RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Target Hits a Bull’s Eye Online
Consumer visits to Target.com grew 83% in September to 11.4 million, and that’s great news for a retailer who is averaging $151 per online transaction. Wal-Mart.com had more total shoppers…
Wal-Mart’s New Format
Wal-Mart is opening a new, temporary concept store to help residents of the Gulf Coast struggling to put their lives back together following Hurricane Katrina. The new 57,000-square-foot Wal-Mart…
Card Programs: Loyalty Not Included
As retailers know, there is a big difference between a customer having a store’s loyalty card and that customer being loyal to the store. According to a report in the…
Chick-fil-A Nation
Chik-fil-A’s got religion, great tasting chicken and a growing legion of “raving fans.” The company that rests on Sundays (Chik-fil-A is open six days a week) is a success…
Experts: Kmart Not Long for This World
For many retail watchers, the scene played out in Monty Python and The Holy Grail where a cart is pushed through a village and the cart-master calls out, “Bring out…
There is No Such Thing as a Weak Private Label Program
The answer to the question of what separates a strong private label program from a weak one may be that there really are no weak private label programs, only misdirected…
Consumers Worried About Card Fraud and Identity Theft
Whether shopping online or in stores, consumers are concerned about their personal information finding its way into the hands of criminals. Among other findings, a new IBM survey of 1,000…
McD’s Says Thanks But No to Shareholder Proposal
William Ackman thinks McDonald’s Corp. is “a very shareholder-friendly company,” and while he thinks its management is doing a good job, he has a few suggestions on how it could…
The World After Peter Drucker
Last week, the best-selling author, management guru and self-described “social ecologist” Peter Drucker passed away at the age of 95. During his lifetime, Mr. Drucker authored over 30 books, served…
Consumers Grade Retailers on Customer Service
A new study conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation and American Express, found that 85 percent of consumers shop more often and spend more at retailers that offer…
The New Land of Opportunity
Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Circuit City, McDonald’s, KFC and Starbucks are there. So are Metro and Carrefour. All these large retail and foodservice companies are doing business far from their American…
Study: U.S. Perfects Convenient Way to Make Kids Fat
A new study says that American kids are getting way too much starch, sodium, sugar and fat because they are being fed foods that score high on the convenience meter…
Layaway’s Goneaway
You may remember your parents doing it when you were a kid – choosing a gift for the holidays and then having the store hold onto it until they were…
Loyalty by Larry
Despite admitting that he loves the efficiency of buying stuff on the internet, Chicago Tribune Perspective Editor Charles Madigan enjoyed a terrific buying experience in the hands of a sales…
‘Hopelessly Complicated’ Benefit Plan Signup to Begin
The Bush administration has said that the new Medicare D drug benefit program will help seniors covered by Medicare to cut their prescription medicine expenses by at least 50 percent,…
Setting Hispanic Market Share Objectives? Look Beyond Market Population.
No doubt, we have been bombarded by population numbers that speak to the enormity of the Hispanic marketplace. But what does that mean to our ability to grow market share…
Consumer Ailments = Retail Opportunities
Targeting products to the health issues of consumers has opened up new business opportunities for food manufacturers and the retailers that sell their products. An aging population with associated health…
Wal-Mart Wishes Boycotters a Happy Holiday
‘Tis the season to boycott retailers and this year it’s Wal-Mart’s turn. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has launched a boycott of Wal-Mart for its use of…
Lowest Prices Come Down to Consumer Legwork
It is generally assumed that Wal-Mart has the lowest prices on grocery products but that’s not true, according to Michael Berberick of “The Grocery Advantage” web site. Mr. Berberick analyzed…
David’s Not Even a Handmaiden to Federated
Federated Department Stores does not even count David’s Bridal in its performance numbers. As far as the company that owns Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s is concerned, David’s is “a discontinued operation.”…
Loose Lips Sink Retail Chains?
In retail as in Washington, leaks of information appear to becoming increasingly common. Wal-Mart recently found itself having to answer some questions about its sincerity in looking to care for…
