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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Retailers: Men Dressing for Success Again
Every couple of years, it seems, a story comes out that discusses how men are going back to suits and ties in business settings and leaving the life of business…
Consumers Focus on Basics, Buy Grocery Gift Cards
Dominick Lombardi and his wife usually buy his mother-in-law jewelry at Christmas. This year, they’re giving her a gift card to the Harmons grocery chain in Utah. Will grocery store…
Turning Points 2008: Global Sourcing Not Always a Sure Winner
For a while it looked as if global sourcing, especially from Asia, was going to be the ultimate win-win opportunity. But, to coin a cliché, if something looks too good…
R&FF Retailer: Merchandising in a Recession
How are shopper habits changing, and what new strategies should you be implementing to protect and even grow your share of frozen and refrigerated foods in these tough times? For…
Vitamins in Food Better Than Supplements
Nutritionists have long argued that a well-balanced diet gives most people all the vitamins and minerals they need. But recent reports from scientists in the U.K. and U.S. claim that…
Turning Points 2008: Technology is King
Each April, the Information Technology Research Institute of the Sam M. Walton College of Business publishes the results of their survey of retail IT executives and technology vendors. As we…
Starbucks Not Taking McD’s Bait
Talk about “in your face.” McDonald’s has put up a billboard promoting its espresso within sight of Starbucks’ headquarters. Oh yes, it also has another message: “Four bucks is dumb.”…
Failure to Communicate Brings Call Centers Home
Dell has an answer for customers who have been put off trying to communicate with call center agents based in India. You can speak to an American – for $12.95…
Turning Points 2008: The Price Point is Right
Manufacturers, mindful of decreased consumer purchasing power and the need to protect corporate margins, have tried a combination of tactics. With consumers having to economize, the meanings manufacturers and retailers…
Consumers Print Their Own Coupons
Consumers have traditionally turned to FSIs in local newspapers to get coupon savings but today, a growing number are looking for their savings online in the form of electronic coupons…
R&FF Retailer: Target’s Goal: ‘Not Yet Achieved’
One dictionary definition of ‘target’ is ‘a goal to be achieved.’ Some would say that Target is getting closer, but still hasn’t found the bulls-eye. What has impressed you about…
Turning Points 2008: Organic Goes Flat
It’s becoming increasingly clear watching retailers struggle and consumers reign in spending that organic foods have become a casualty of the rotten economy. What are the near-term prospects of organic…
Barbie Wins Bratz Catfight
In a hotly-contested copyright infringement case, a federal judge last week handed the rights to the Bratz dolls franchise to Mattell Inc., the creator of rival Barbie. The ruling came…
Paying by the Pound
New research may point the way to help the nation not only deal with rising healthcare costs associated with the obesity epidemic but also provide an overlooked stimulus program to…
Turning Points 2008: The Death of Print
Retailers and brands continue to look to newspapers to most directly communicate with customers and drive traffic. But steep advertising and circulation declines along with massive staff layoffs this year…
Safeway to Develop New Business Opportunities
Dan Hyman, president of Millennium Properties, told the Chicago Sun-Times that it makes perfect sense for Safeway to move into retail site development. His question was, “What took them so…
A&F Not Going There (Discounting That Is)
Reading a Wall Street Journal article on Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) brought us back to earlier days when we could hear some older person asking, “If everybody decided to jump…
CPGmatters: P&G Collaborates with Kroger to Focus on Mutual Customers
At the recent In-Store Expo hosted by the In-Store Marketing Institute in Las Vegas, executives at Procter & Gamble and Kroger spoke together about their fruitful collaboration that puts the…
Water Bottlers Move to Protect Sales
It’s beginning to look as if consumer decisions to vote with their purses are to be contested by companies whose sales of bottled water have fallen significantly in recent months…
M&A Activity Dries Up
Despite ever cheaper valuations, merger & acquisition activity is virtually nonexistent because of challenges gaining bank financing. While some mergers are expected as fire sale situations emerge, the overall rate…
First Thing I Would Do If I Were a Retail CEO
Though not a retail CEO, BrainTrust Panelist Dan Gilmore has many years in the business trenches and has become an observant consumer. One thing that drives him crazy: store managers…
