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Piperlime 3-D: The Store Pops Up
In a world where pop-up stores seem to come out of nowhere, another has its sites set on Manhattan and this time it’s Piperlime. Piperlime? Yes, Gap Inc.’s online-only business…
Retail Customer Experience: Why Mobile Coupons Are Not the Answer
What people really want, but don’t know how to ask for, are ways to save money that are relevant to them. They know about coupons, so they think in those…
Reuters: BI-LO Goes on the Block
The BI-LO supermarket chain, owned by Lone Star Funds, is up for sale and drawing interest from private equity firms and other grocers, according to a Reuters report. What do…
Penney on Fast Track with New Fashion Line
J.C. Penney is looking to pick up the pace of its fashion sales with the launch of a new, exclusive line created for the department store chain by fast-fashion retailer…
Survey Sees Need for Speed at Checkouts
A survey of 2000 people conducted by Barclays Bank and published by the BBC found 68 percent of U.K. participants had abandoned a queue at one time or another. Apparently…
Publix is Back Online
Publix closed its PublixDirect online grocery and home delivery service in August 2003, just two years after the service launched, due to insufficient volume. Now, the grocery chain is back…
CPGmatters: Supervalu Boosts Brands by Re-engineering Center Store
When it came to the crucial but outmoded center of their stores, Supervalu executives realized that shoppers were drowning in merchandising messages, price promotions and other communications. What do you…
Is it time for Brands to Go Direct to Consumers Online?
It’s time for brands to seriously consider cutting out the middlemen. In this case, that would be retailers, according to Bob Egner, VP of global marketing for EPiServer, in an…
America’s ‘Mindful’ Consuming Celebrities
According to Andrew Benett, global CEO of Arnold Worldwide, ten public figures embrace qualities of a new “mindful consumer” committed to sustainability, giving and more-thoughtful consumption. Do you generally agree…
Barnes & Noble Puts Out ‘For Sale’ Sign
Describing its stock as “significantly undervalued,” Barnes & Noble (B&N) last week essentially put itself up for sale. As e-books erode its brick & mortar business, pressure from shareholder activists…
BrainTrust Query: Supercharged Checkins
Location-based social networks are the latest fad to hit mobile phones. The concept has mobile phone owners using GPS to “checkin” to establishments, including restaurants and retail stores. What do…
Walgreens Lays Its Social Responsibility On(the)line
A company’s commitment to the community and causes is important to many stakeholders. Numerous studies have shown a commitment to a cause can be the difference in where consumers shop…
Macy’s Doing ‘Great’ Heading Back-to-School
Macy’s reported better than expected numbers for July with same-store sales up 7.3 percent and total dollars up 11 percent for the period. What initiatives have impressed you most and…
BrainTrust Query: What if it all STARTS with the purchase?
Traditional marketing theory tells us that the purchase is the successful outcome of consumer-directed messages that create awareness, which begets interest, desire, and action. Do you agree that for certain…
Retailers Adopt a ‘Wear Now’ Approach
It used to be that when August came around, you could walk into a clothing store and find plenty of options for the fall. But a number of chains are…
New Concepts Look for Big Growth
Store closings were a fact of the retailing biz long before the Great Recession ever hit, but new concepts are popping up that could reduce the number of vacant spaces…
RSR Research: What Role Will Mobile Play in Stores?
What’s different about mobile vs. online retail is the visibility that stores have into the effect mobile has on shopping behavior. Online shopping has little direct effect on store operations,…
Amazon Sitting on Cloud Nine
Jeff Bezos and company have plenty of reasons to be cheerful these days. Among them is the half a billion dollars in revenue Amazon will generate this year from its…
Ads Stalk Consumers Online
Ever get the feeling you’re being followed online? Well, as an article on AdAge.com points out, you are. Do you see ads that follow consumers online as doing more good…
CSD: The Economic Reality of Recruiting
Just 24 months ago, anyone who wanted a frontline, hourly worker’s job only needed a pulse to get hired. Now, it is harder than ever to attract the best and…
Smartphones Look to Replace Plastic as Payment
Okay, so the gas-powered car killed the horse and buggy as a mode of transportation (excluding the Amish). Video apparently killed the radio star. So what’s next to go? According…
