tesco has chosen Glasgow Airport as the location for its first airport store. The Tesco Express will cater to vacation travelers making last-minute travel purchases, airport workers, and returning passengers…
7-Eleven Joins Bidding for Casey’s
The previously unidentified “strategic third party” to make an offer for Casey’s General Stores turns out to be 7-Eleven. Does a deal with Alimentation Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven, or staying independent make…
Amazon’s New Service All About Moms and Babies
Amazon.com has announced the creation of a free subscription service, Amazon Mom, intended to make life easier on busy moms, dads and others taking care of babies and toddlers. Does…
BK Wants to Rule Breakfast in America
None of the fast feeders have done breakfast as successfully as McDonald’s, even though many have tried. Burger King is looking to change all that with a new ad campaign…
BrainTrust Query: Is Brand Awareness a Useful Research Measure in an Era of Digital and Shopper Marketing?
In an era of shopper marketing and store-back thinking, CPG marketers want to know how to get their brands noticed at retail. How relevant is aided brand awareness as a…
Rite Aid and Save-A-Lot in Drug/Food Combo Test
Rite Aid and Supervalu’s Save-A-Lot limited assortment grocery format are teaming up to test a new food/drug combo concept in 10 stores in the Greenville, SC market. What are your…
Support Your Local Retailer
What started as a simple blog post in March 2009, The 3/50 Project has turned into a national campaign to support local stores. What do you think of the 3/50…
Retailers Not Wowing Gen-Y Workers
A study from Deloitte and the National Retail Federation finds that while retailers agree hiring, developing, and retaining top talent is essential, efforts around attracting tomorrow’s leaders among the Gen-Y…
FD Buyer: How About an Exit Strategy?
Many supermarket buyers say they are more than happy to take on new items. The problem is the support they get from manufacturers helping make room on the shelf. What’s…
P&G Looks to Change Dry Cleaning for Good
Procter & Gamble’s test of Tide Dry Cleaners has gone well enough that the manufacturer of Tide is now looking to extend the brand’s equity through franchises located around the…
BrainTrust Query: Dick’s No Sweat Protection Plan – A Classic Loyalty Asterisk
Sales talking points from store personnel leading up to the purchase decision are centered on the high quality of the item being considered, but once that decision is made –…
New Customers and Poor Service
Columnist and author James Surowiecki believes a fixation on new customers is ultimately the root cause of poor customer service levels across corporate America. How does a company keep a…
Facebook on Target
One of the reasons that a gazillion people are on Facebook is its cost – it’s free. While free is always a big draw, many Facebook users are spending real…
Fair Food Choices Take in Ethnic Variations
Brad Wolverton of The Washington Post describes the summer fair as “an annual eating extravaganza that seems to guarantee every American the freedom to leave their diet at the door…
Samsung Launches One Company Price War in 3-D TVs
By its own estimate, Samsung has grabbed an 88 percent share of the emerging 3-D TV market in the U.S. There should be time for others to give Samsung a…
Amazon and Apple Adding Video Options, Maybe
In the lead-up to Apple’s annual event today, speculation is growing that the company will announce a deal with Netflix to stream movies to consumers through its new and cheaper…
