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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is Bonobos Better Off Without Walmart?
Bonobos is changing owners again, becoming the property of the brand management firm WHP Global and Express after the companies signed a definitive agreement with Walmart.
Can The Wine Industry Capture Gen-Z And Millennials?
The “State of the U.S. Wine Industry” report from Silicon Valley Bank found that the only growth in the category came from consumers over 60.
Will Wetzel’s Twisted Concept Stand Alone Among Food Competitors?
A new off-mall store concept, Twisted by Wetzel’s, aims to inject creativity and excitement into the Wetzel’s product line and add a catchier look and feel to the experience.
Will Chains Extend Their Retail Dominance Over the Next Five Years?
UBS forecasts that somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 stores will close in the U.S. by 2028, down from its previous forecast of 80,000 locations.
Are Consumers Willing to Wait Longer to Have Their Online Orders Delivered?
How fast do consumers want their online orders delivered? Perhaps not as quickly as retailers think.
Is Shoplifting Killing Store Morale?
A university study finds mandatory policing of shoplifting and other “customer deviant behavior” often produces strong negative emotions in retail associates, leading to perceptions of unfairness and increased turnover.
Do Walmart’s Stores Just Not Fit in Chicago?
Walmart is closing four of the eight stores it operates in Chicago after concluding that it could no longer sustain the losses it has experienced since it opened its first…
Restaurants Have Come Back in Boston. Why Not Retail Stores?
While office workers, tourists, construction workers and others have been filling Boston’s downtown across day parts for food, entertainment and opportunities to socialize, they haven’t returned to retail shopping. We…
Will Amazon Customers Revolt Over Return Fees?
Amazon.com has begun charging return fees on products brought to the UPS Store.
Are Loyal Retail Workers Being Exploited?
A university study finds that loyal workers tend to be exploited by being asked to do unpaid work and additional job tasks where less committed colleagues are not.
Is Livestream Selling a Good Fit For Resale?
Poshmark, the resale marketplace, introduced Posh Shows, enabling users to sell secondhand products via live video from their homes.
Do Conversational AI Chatbots Make Better Sales Non-Associates?
New research finds that 67 percent of ChatGPT users feel understood often or always by the AI bot compared to 25 percent of traditional support chatbot users.
How Much of a Security Risk is ChatGPT?
Samsung employees learned last week that they accidentally leaked sensitive information to the artificial intelligence-powered chat technology Chat GPT.
Why is Walmart Taking up Pickleball?
Walmart has partnered with racquet sports booking platform Break the Love to invite customers and associates to play pickleball,.
Why Are Retail Customers So Angry?
Forty-three percent of Americans have publicly voiced their displeasure about their most serious product and service problem, up from 35 percent in 2015, according to the 2023 National Customer Rage…
The Epic Tale of RetailWire and Its Co-Founders Can Now Be Told
Nearly 22 years after its start, RetailWire’s co-founders are retiring. Help us send them off with well-wishes and many thanks!
Do Apple Customers Want to Shop For iPhones Via Video Chat?
Apple recently introduced a “Shop with a Specialist” feature that lets online shoppers have a video chat with a retail specialist to get advice on buying an iPhone.
Can Steph Curry Match Michael Jordan On Selling Floors?
Under Armour signed a new contract with Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry that extends into his retirement. The agreement, with incentives, could become a lifetime deal similar to…
Are Retailers Boring the Heck out of Shoppers?
A recent Wall Street Journal article explored “how shopping got so boring” and placed the blame for a lack of retail innovation on fallout from the pandemic and retailers playing…
Pepsi Brings Its Name Back Front And Center
PepsiCo unveiled its redesigned logo for its flagship soda line in late March, placing the brand name in the middle of the circle where everyone expects it to be.
Are Older Workers The Answer To Retail’s Staffing Problems?
A Wall Street Journal article today reports employers are turning to older individuals to fill jobs mainly because they find them more reliable and willing to work than younger people.
