RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Study: The Price Must Be Right
A study, sponsored by Big Lots, “found consumers are searching for a cheaper alternative to conventional retail stores for items such as food, household goods, and furniture. And they’re finding…
Is Amazon Violating Kids’ Privacy?
A number of advocacy groups are accusing Amazon of collecting personal information on children such as email addresses and birthdays without parental permission. If found guilty of the charges, Amazon…
UNC Charlotte Students Go To School on Retail
A group of juniors and seniors at UNC Charlotte who plan to pursue careers in retail find fault with how their future employers are running their stores. They list…
Wal-Mart Prices Below Wholesale
Mom and pop stores are becoming an increasingly important customer base for the Wal-Mart. Small operators can be found on a daily basis shopping in supercenters to supply their own…
No Business Model Lasts Forever
Ryan Mathews writes, in the April 2003 Grocery Headquarters, “The relentless adherence to out-of-date business models endangers any and all companies that continue to try to insulate themselves from the…
Dealing with Saddam Scams
Many consumers surfing the web and opening their email in recent days may have come across offers to buy a deck of Iraq’s Most Wanted cards. According the Great USA…
Paper or Plastic with Taxes
Environmental groups in New York City have proposed a 15-cent tax on plastic bags to encourage shoppers to reuse bags while raising needed funds for city parks. The proposed tax…
Fines to Be Imposed for Violent Video Games
On Thursday, the Washington State senate passed legislation that calls for fines of $500 for retailers selling violent video games to minors. Specifically, the measure targets games that depict violence…
Airport Retail Operations Take Off
Despite the woes of the airline industry and meager growth in airport traffic, retailing at airports is practically booming, if the situation at Indianapolis airports can be taken as the…
Wal-Mart Know-How Doesn’t Travel Well
Those Wal-Mart executives who have jumped ship, lured by rivals hoping to make use of their insider prowess in order to better compete with the world-dominating retailer, have not met…
“Axis” Brings the Evil Prospect of Deflation to World Economies
China, the Internet and Wal-Mart: a powerful new economic axis “fueling a global surge in cutthroat competition, driving down prices worldwide” is a proposition put forth in the April 28…
So Old It’s New, Hopes Federated
Federated Department Stores is betting big on a new line of private-label sportswear inspired by styles from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, called American Rag CIE. “It’s part of what…
Antitrust Lawsuit Against Visa and MasterCard Applauded by NRF
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has voiced their approval of a U.S. District Court decision to proceed to trial with an antitrust case brought against Visa and MasterCard. The case…
Natural Markets Still Sewing Their Wild Oats
Wild Oats sees the potential to add as many as 400 new stores to its present chain of 102. The company has 3 percent of the total market, while Whole…
Unilever Wants $300 Million for Toothpaste
A report on the web site The Deal says, Unilever is taking bids to sell its Aim, Mentodent, Pepsodent and Close-Up oral care brands. What are your thoughts on Unilever’s…
Stater Bros Makes Fortune’s List
Jack Brown, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Stater Bros. said in a prepared statement, “Our loyal customers and the great communities we serve made it possible for this ‘Hometown’…
Safeway Shares Dive; A&P May Exit Big Easy!!!!!!!!
Safeway saw its share price plummet yesterday to a 52-week low after warning its earnings would fall as much 11 cents below consensus estimates. In other news, A&P is said…
Starbucks is Seattle’s Best Coffee
Starbucks announced yesterday that it would purchase the North American operations of Seattle Coffee Co. for $72 million. Is this a good deal for Starbucks? Do you think Starbucks should…
The Blue Law Blues
Howard Troxler, columnist, St. Petersburg Times says Florida’s prohibition against selling alcohol before 1:00 PM on Sunday is “the most arbitrary of tyrannies.” Mr. Troxler argues that laws such as…
Jack in the Box to Increase C-Store/Restaurants
The Los Angeles Times reports Jack in the Box is accelerating plans to open more restaurants adjacent to its Quick Stuff convenience stores and retail gasoline operations selling branded fuels…
Civil Libertarians Warn Against RFID Intrusion
Retail marketers say radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology could give stores the ability to provide consumers with more personalized service while gaining greater control of inventory management. Civil libertarians, however, are…
