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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Target RFID Test to Start in Texas
Target has told suppliers participating in its radio frequency identification technology (RFID) test that it will begin the project at a DC and 10 stores in Texas in the Dallas/Ft…
Wal-Mart To Perform Background Checks
Hailing itself for an act of leadership, Wal-Mart announced it would require all new store associates in the Midwest to undergo background checks for consideration in hiring. The chain intends…
Toys R’nt Us For Much Longer
Soon, to borrow a sentiment from a dead former President of the United States, Wal-Mart may not have Toys “R” Us to kick around any longer. Yesterday, the nation’s second…
Blockbuster Undercuts Netflix Online
Netflix, the online DVD rental business, has done a good job of cutting into Blockbuster’s video rentals, so Blockbuster has decided to offer an online rental service of its own,…
Kmart Keeps Kutting
Yesterday was not a good day for Kmart or its headquarters staff. First, the company announced that Home Depot would be scaling back the number of stores it was buying…
NAFTA Revisited
It’s been ten years since NAFTA went into effect. Few of us were speaking about U.S. Latinos at the time, at least not as part of the NAFTA debate. But…
Clothes Making Political Statements
The current race for the White House is shaping up to be one of the most contentious and divisive in the modern era. That’s just fine with clothing designers and…
7-Eleven Tries To Fit In
7-Eleven has decided that if it wants to open another 41 stores in Boston over the next three years that it is just going to have to work on fitting…
US Retailer Targets UK Acquisition
Although it has steadfastly denied any plans for expanding outside the U.S. for years, a report out of the UK says Target “is eyeing British retailers with a view to…
Natural Grocer Sows Its Oats In Supermarket
Last week’s announcement that Wild Oats Markets was testing a “store-within-a-store” concept inside Stop & Shop brings together two grocery competitors, albeit in the natural foods niche, under a single…
What It Takes To Lead
Leadership is a significant factor in the business world, although it may sometimes appear in short supply. What then does it take to be an effective leader? Intelligence is one…
Customer Value: A Competitive Advantage for Private Companies
“Private companies have the opportunity to create the best of all worlds when it comes to customer experience, measurement and equity,” say Don Peppers and Martha Rogers Ph.D. Cargill, is…
Albertsons Looks To Make Impact With Price Format
Albertsons officially announced its entry into the limited-assortment (price impact) grocery store format with seven Super Saver stores to be opened in the Dallas and Baton Rouge markets. The stores…
The Objection Opportunity
One thing that any salesperson worth their commissions knows is that every prospect or customer objection represents a selling opportunity. Are stores taking advantage of the disgruntled customer opportunity to…
President Floats Comp Time Proposal
The Bush Administration has proposed a change in labor laws to give workers the option of choosing to take additional time off for working beyond their normal 40-hour week rather…
The Evolution of eBay
A report in The Guardian says eBay is being transformed from “the world’s online flea market” where everything was negotiable to a fixed price selling sight being used by large…
Softer Side Is Hard On Sears’ Bottom Line
Sears’ management believed when it bought Lands’ End two years ago that it would help the company finally get its act together on the clothing side of business. Sears’ management…
Who Knew What And When Did They Know It
Despite reportedly being in negotiations with the Department of Justice to head-off an indictment, Wal-Mart continues to maintain its innocence against the suggestion it knew anything about company contractors using…
What’s More Important Than RFID?
When Wal-Mart throws its energy and dollars into developing its radio frequency identification (RFID) technology program, the whole consumer goods manufacturing and retail industry industry took notice and many got…
Senior Discounts Promote Age Discrimination
William Ecenbarger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, says seniors need to take a stand against age discrimination and one of the best ways they can do that is by…
Need-State Marketing May Enter the World of Ethnic Marketing
Interest in need-state-oriented marketing has increased in the grocery business, as more specialized retailers like dollar stores, limited-assortment stores, and natural/organic supermarkets have picked off certain types of shopping trips…
