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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Pottery Barn for Teens
The home furnishings retailer, which operates its flagship store for adults as well as Pottery Barn Kids is launching a new catalog, PBTeen. What are your thoughts on the viability…
A Fortuitous Time for a Food Safety Summit
The second night of the Food Safety Summit featured more than its share of reality as the war in Iraq interceded on everyone’s evening plans. Much of the conversation Thursday…
CEO’s Pay Goes Up As Stock Price Falls
Alan Lacy, chief executive officer, Sears, made 78 percent more in salary and bonuses in 2002 despite a precipitous drop in the retailer’s share price. Mr. Lacy was paid $2.8…
Super-Sol Charges Suppliers with Theft
An article in last week’s Haaretz from Israel alleges the Super-Sol supermarket chain is charging suppliers for shrink due to product theft. The retailer allegedly began sending bills for “missing…
Boycott China, Not France
Thane Peterson of BusinessWeek argues Americans looking to make a statement by boycotting goods of countries opposing US military action in Iraq should forget about punishing the French and Germans…
PETsMART Brands Itself
Chris Hoyt writes that most retailers have been unable to get consumers to see them as anything other than resellers of other companies’ products. An exception to the rule,…
Hershey Goes Sugar-Free for $40 Million
Hershey Foods announced yesterday it is rolling out new sugar-free chocolates under its Hershey’s and Reese’s brand names. Product is slated to begin shipping this month. Will Hershey’s sugar-free chocolates…
Couponing for Traffic and Sales
American consumers were blanketed with 336 billion paper coupons in 2002, a 3.4 percent increase from the previous year. At the same time, says a press release from CMS, “The…
Customer Satisfaction Not Enough
An article in the Gallup Management Journal says satisfied customers are not necessarily loyal ones and “that without a strong emotional bond, satisfaction is meaningless.” What is the difference between…
Code Orange Reaction A Matter of Location
The Baltimore Sun reports that an unidentified man was arrested in Forest Hill, Maryland after a grocery store manager called police. A store employee told police he noticed fumes…
Two Dollar Wine Phenomena Grows
Charles Shaw wine, sold exclusively in Trader Joe’s, is the fastest growing brand in the history of the industry. Trader Joe’s sold over two million cases of Charles Shaw (nicknamed…
French Boycott Movement Grows
Anti-French sentiment has not translated into lower sales of that country’s exports to the US, yet. High profile categories such as wine have seen sales declines, although this began before…
48 Hour Countdown
In a speech to the American people last night, President Bush gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq to avoid an invasion. Security experts have been…
Ethnic Foods Travel with Immigrants
According to the Bellingham Herald, ethnic grocery stores are helping to expand the palates of Americans while providing immigrants with a comfort food reminder of their homeland. Are store requirements…
Save-A-Lot and Deal$ Attract Consumers
The Business Journal of Minneapolis and St. Paul reports that Supervalu has plans to open as many as 2,500 Save-A-Lot stores. The chain is working to create a new prototype…
Furor Grows Over Dixie Chick’s Remark
Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks has apologized for her comments about President Bush but that may not be enough for some. Ms. Maines, the group’s lead singer and…
Self-Checkouts: Better Service or More Work?
A Boston Globe article about self-checkouts asks the question, “What’s in it for me?” As seen in a recent test, the self-checkout appeal for some and drawback to others is…
Fuddruckers Freedom Fries Dis French
The fast-food restaurant chain, Fuddruckers, announced that it would rename its french fries, Freedom Fries. What are your thoughts on Freedom Fries?
Office Depot Offers the Mother of All Excuses
Office Depot’s latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission cautions that a war with Iraq “could have a very serious adverse impact on our business in 2003 and beyond.”…
Manufacturers Have Issues with SBT
Proponents of scan-based trading (SBT) claim the technology produces a win-win situation for manufacturers and retailers alike. Others, however, claim the reality of SBT is lower profits for manufacturers. Do…
Recall List for Stores Debated
The Bush administration has made its opposition known on a bill that would require manufacturers/processors to identify stores that had received recalled meat. Elsa Murano, undersecretary for food safety, USDA…
