RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Overstock Chairman Chooses Son Over Company
The chairman of Overstock.com, John “Jack” Byrne, says that, if he steps down from his post after the annual shareholders’ meeting this April, it will be because he’d rather keep…
Retailer Seeks End to Public Financing
Like other retailers, the outdoor lifestyle chain Gander Mountain has benefited from public subsidies when it’s come to building its stores. That, its CEO Mark Baker has concluded, is just…
Judge Grants Divorce in Amazon/Toys R Us Case
Like most unions, it started out with a sense of unity and optimism but, as oftentimes happens, the marriage between Amazon.com and Toys R Us was not meant to be…
Grocers Distance Themselves from Red Meat
Grocery chains selling it are going to stop and those not selling it are not going to start. That was the reaction by a number of major supermarkets to reports…
Coke Rewards Loyal Consumers
Coca-Cola wants to keep its loyal customers loyal and the beverage manufacturer has launched the largest rewards program in its history to help it achieve just that. The new program,…
New Online Grocer Takes Natural Path
A new online grocery service in Colorado with a focus on organic and natural foods is hoping that emphasis will help it establish a sustainable niche in a market that…
Winn-Dixie Closing 35 More Stores
Winn-Dixie has concluded that it will need to sell or close another 35 store locations as part of its reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In a released statement…
Chinese Consumers Gang Up on Retailers
An article in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal describes how retailers in China are being swamped by consumer gangs in search of better prices. Chinese consumers have caught on quickly…
European Chains Changing Sourcing Rules
To stay ahead in the fashion retailing business today requires speed. You simply can’t wait months for a new line to come in when it’s hot because, by the time…
I, Robot Retailer
It’s a brave new world. According to a San Francisco Business Times article, Safeway and Macy’s West are testing futuristic vending machines that sell high-priced gadgets delivered to consumers via…
BK Looks to IPO, Continued Turnaround
Burger King has made slow and steady improvement over the past couple of years under Greg Brenneman. The company, according to Thomson Financial, is now looking to raise up…
Time to Sell More Toys at Target
Target is looking to make its mark in the specialty toy market with a new in-store boutique the chain has dubbed “Time to Play!”. According to a company release, the…
Are Gap Execs Fleeing a Sinking Ship?
The company says its just the normal comings and going of people on various career paths, but the timing of recent departures and poor financial results raises the question of…
The ‘Made In America’ Niche
Take a look at the label inside most of the apparel sold in U.S. retail outlets today and you’ll quickly discover that almost nothing is made in America. Perhaps…
Kroger Bringing Marketplace to Home Town
Kroger plans to introduce its Marketplace concept to the Cincinnati area by the end of the summer, reports The Enquirer. The larger multi-department concept dedicates up to 40 percent of…
Sunflower Could Grow Big for Supervalu
Sunflower Market, Supervalu’s discount organic food concept, is looking to bloom in Central Ohio by building as many as seven stores in the Columbus area. The decision to open in…
Bananas Without the Bunch
Chiquita has announced that it will begin selling single-serve bananas through convenience store next month. A new packaging system developed by Landec Corp. of Menlo Park, CA extends the shelf…
Wal-Mart Expands Healthcare Benefits
The world’s largest retailer has quickly responded to criticism over its healthcare benefits program and the passage of the so-called Wal-Mart bill in Maryland by reducing the timeframe required for…
The Ivy League Goes Retail
Elizabeth Schweitzer wants Federated Department Stores CEO Terry Lundgren’s job. Maybe not tomorrow, but at some point in the future for sure. Ms. Schweitzer is a 21-year-old graduate of the…
Deal$, Deal$, Deal$
Supervalu is getting out of the standalone dollar store game and Dollar Tree is more committed to it than ever. Yesterday, the wholesaler and retail grocer announced it had reached…
Format No Longer Essential to Sears
The Sears Essentials banner has been rendered obsolete. Sears Holdings Corp. announced yesterday that it was bringing to an end its one-year experiment with the Essentials format and will turn…
