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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Consumers Say One Thing, Do Another
According to a recent online survey of 4,000 consumers by Deloitte & Touche, consumers are very interested in healthy eating and weight control. They just don’t appear to be very…
The Price Has Got To Be Right
When it comes to deciding where to buy, consumers are saying they’ll only shop if the price is right — especially if your store’s address has a “www” in front…
Retailer Commandment #1: Know Thy Customer
Sam’s began advance selling 50-copy “church packs” of Mel Gibson’s movie last week to religious groups and Wal-Mart’s warehouse club division has already exceeded its own sales expectations. What are…
Too Many Choices Spoil The Shopping
A report out of the UK, The Explosion of Choice: Tyranny or Freedom, concludes consumers are being overwhelmed by the number of product choices available to them in the typical…
For Customer Loyalty, If the Shoe Fits…
A lot of loyalty programs are soft in one critical area; delivering real benefit to shoppers. While not characterized as a loyalty program, Olly Shoes, the retailer Marianne Wilson writes…
The Energy Independence Myth
Exxon Mobil’s chairman, Lee Raymond, wants Americans to know there is no such thing as the United States being energy independent and he wants us to get over it already…
Kmart In Miss. Listens To Its Customers
Steve Howard, the general manager of a Kmart store in Waveland, Miss. would be the first to tell you the idea to have a farmers market in the store’s parking…
Thieves Cashing Out Gift Cards
A report from KOMO 4 News in Seattle says a new form of theft has been discovered where people go to checkout in stores only to find they have no…
Kraft Foods Goes On South Beach Diet
Kraft Foods has inked an agreement to market foods with labels bearing the trademark of the South Beach diet program developed by cardiologist and best-selling author, Dr. Arthur Agatston. What…
Wal-Mart Has Familiar Company In Mexico
It’s been widely repeated in these and other circles that the one company Wal-Mart fears as a competitor is Costco. Could it be the world’s largest retailer may be adding…
Target Sells Fields For $3.24 Billion
Yesterday, Target announced it had reached a deal to sell Marshall Field’s to May Department Stores for $3.24 billion. Nine Mervyn’s stores in the Twin Cities were also included in…
Roundy’s CEO Objects To Off Base Reports
Bob Mariano, chief executive of Roundy’s, says reports about a loss of market share by the company’s Rainbow Foods division are off base. What is really going on at Rainbow…
Still Making Sense: Timeless Ethnic Merchandising Best Practices
The immense buying power of the nation’s Hispanic consumers will energize the U.S. consumer market as never before. Selig Center projections reveal that this group alone controlled about $653 billion…
The Buzz: Kmart To Sell Stores To Sears
One thing leads to another. That’s the popular theory making the rounds as analysts and retail industry observers remain on watch for Kmart to follow up its recent $365 million…
The Colonel, the Racecar Driver and the Actress
Did you hear the one about the Kentucky colonel, the racecar driver and the actress? KFC’s deal to hire racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to serve as a pitchman for…
Retailers Take Hits For Fair-Trade Profiteering
A report in the Wall Street Journal says the fair-trade movement has been helpful in generating better wages for farmers around the world. In some instances, however, it appears as…
President Reagan’s Legacy To Endure
As the nation mourns the loss of former president Ronald Reagan, many are now looking back to assess his impact in economic terms. What do you think will be President…
Maytag’s Cooking, Cleaning Up With Demos
Maytag stores has decided its car selling brethren are worthy of imitation as it has launched its own “try-before-you-buy” service for appliances. What are your thoughts on Maytag’s “try before…
Demographics Are Out; Purchase Data Is In
When building and fine-tuning loyalty marketing initiatives, consumer demographics should take a back seat to actual shopper purchase data. What are some ways to expand use of purchase data to…
Wal-Mart Makes Personnel Policy Changes
Last year, Wal-Mart chief executive officer and president, Lee Scott, told attendees of the company’s annual shareholder meeting, “With more than 1.3 million associates, and plans to create many more…
Will The Internet Get Phished Out?
Phishing is not a new term to describe the act of leaving all responsibilities behind to follow the current generation’s version of the Grateful Dead (Phish) around the country on…
