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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Online Ads Drive CPG Sales
New research from comScore and dunnhumbyUSA has found that advertising online will drive sales of consumer packaged goods (CPGs) at or above the levels usually associated with television commercials. What…
Time for John Mackey to Resign
Okay, the headline got your attention. Yes, we believe Whole Foods’ CEO John Mackey should resign but not as you might surmise because of any particular ideas he expressed in…
RSR Research: Introducing ‘The Engaged, Customer-centric Retailer’
RSR would like to present a new model for successful retailing – The Engaged, Customer-centric Retailer. This model is the logical follow-on to TECC, or Technology-enabled Customer Centricity. In which…
Abercrombie & Fitch Rethinking Premium on Prices
Last holiday season while competitors were cutting prices to try and drive store traffic, Abercrombie & Fitch management was adamant it was not going to go that route. Has Abercrombie…
Best Buy CEO Takes Lessons From the Front Line
Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn started out working in stores and knows that associates on the front line are a valuable source of information that he needs to tap into…
CSD: Managing Today’s Retail Workforce
Because major shifts in the economy have created unparalleled effects on the labor market, Convenience Store Decisions and Humetrics Inc. collaborated on their first ever human resources study. What…
Five Below: A Dollar Store for Teens and Pre-Teens
The former founders of Zany Brainy have come up with a concept aimed at budget-conscious tweens and teens. With around 100 stores currently, management recently announced plans to double its…
Gap Pushes into Premium Denim
The Gap chain last week overhauled its core product, denim jeans, with the launch of 1969 Premium Jeans. With most styles costing between $54 and $59, the collection offers a…
Retail TouchPoints: Mobile Retailing Dissected At NRFtech Panel Discussion
A panel around mobile retailing at the NRFtech Annual CIO Summit mostly agreed that the widespread use of mobile technology is inevitable and will likely become part of everyday business…
CVS Takes Different Path Than Walgreens
As a Retail Week article points out, CVS is on a different path to growth than its chief rival, Walgreens. Is the approach taken by CVS more effective than those…
Dollar Stores Put Their Stamp on Food Subsidy Programs
Dollar store chains such as Family Dollar welcome the growing numbers of SNAP consumers knowing they have a significant effect on the chain’s top and bottom lines. Do dollar stores…
Retailers Hope Discounting Falls Out of Fashion
Luxury fashion designers are looking for consumers to go all Barbara Kruger and get with the mantra, “I shop therefore I am” and they also want consumers living by that…
Sampling Produces Long-Term Positive Effects
Sampling programs induce consumer trial and short-term sales boosts, but now it appears as though the positive immediate effect of sampling may have longer-term benefits for brands, as well. Are…
Meat Cutters Cook Up Incremental Sales
Many stores with fresh meat cases have instructed staff in proper methods of preparation and provided easy-to-prepare recipes for shoppers to follow. Are meat cutters a difference-maker in the competition…
Geeks at Home With Best Buy Test
Best Buy has been testing a program with its Geek Squad where members get to work from home helping consumers find solutions to technical issues. What do you think of…
Bada-Bing… Microsoft to Pay for Searching and Shopping
A report on the Seeking Alpha website said Microsoft plans to pay consumers cash to use its Bing search engine to make purchases online rather than Google, Yahoo or others…
Food’s Misfits Find a Home at Salvage Grocers
Much like the Island of Misfit Toys in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the food industry also has its place for misfits. With several hundred across the country, salvage stores…
Pencils Sharpened, Large Grocers Ready to Compete
Price competition is heating up in the grocery channel. While most supermarkets expect to lose some share to Wal-Mart Stores and other discounters, they want to try and grab as…
GM Testing New Car Sales on eBay
General Motors has gone straight from bankruptcy protection to eBay. The company announced that roughly 90 percent of its non-luxury new car brands sold in California will be available for…
Social Networking for Malls
The Mall at Robinson in Pittsburgh on August 8 became the latest mall property to launch on the social networking website, Shoptopia, which describes itself as the first online shopping…
CPGmatters: Major Marketers Collaborate with Kroger to Simplify Shopping for Beverages, Snacks
Kroger is testing a new display idea for one of its most popular categories: beverages. The idea is to create a handy destination that brings all the beverages in the…
