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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Aromatherapy for the Bottom Line
Disputes continue over whether aromatherapy works in promoting health and healing. There is no dispute, however, that sales of aromatherapy products are growing. How can (or should) retailers incorporate alternative…
Consumers Rely on Retailers for Safe Food
“Governments are no longer the primary gatekeepers of the safety of a food supply that has grown internationally more diverse and exotic. But instead, consumers will increasingly rely on those…
FAO Brings Toys to Saks Fifth Avenue
Toys ‘R’ Us departments can now be found in some supermarkets. Soon, consumers will be able to find toys from the famous FAO Schwarz while shopping in Saks Fifth Avenue…
Retailers Due for Technology Overhaul
Exhibitors at this year’s Marketechnics show think that many retailers are due for a technology overhaul.Will there be a marked increase in technology investments made by retailers in the year…
Will Safeway Sell Dominick’s in Pieces?
A piece in Friday’s Chicago Tribune said that Safeway is considering splitting the chain up to sell to multiple buyers. “One scenario has Eden Prairie, Minn.-based SuperValu and Pewaukee, Wis.-based…
Ahold’s Shakeup
Ahold’s chief executive, Cees van der Hoeven, and chief financial officer, Michael Meurs, have resigned after earnings were overstated at the company’s U.S. Foodservice unit. How bad is the U.S…
Eminem Gets Grammy and Macy’s Deal
Eminem won a Grammy yesterday for Best Rap Album for his work on “The Eminem Show.” On Friday, the rapper made news when Macy’s announced it would begin selling…
Home Depot Claims Its More Than a Store
Home Depot launched a new ad campaign on the Grammy Awards telecast last night that focuses more on services the chain offers and less on price. Does a move away…
Beware: Working/Shopping May Be Dangerous to Your Health
Last year, Home Depot was cited for 86 violations by OSHA, up from 34 in 1999. Nine workers died from injuries sustained in workplace accidents at the company during that…
Reduce Worker Comp Cases – Be Nice
Researchers report in the February issue of The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), “people who are unhappy at work and are forced to work under intense and hectic conditions…
P&G to Run Spots in Spanish on CBS
USA Today reports, “Procter & Gamble will air a Spanish-language TV spot for Crest Whitening Plus Scope toothpaste during Sunday’s Grammy Awards on CBS.” Will this become a more…
Will That Be Visa, Mastercard, Amex or Meijer’s?
Meijer began rolling out its new proprietary credit card this week to encourage consumers to spend more with the chain, says The Detroit News. What are opportunities and pit falls…
You’re Kidding. He Really Said That?
Greg Tipsford, senior vice president for laundry care, Dial Corp., told analysts the company was increasing the size of caps on its Purex laundry detergent bottles because, “If you have…
Women’s Salary Increases Outpace Men’s
The latest Labor Department numbers show that the average pay raise for women was up 3.9 percent last year compared to 1.9 percent for men. Despite the gain, women still…
McD’s Consumers Can’t Get No Satisfaction
The American Customer Satisfaction Index has McDonald’s at the bottom of its fast food rating list – again. McDonald’s ranking is attributed to “a combination of poor product quality…
What Does Innovation Look Like?
Failure to create innovative organizations is often a case of having the will but not seeing a way, says the author, educator and chairman of the consulting company Strategos, Gary…
Tops is Tops But Losing Share
Business First of Buffalo (NY) reports that Tops Friendly Markets (Ahold) has the greatest share of the area’s supermarket sales according to research conducted by the publication and Goldhaber Research…
Penta Tops in Health Food Water Sales
A press release from Bio-Hydration Research Lab (San Diego, CA), citing SPINSscan, claims Penta water’s 500ml bottle is the best selling water item in health food stores. According to the…
What’s a Little Snow
The blizzard of 2003 has passed, but the cleanup and the cost accounting continues. Fortunately, according to a Reuters’ report, “The massive storms that paralyzed most of the U.S. Northeast…
Campbell’s in On-The-Go with Soup Expansion
Campbell Soup Co. announced its biggest product launch since the 1970’s today with an expansion of ready-to-eat soups. The Wall Street Journal reports “The latest effort includes a new package…
Are Farmer Jack and Foodtown in Trouble?
An article in the Toledo Blade says that local Farmer Jack (A&P), Foodtown (Spartan Stores), or both could be sold or closed this year. What do you believe is likely…
