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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
How Low Can the Fed Go
It is widely expected that the Federal Reserve Board will vote to reduce interest rates in another attempt to jumpstart the economy. What will a Fed rate cut mean to…
Election Day the Pits for Pitt
The chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Harvey Pitt resigned from his post on the same night Republicans were toasting to their success at the polls. Will Harvey…
Grand Old Night for GOP
The road show put on by the Bush White House has paid off with Republican election victories giving the party majority control of the House, the Senate and the Executive…
More Evidence for Medical Marijuana Use
UK patients suffering from multiple sclerosis may be able to legally obtain a prescription for a cannabis-based medicine as early as next year. Should marijuana be legalized for medical (and…
Consumers Rate President Bush on the Economy
According to a Gallup Poll, 49 percent say they approve of the job the Mr. Bush and his administration is doing with the economy. The current approval rating is well…
Safeway May Sell Dominick’s
Safeway has threatened to sell its Dominick’s Finer Foods supermarket chain rather than agree to a labor contract the company believes will put it at a competitive disadvantage in the…
Wider Selection Strategy Meets Lower Consumer Spending Reality
A visible number of catalogers are moving into new product category offerings and, in some case, publishing new catalogs to address the current weakness in consumer spending. Are catalogers that…
Safeway Admits Messing Up Genuardi’s
Safeway has taken the highly unusual step of advertising an apology to long-time shoppers of Genuardi’s, telling consumers, “Despite our best intentions, not all of the changes we’ve made recently…
American Greetings’ Slotting Fees: The $1 Billion Question
A report on Barron’s web site claims that American Greetings has slotting fee deals that exceed its book value. The estimated slotting-fee contracts bind the greeting card manufacturer to nearly…
Atlanta Business Chronicle: Kmart to Shutter 565 Stores
The Atlanta Business Chronicle claims to be in possession of a list of 565 Kmart stores tentatively scheduled for closing next year. Kmart was quick to deny the report. Will…
Retailers Willing to Risk Out-of-Stocks
The shaky economy and an uncertain future have many (re: most) retailers hedging their bets for the upcoming holiday season by reducing the amount of inventory they carry. What…
Hispanic Market a Blockbuster
Blockbuster is installing special purple DVD and video sections with movies of interest to Hispanic consumers in approximately 1,000 of its stores. Are retailers taking advantage of store-specific merchandising opportunities?…
Retailers Take High Road to Margins
Some are predicting that retailers will take the high road (prices sans discounts) and concentrate their efforts on staying in-stock and delivering customer service this holiday season. Will retailers refrain…
Amazon Clothes-out Site
Consumers that have bought products from Amazon.com received an email from the company’s chairman and founder, Jeff Bezos, yesterday announcing the launch of ‘Ruby’, a beta test of Amazon’s new…
A&P Canada Takeover Speculation Begins
Canadian analysts believe that A&P’s decision to split into separate units makes A&P Canada an attractive takeover target. It would also give the company needed cash to upgrade its US…
Ex-Kroger SVP to Run Longs Drug Stores
Longs Drug Stores has announced that its Board of Directors has selected Warren Bryant, former senior vice president, Kroger to be the company’s new president and chief executive officer. What…
Creating a Legend in the Consumer’s Mind
Businesses that wish to build a brand identity can do it by sharing their history with consumers, writes John Malmo on gomemphis.com, who says a company or product’s history or…
Wal-Mart and Kraft Top Cannondale’s Power Rankings
Cannondale Associates has announced that Wal-Mart and Kraft Foods were at the top of the market research firm’s 2002 Power Rankings study. The annual study reports on how retailers and…
Big Changes at A&P
Major changes have been announced at A&P including the resignation of Elizabeth Culligan, president and chief operating officer. A&P has said it is splitting its American and Canadian businesses into…
Three Million New Consumers Shop in Dollar Stores
IRI estimates that the dollar stores channel is generating annual sales of $12.5 billion as consumers increasingly turn there for items once purchased in other formats. Are dollar stores…
Craft Brewer Still Seeing Red
The third quarter 2002 was a mix of good news and bad news for Redhook Ale Brewery. On one hand, the craft brewer saw an increase in barrels and dollar…
