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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Few Options Available for Consumers Seeking Layaways
Walmart gave it up and so have many other retailers. Today, even with a shaky economy, it’s difficult to find retailers who offer layaway programs, according to the Danville (VA)…
CVS Creates Luxury Beauty Concept
CVS is following the lead of Canada’s Shoppers Drug Mart with a new luxury beauty concept store that will feature brands normally found only in department stores. Will Beauty 360…
CPGmatters: Discrimination in Stores Hurts Coupon Use and Redemption
Very subtle and trivial behavior suggesting discrimination by store personnel – largely at checkout – can be a barrier to coupon redemption, according to Dr. Anne Brumbaugh, associate professor marketing,…
Hallmark Unveils Gay Wedding Cards
Two months after California sanctioned same-sex marriages, Hallmark announced plans to introduce same-sex wedding cards. Making no direct mention of same-sex unions, the cards feature two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or…
CSD: You Don’t Have a Turnover Problem?
Hiring strategies need to begin with a strong focus on retaining good frontline employees. Most employers in the convenience store industry think they have a frontline employee turnover problem and,…
Stop & Shop and Giant Launch New Logos
Ahold NV introduced a new logo for its two East Coast grocery chains as part of a revamping of the stores. The new, colorful logo unifies the look among Stop…
Kohl’s President Adds CEO Title
Kevin Mansell, who has served as the president of Kohl’s since 1999, is adding the title of chief executive after Larry Montgomery announced he was resigning the post. Mr. Montgomery…
Digital Ads Change Based on Shopper
Marketers are looking to tailor in-store ads to consumers based on what they purchase. In the future, according to The Wall Street Journal, those messages flashed on digital screens in…
SCDigest: Is Expansion in Direct Store Delivery the Next Logical Step in Moving to a Demand-Driven Supply Chain in Consumer Packaged Goods?
Though most estimates say total direct store delivery (DSD) growth has been relatively flat for many years, there are signs that growth could be rising, as retailers look to reduce…
Kiosks Improve Customer Experience at Borders
The Borders chain is in trouble, but the company’s new concept store in Allen, Texas shows that it is serious about finding a way out of the mess should a…
FTC Fines Airborne $30 Mil for False Ad Claims
There are consumers all across the U.S. who swear by the popular cough/cold product Airborne. Despite its popularity, the company has been hit with a $30 million fine by the…
Amazon Expands Fresh Test
Based on the fact that it is expanding its coverage area, it would appear as though Amazon.com’s test of a grocery delivery service is going well. What do you think…
Clinics Deal with ‘Yuck’ Factor
In-store medical clinics seem like a great business idea. So what’s the problem? Why are some clinics closing and others slowing the pace of new location openings? A 19-year old…
Sears Visits Fashion Week
Sears announced plans last week to unveil a lifestyle exhibit during September Fashion Week shows in New York City as part of its recently-bolstered efforts to cultivate a hipper image…
Nike and Adidas Going for Gold
Millions of people worldwide have been watching the Olympics these past few days. And watching the athletes attired in competing costumes. According to news reports, Nike and Adidas have spent…
Tesco Follows Walmart into India
Two years after Walmart, Tesco Plc announced plans to enter India. Partnering with Trent Ltd., the U.K.’s largest grocer plans to invest £60 million ($114 million) in opening a chain…
Fish Sales: Retailers Caught in a Net?
Having been told repeatedly that fish is an important part of a balanced diet, consumers are now finding that it isn’t really that simple. Three different stories in the past…
Women’s Sites Attract Ad Dollars
According to an article in The New York Times, while men are heavy users of the web, they tend not to visit sites explicitly aimed at them. Sites aimed at…
Media Consumption Eroding
According to Veronis Suhler Stevenson’s Communications Industry Forecast, the time Americans spend consuming media has declined for the third year in a row. Although the declines are modest, they suggest…
CSD: Reshaping the Convenience Landscape
For some, Exxon’s decision to sell its corporate stores presents the chance of a lifetime to acquire the rights to stores for an entire market, maybe more. For others, the…
McDonald’s Tweaking Its Dollar Menu
McDonald’s is testing ingredient changes and possibly higher prices for its popular $1 double cheeseburger as part of a reassessment of its Dollar Menu. It also is considering adding a…
