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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Study: Tobacco Ads Target Black Americans More Than Whites
Tobacco companies have been embarrassed in the past over revelations they more aggressively targeted black consumers at a time when a growing number of white consumers were kicking the cigarette…
BP: Green or Green Washing
This is not the first time that BP’s “green” credentials have been called into question. The former British Petroleum, which has billed itself as being beyond petroleum with ads about…
Brands Recruit Word-of-Mouth Ambassadors
While word-of-mouth is always a great way to build brand exposure, some are questioning their value if the recommendations are driven by free gifts. In a new word-of-mouth marketing strategy,…
Back by Popular Demand
Ah, nostalgia. Many of us have fond memories of food and drink that we no longer find readily available. But thanks to the wonders of the internet, thousands of candy…
CPGmatters: What’s next for data synchronization?
Data synchronization is key to the efficient operation of the supply chain. In recent years, progress in the vision and scope of data sharing is driving a demand-based planning model…
Independents Deal With Big, Bad Whole Foods
When the topic of a big player putting mom and pop stores out of business comes up, the discussion usually comes around to the mention of chains such as Wal-Mart…
Teen B-T-S Spending Coming Up Short
While many retailers are blaming high gasoline prices and mortgage jitters for their recent sales woes, some market observers are wondering if some more serious fundamental challenges are creeping into…
Mass Associates Fail Consumer Electronics Service Test
If you’re looking for knowledgeable help when buying your next television, don’t go to a mass merchant, warehouse club or department store. If you do, according to J.D. Power, you’re…
Drug Ads Booming
A study released last week found that the pharmaceutical industry’s direct-to-consumer advertising increased more than 300 percent in the past 10 years, while regulatory scrutiny of the ads’ claims has…
Wal-Mart Looking to Fill New Niches
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Wal-Mart is in the process of developing new concept stores it plans to roll out next year. The new formats include a smaller…
IRI: Consumers Choosing Drugstores Over Food and Mass
Drugstores seem to be doing things right these days, according to a recently released IRI study. The channel is apparently proving itself better than food or mass when it comes…
GHQ: The hot foods
Consumers have been examining ingredient lists for years, but the growth of the wellness industry has brought this behavior to the forefront. It is no longer sufficient for a granola…
Counting the Miles and Measuring Footprints
RetailWire’s Editor-in-Chief George Anderson recently had us discussing “locavores.” A related term that has gained traction in the U.K. is ‘food miles’. Many people believe that knowing the distance food…
Judge Won’t Get in Way of Whole Foods/Wild Oats Deal
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman has rejected the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request to temporarily block a deal by Whole Foods Market to acquire its smaller rival Wild Oats Markets…
Netflix Takes Real People Approach to Customer Service
Netflix is taking some competitive heat from Blockbuster and the movie rental service has begun to see erosion in its subscriber base after an impressive period of growth that began…
Telling Stories for Profit – Part 1
“The story form over time has been proven and demonstrated over and over again across all cultures to be the single best way to transfer information, belief, history,” Ryan Mathews,…
BrainTrust Query: Is a ‘Made in China’ backlash coming?
The other day, a national business news show explored the dangers of lead content in products imported from China, which is the primary, though not exclusive, concern of recent recalls…
Grocery Chain Keeps It Fresh
Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s capture most of the headlines, but there is another specialty grocer that has achieved some pretty impressive results, even if it has done so with…
Gen Y Nation Declares No Texting Zone
Marketers are excited about the advertising and promotional possibilities presented by text messaging to consumers’ cell phones. Gen Y consumers, given the results of a new study by Maritz Research,…
Supply Chain Digest: Where is Wal-Mart’s Secret Plan?
Wal-Mart’s stock price sank to a 52-week low this week, after years of disappointing returns to investors, as the retailer announced slow profit growth in Q2 and reduced financial expectations…
Is a Bottled Water Backlash Coming?
It appears as though people are coming up with reasons why they and anyone within reading or listening distance shouldn’t be drinking bottled water. Some, such as Tom Standage, writing…
