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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Workers Put on Planes to Cut Healthcare Costs
Companies have discovered in recent years that they can save significant healthcare dollars by putting workers on planes and sending them off to have surgical procedures far from home. Is…
Fresh & Easy Expanding at Slow & Steady Pace
According to a Financial Times report, Fresh & Easy has put the second stage of its expansion in northern California “on hold” while continuing to acquire space for 50 stores…
BrainTrust Query: Are retailers under-valuing the importance of fitting rooms?
Customers who use a fitting room are 71 percent more likely to buy than those simply browsing the sales floor. And, if they are provided with service while in the…
CSD: Turkey Hill Supports Its Hometown Heroes
In July, the Pennsylvania-based operator of Turkey Hill Dairy and Turkey Hill Minit Markets instituted a month-long program called Operation Hometown Hello to support local troops serving in Iraq and…
Limited Brand Workers Literally Work Graveyard Shift
In an apparent move to avoid layoffs, Limited Brands Inc. reassigned 25 warehouse employees to help clean up Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio, for the month of August. What…
BrainTrust Query: 7 Years for 7 Reasons – The Decline of the Power Center
The long-term viability of the power center has been a topic of running debate. Their decline will have much less to do with aesthetics and much more to do…
Vegetarian Diet Advised in Anticipation of World Food Shortage
A report on the future of food security in the U.K. has suggested that “the British people face wartime rations and a vegetarian diet in the event of a world…
Brands Not Connecting with Women Through Social Media
A study by ad:tech Chicago and Q Interactive finds that three out of four women who engage with brands via social networking sites say they are not influenced to purchase…
PL Buyer: Walmart’s Great Value Lineup – The Art of Transformation
Walmart’s betting on a revamped Great Value lineup — and many other strategic changes — to keep the momentum going post-recession. What do you think about Walmart’s revamp of its…
Lululemon Testing Tween Concept
Lululemon, the upscale yoga and athletic apparel retailer, is getting set to debut a new concept, Ivivva Athletica, developed for girls between the ages of six and 12. Is there…
Wal-Mart to Pay Workers with Debit Cards
Wal-Mart Stores is looking to reduce expenses associated with payroll checks by paying employees who don’t use direct deposit with a debit card. Will this become a widespread practice in…
CPGmatters: Kraft Promotes Meal Solutions with Custom Retail Programs
Kraft Food is amplifying its retailer-specific in-store marketing program for Meal Solutions in an effort to take greater advantage of the growing trend of budget-conscious consumers cooking more at home…
Stop & Shop and Giant Closing Starbucks Kiosks
Stop & Shop and Giant Food have decided to shut down just under half of the Starbucks’ kiosks in the respective chains’ stores. Are coffee shops or kiosks in stores…
Study: In-Store Clinics Give MDs Run for Their Money
Consumers get as good or better treatment for minor ailments at a fraction of the cost of a visit to the doctor when they go to an in-store clinic, according…
BrainTrust Query: We All Scream for Ice Cream
If you want to rise above the clutter of all the other companies out there that are providing similar products or services such as those that you offer, you have…
Beatlemania Again
A whole new generation of music fans is about to discover The Beatles with the release of the band’s musical catalog in digitally remastered CD form and the video game,…
Is Walmart.com the Next Amazon Online?
It used to be wondered aloud if Amazon.com would someday become the Wal-Mart of the internet. It now appears that walmart.com wants very much to be the Wal-Mart of the…
Braintrust Query: Managing Retail Price-Point and Margin Pressures
The greatest challenge independent retailers are struggling with right now, even more so than with depressed traffic counts, is getting full margins for their goods. How can independent retailers better…
Retail TouchPoints: Conservative Ordering Makes Inventory Strategy Critical to Avoid Stock Outs This Holiday Season
Fearful of cautious consumers this holiday season, retailers may be setting themselves up for failure in the critical Q4 period by keeping inventories too lean. What are some strategies for…
Publix Tests Larger, Organic Hybrid Format
Publix is testing a 60,000 square foot prototype store in Naples, FL, that will meld many of the features of GreenWise Market, its neophyte concept emphasizing natural, organic and eco-friendly…
Braintrust Query: When are brand extensions a good idea?
Line extensions and franchise extensions are thought to be more affordable ways to introduce new products and have a higher success rate vs. creating completely new brand names. However, brand…
