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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Wal-Mart Rocks Retail Pharmacy Biz with $4 Generics
You’ve heard this one before so go ahead and fill in the blanks. Wal-Mart drops prices out of the _____ category and the competition gets buried in the process. …
Retailers Tickled Pink Over Elmo’s Return
Elmo’s back and retailers are tickled pink over the prospects of stocking what promises to be one of the hottest selling toys of the holiday season. T.M.X. (the X…
eBay Sued Over Counterfeit Handbags
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is tired of counterfeiters getting rich knocking off its brands and it wants eBay to do something about it. According to a lawsuit filed by…
With the Advent of In-Store Clinics, is Whole Health Finally Coming of Age?
When AOL founder Steve Case plunks his millions into a business concept, the market tends to take notice. So will Case’s development of RediClinic impact how Americans connect to their…
Spending Doesn’t Bring Better Healthcare
A study conducted by the Commonwealth Fund suggests that perhaps the healthcare debate taking place within the retail industry may be missing the point. The problem with the American healthcare…
Tesco Plans Covert Operation in America
Everyone knows Tesco is coming to the U.S. with a new small store format. Just what shape it will take is a bit of a mystery as the only store…
A Retailer Not Named Wal-Mart Brings Low Prices to Chicago
Kids love the sneakers and clothes it sells. Parents love knowing that those very shoes (most sold for $10 or less) and clothes are often priced lower than comparable items…
Blogger is Target of Retailer’s Ire and Lawsuit
“John Doe” has a big, blogging mouth and Target is not happy about it. So unhappy, in fact, the company is trying to track him down to quiet him with…
Nardelli’s Compensation Under Review
Ongoing complaints by Home Depot shareholders and poor ratings by watchdog groups may finally be pressuring Home Depot’s compensation review committee to make changes in the way Chairman and Chief…
Saks Says Its Efforts Were Wasted on the Young
As “Step One in a multistep process” to turn around the luxury department store chain, Saks is re-tailoring its offerings to appeal to the older, more affluent clientele that has…
Warnings Failed to Stop Spinach E. coli Outbreak
Distribution of E. coli-contaminated produce continues in the U.S. despite all the attention the problem has received in the last 10 years. And, according to a report in the San…
Stop and Smell the Greenbacks
The sweet smell of success has taken on a whole new meaning. Retailers are increasingly turning to enjoyable scents, pumped into stores, to make shoppers comfortable and more willing…
BrainTrust Query: Is Wal-Mart’s new housewares line a case of ‘me too’ merchandising?
Wal-Mart Stores announced on Thursday that it had signed an exclusive deal with celebrity “lifestyle and design expert” Colin Cowie for a holiday home collection. Apparently, Wal-Mart has decided…
CSD Cover Story: Sheetz Continues Reinventing Convenience
When it comes to delivering quality and value, few chains are as highly regarded as Sheetz. The chain has long been admired for its superiority in innovation and its diligent…
Layaway Goes Away at Wal-Mart
A RetailWire poll in November 2005 asked respondents if layaway programs provided a competitive advantage and nearly three out of four replied “yes.”. In the article preceding the poll, Wal-Mart…
Kmart Looks to Build Business with Power Tools
Ever since Kmart and Sears agreed to merge, one of the projected benefits of the deal was thought to be that popular exclusive brands would be made available to shoppers…
PLBuyer Cover Story: Three Sizes Fit All
You can’t be all things to all people. That was the lesson learned by Food Lion when it spoke to shoppers at its 1,200 or so stores in 11 states…
Younger Employees Looking Beyond Paycheck
Today’s workers aren’t interested in just picking up a paycheck. They are also seeking jobs at companies with “comfortable corporate cultures.” Rebecca Ryan, founder of Next Generation Consulting, said…
Safeway Puts Steak Before Sizzle
Safeway was an easy target. It acquired businesses and drew immediate criticism for changing the very aspects of those stores that made them desirable for purchase in the first place…
GHQ Cover Story: Health & beauty flair
From a supermarket standpoint, health and beauty care isn’t all that healthy these days, or particularly good-looking either. According to Information Resources, Inc., HBC sales in supermarkets totaled…
Kroger Succeeds
As the saying goes, “nothing succeeds like success,” and when it comes to grocery industry success stories, Kroger needs to be put at or near the top. The nation’s largest…
