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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Staples Does the Right Thing
Staples has announced that it would seek to increase the average recycled content in its paper products to 30 percent from its current 10 percent, says the Boston Globe. What…
J.D. Power Ranks Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power and Associates has announced that Kohl’s and Wal-Mart were given the highest customer satisfaction ratings for moderately priced and discount department stores in its newly released, 2002 Department…
Water + Flavors + Vitamins = Big $
As expected, Coca-Cola has formally announced that it is launching new Dasani waters in four flavored and vitamin-enhanced varieties. The new Dasani NutriWater items will initially be test-marketed in the…
Sam’s Club Needs More Business (Customers)
If Wal-Mart has a weakest link in its US business, that would be the retailer’s Sam’s Club unit, says Bloomberg News. The warehouse club division represents 13 percent of Wal-Mart’s…
Tesco’s Alternative Format
The UK-based supermarket giant, Tesco, has opened a store that is “geared solely to health and natural alternative products”. Tesco operates the store under the Nutri Center banner. The store…
Whole Health Manager Kicks the Habit
United Supermarkets’ whole-health manager has given up smoking after 26 years. She along with others in the community are taking part in a four-week smoking cessation program sponsored by Tobacco…
The Incentive Nation
From the discount store to the auto dealership to the bank, consumers buy only when there is a deal. What will happen when consumers no longer have access to special…
Operators Are Waiting For Your Call
Infomercials are running at all hours of the day and night selling products on as many channels as your satellite dish or digital cable can provide. In fact, today nearly…
Is Nash Finch in an Accounting Pinch?
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is conducting an informal inquiry into how Nash Finch accounts for promotional allowances and returnables, says the grocery wholesaler. Is “Wild West” accounting deceiving…
UFCW Ready to Strike Dominick’s
Approximately 80 percent of the 9,000 associates represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers union and working at Dominick’s voted to authorize a strike. What will be the outcome…
Lowes Foods to Enter Charlotte Market
The Charlotte Business Journal reports that Lowes Foods is getting set to enter the Charlotte, NC market and local developers see the supermarket operator opening up to 12 stores in…
A Busy Holiday Shoplifting Season Ahead
Retailers were ripped-off to the tune of $10 billion last year and many security experts are advising vigilance for the busy holiday shoplifting season ahead. Do retailers need to modify…
Is CRM DOA?
Companies made investments into CRM technologies looking for dramatic sales gains and profit line improvements. Instead, CRM appears on the verge of joining ECR, etc. in the anachronism hall of…
October Sales Spooky for Some but Not All
By most accounts, this year’s Halloween sales were no treat for retailers. October wasn’t all tricks, however, as a number of retailers reported sales increases above expectations. What is your…
Data Dumps on Decisions
According to a recent study conducted by BuzzBack, for NCR’s Teradata division, 73 percent of executives said that the number of decisions they have to make is growing while 55…
Merrill Lynch: Green Christmas Only a Dream
A column appearing on Merrill Lynch’s website, “Twelve ‘Nays’ of Christmas: Poor Retail Season Possible”, offers 12 reasons why Santa may not bring any significant sales gains this year. Do…
GNC: We Card
General Nutrition Centers (GNC) announced yesterday that it will begin requiring consumers to show ID when purchasing products containing ephedra and other health products designed for adult use. What is…
Consumers Break Budgets for Xmas
The average shopper plans to spend $863 on 2002 holiday gifts — among the results of a recent consumer survey conducted by the International Mass Retail Association (IMRA). What do…
A Designer Branded Christmas
Kmart and Target are hoping to get shoppers in the holiday buying mood with designer brand decorative holiday products, says the Detroit Free Press. Do retailers selling a proprietary lineup…
Stores within Stores within Stores within…
Stop & Shop and Marshall Field’s are the two latest retailers to announce store-within-a-store initiatives that each believes will provide them with a positive competitive point of differentiation in the…
Gotta Have Milk
Kids and teens are increasing consumption of liquid milk for the first time in decades as processors step up with new flavored beverages. Will adult consumers increase their consumption of…
