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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Mom and Pops Find Life After Wal-Mart
Bob Hermanns, chief executive officer of Associated Grocers, told the Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) that independents are succeeding in markets, even if Wal-Mart is there. What does the future…
Combination of Red, White and Blue Makes Green
The majority of Americans support the war in Iraq and many are wearing their allegiance on their sleeves and elsewhere. Some retailers are finding that, even in uncertain economic…
The CNN 15
You’ve heard of the freshman 15, the term used to describe the weight gain many college students experience their first year away from home. Another phenomena, we’ll call the CNN…
Smart Pricing for Profits
So-called smart pricing systems promise retailers greater inventory control and higher profits, according to BusinessWeek. Web-based systems from companies such as SAP, DemandTec and ProfitLogic can provide foods retailers with…
Everyone Agrees But Nothing Changes
According to a piece in Strategy + Business, corporate dysfunction or paralysis is when (most) everyone within an organization agrees that change needs to happen and yet nothing changes. …
Consumers Refuse to Pay Full Retail
Consumers have become so trained by retail marketers to wait for the next big deal they’ve virtually stopped buying anything that isn’t on sale, says a New York Times article…
Tom Thumb’s Gas for Food Program
Shoppers of Safeway’s Tom Thumb and Simon David grocer store division will be eligible to receive credit for gasoline as part of the retailer’s Fuel Rewards Free Gas program. Shoppers…
Retailers Support Troops
With a lengthy involvement in Iraq guaranteed regardless of how long it takes to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, consumers and retailers are sending care packages to reinforce the nation’s support…
Would Sears and Kmart Be Perfect Together?
A Detroit Free Press article questions where Edward Lampert plans on taking Kmart and Sears. Mr. Lampert’s company, ESL Investments, will be the largest shareholder of Kmart stock once…
Boycott America Movement Grows
Consumers and businesses overseas are demonstrating their objections to the US war in Iraq by boycotting American brands. In Germany, a small number of restaurants have stopped selling Coca-Cola, according…
Solid Growth Brewing at Starbucks
Starbucks sees plenty of room for growth in the US and its overseas sales have not hurt by calls for boycotting American brands overseas, according to Reuters. “We don’t know…
Target Gets Into Home Remodeling
The Wall Street Journal reports that Target is going to begin selling pre-fabricated home addition kits designed by architect Michael Graves. The kits, priced from $10,000 to $26,000, will be…
Chapter 11: A Survival Guide
The odds are not in your favor if you are a retailer trying to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a research report from the Clear Thinking Group…
Nitrate Free Pork Named Best New Product
Beeler’s 100 percent natural mini-ham has been named the best new product of 2002 by the Iowa Pork Producers. The company owes it success to a new curing process it…
A&P Focuses on Selling (Stores)
A&P is looking to boost sales to get itself out of its current $1 billion debt dilemma. The anticipated revenues, however, are not coming from selling merchandise but selling stores…
Schnucks Rockin’ and Rollin’ in Memphis
Schnucks entered Memphis last year when it purchased 12 former Seessel’s stores from Albertsons. The retailer also has plans to spend an additional $40 million building three shopping centers with…
Retailers Increasing IT Budgets
After cutting back on spending in 2002, retailers will be increasing budgets for IT projects this year, says the research firm IDC. Will the war in Iraq affect retailers’ IT…
Treasury Seeks to Reclassify Malternatives
The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has reportedly developed new rules that would reclassify malternatives as distilled spirits that would limit manufacturers’ advertising and result in…
Sears to Sear HQ Workforce
Crain’s Chicago Business reports Sears plans to cut hundreds of headquarters’ jobs to help the retailer meet its goal of increasing earnings per share by 50% by the end of…
Check Fraud and Consumer Rights
Check fraud has become severe enough in some areas around the country that law enforcement officials are encouraging retailers to fingerprint shoppers paying by check. Is fingerprinting a necessary measure…
Americans Staying Home
With Operation Iraqi Freedom underway and the nation’s security alert level at orange, many travelers are opting to put off vacations and business trips. The airline industry, already seriously affected…
