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Spend for Today
The latest results from Bigresearch’s Consumer Intentions and Action Survey suggests that even consumers not familiar with the 1970’s hit Let’s Live for Today by The Grass Roots have taken…
Some Stick to Brick and Mortar
Despite the incredible growth of online sales, many well-known retail names have only limited e-commerce operations or none at all. Are some retailers better off sticking to brick and mortar…
Starbucks Gets an Agent
There’s no doubt about it. Starbucks has definitely gone Hollywood. The coffee chain announced yesterday that it had authorized the Hollywood talent agency, William Morris, to help it identify…
America De-Malled
There are still plenty of the giant indoor malls scattered around the U.S. landscape, but the current trend in large retail development is open-air lifestyle centers. A report by…
The Invasion of the DVD Rental Kiosks
TNR Entertainment Corp. (The New Release), the nation’s largest owner/operator of DVD rental kiosks in grocery outlets, announced yesterday that it had signed an agreement with A&P to place rental…
Opponents Rip RFID Jeans
Those opposed to the use of item-level radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are unhappy with Levi Strauss’s confirmation that the company is doing a single-store test in the U.S. of…
Wal-Mart’s Loyalty Initiative
The goal of Wal-Mart’s shopper segmentation effort is to better understand its shoppers and how they shop Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart believes it can convert skeptics to selectives; selectives into loyalists, and…
Rallies and Walkout Intended to Make Point
Supporters of overhauling the nation’s immigration laws are hopeful of making a very big point today as millions of immigrants (lawful and illegal) are expected to stay away from their…
Gas Prices No Obstacle for Rich Boomers
The largest car retailer in the U.S., AutoNation, Inc., says that the high prices being paid at the pump haven’t done a thing to slow down luxury car sales at…
McDonald’s Public Enemy #1 – Wendy’s
A memo sent to McDonald’s franchisees pretty much says it all. Wendy’s “is the face of the enemy over the next 18 months.” The number one fast food chain sees…
Federated Takes Local Approach in Chicago
It’s true that many, if not most, Chicagoans are upset over Federated Department Stores’ decision to rename Marshall Field’s Macy’s. The retailer, however, wants long-time shoppers of the flagship on…
Kraft Shareholders Vote to Support Gay Games Sponsorship
A proposal calling on Kraft Foods to “disassociate itself” from its sponsorship of the upcoming 2006 Gay Games VII in Chicago along with any other activity supporting the homosexual lifestyle…
Dollar Stores Grow Food Sales
Not every company in the dollar store space is convinced that food sales are the way to go, but the Dollar Tree and Dollar General chains are finding that grocery…
Old is New Again at Clothing Retailers
Retailers such as the Gap have not had much success in recent years getting consumers to buy the latest fashions on display in stores, so now they are launching not…
Toys R Us No Longer in Mood to Play
Considering all the acrimony between the parties, it seems almost surreal that Amazon.com is looking to have its contract reinstated with Toys R Us. Last month it was ruled that…
Martha’s Kmart Future Foretold
The recent announcement from Macy’s that it would begin carrying an exclusive line of upscale Martha Stewart home goods beginning in 2007 along with a failure to put together a…
Coldwater Creek to Pamper Customers with Spa
Coldwater Creek says it is in the business of helping its customers “get away from it all” and a new spa concept the retailer is testing should give them one…
Amazon’s CustomFlix Biz to Offer Quick DVDs
Instant gratification, or at least close, is becoming an increasingly popular goal of entertainment companies and retailers in that space. Now, Amazon.com’s subsidiary CustomFlix Labs has signed deals with television…
Better Ingredients – Better and Faster Pizza
The Papa John’s pizza chain has long hung its hat on the marketing pitch that its pies are of superior quality to competitors in the market. Now, it’s adding speed…
Loyalty With a Little Help from Some Friends
If your definition of loyalty includes shoppers selecting you over the competition, then you should make sure your online store includes product ratings and reviews. Customer experience consulting firm eVOC…
Billboards Get Everyone’s Bleating Attention
New billboards in the Netherlands are really catching the attention of consumers in the European country. They make drivers want to stop (sometimes even turn around) to see them. They…
