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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Aldi Accelerates Plans for Tennessee
A spokesman for Aldi told The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, TN), “We are currently accelerating our expansion plans in Tennessee, and Clarksville is definitely an ideal market for two or more of…
Managers Say Retailer Was Crafty Not Paying OT
A suit filed by a group of Canadian store managers alleges that Michaels, the largest arts and craft chain in the US, violated Canada’s Employment Standards Act by not paying…
Bush Plan Looks to Jumpstart the Economy
In introducing his administration’s plan for boosting the economy yesterday with a $674 billion tax cut and credit program, President Bush declared, “The role of government is not to manage…
Obesity As Dangerous as Smoking
Based on the medical records of nearly 3,500 adults in the US, Dutch researchers have concluded that being overweight poses a similar risk for premature death as does smoking. How…
Energy Drains Cooks and Cleaners
According to the latest ACNielsen Consumer Pre*View research, half of household head respondents agreed with the statement: “I am so busy and in such a hurry all day that by…
If You’ve Got Milk, Drink It
Calcium is a necessity for building strong bones and maintaining optimum health. Many people, however, are failing to get enough of the essential nutrient, reports The New York Times. What…
Happiness is Working Retail
If you’re looking for the best industry to work in, you could do a lot worse than pick retail as a career based on Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work…
Consumers Too Bored to Shop
According to The New York Times, “Many pollsters and analysts blame the recent holiday retailing debacle on the inability of merchants to set themselves apart from their competition.” Do…
Pampering Pets for Profits
While many retailers are struggling to eke out the smallest of gains, one class of specialty retailers is achieving booming increases in sales and profits. Retailers such as Petsmart and…
Ensuring Leadership
Tough times in business call for leadership from the top. Unfortunately, says a Chicago Tribune article, top-notch leaders are in short supply in many executive suites around the country. How…
Forget What You Heard/Read, Business Is Good
Every newspaper and media outlet has reported it so it must be true. The Christmas holiday shopping season was terrible for retailers. Perhaps, it was the worst performance in thirty…
Nearly 32,000 New Products and Counting
While line extensions accounted for many of the new items, 2002 marked a year of distinct product innovation, based on: formulation, positioning, packaging, technology, creating a new market and merchandising…
Forrester’s Rubin: Only Room for One B2B Exchange
Robert Rubin of Forrester Research does not believe the World Wide Retail Exchange (WWRE) and Transora can continue operating as separate B2B marketplaces indefinitely. What would be the result of…
McDonald’s Decides Not to Innovate After All
McDonald’s has ended its development of a system-wide network upgrade known internally as the Innovate project. Management reportedly decided to end the project when it concluded that it could…
The Pessimistic Consumer
December was the sixth time in seven months that consumer sentiment slipped. Rising unemployment and concerns about job prospects are said to be the major factors in consumer unease. What…
22,000 New Products with More to Come
New product rollouts increased by 15 percent in 2002 with over 22,000 items hitting store shelves for the first time, says an independent research company, which also predicts a number…
Drinking Binge Stereotypes Debunked
Many think binge drinking is just for frat boys. That is simply not true, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Should retailers…
2003 To Be More of the Same?
By numerous measures, 2002 was an awful year for business and, understandably, few are sad to see the year behind them. Unfortunately, many retail industry analysts believe that 2003 (at…
What’s Hot for 2003
Sam Goody asked teenagers in its locations across the US what products and trends would be hot for 2003. Among other findings, nearly two-thirds report having had their fill of…
Walgreen’s Speaks Its Customers’ Languages
Consumers picking up medicine at their local Walgreen’s pharmacy have the option of having their prescription labels printed in one of eight languages (including English) and approximately 40 percent of…
Fill ‘Er Up With The Lavender
Biodiesel is “a pollution-reducing fuel gleaned from restaurant grease or the oil of crops such as soybeans.” Biodiesel, say its proponents, can extend the life of a vehicle’s engine, increase…
