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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Macy’s gains control of its inventory and markdowns
At the NRF Big Show, Jeff Gennette, Macy’s CEO, discussed how process changes and improved data science helped the retailer overhaul inventory disciplines over the pandemic. Are more retailers using…
Is Saks Off Fifth better off online?
E-commerce has proven to be a huge area of growth for off-price luxury retailer Saks Off Fifth. In a keynote presentation at the NRF 2023 Big Show, Paige Thomas, president…
Should Rent the Runway sell through Amazon?
Rent the Runway reached an agreement to sell its “Pre-Loved” luxury merchandise on Amazon.com, marking another major partnership for Rent the Runway and a big step into the resale market…
Consumers get some relief as inflation eases
American consumers continued to spend as prices rose steadily higher from 2021 to June 2022. Will they keep up the shopping pace as prices go in the opposite direction? How…
Is nepotism all that bad for retail?
Nepotism has been in the limelight lately as Hollywood stars have had to defend themselves or their children over gaining an unfair advantage from family connections. Is nepotism at family-run…
Will advertisers benefit as Lowe’s brings its retail media sales and ops under one roof?
Lowe’s is bringing all of its One Roof Media Network ad sales and operations in-house. The home improvement retailer said the move will allow it to control all elements of its…
Study says retail jobs are just the worst
A recent study from U.S. News & World Report ranked 190 jobs in order to identify the best jobs in the U.S. today. Front-line retail employment did not land high…
Will Best Buy customers be okay with its rewards program changes?
The good news if you are a My Best Buy rewards program member is that you will no longer be required to make a minimum purchase to receive free standard…
Are targeted online ads going away?
Meta was dealt a significant blow last week when being found guilty by European Union regulators of effectively forcing users to accept personalized ads. Required changes for the parent of…
Is Babies’R’Us ready to make a comeback or is it just a dream?
Babies”R”Us is coming back. WHP Global, which owns the company, yesterday said that it plans to open its first Babies”R”Us flagship store in the U.S. this summer in the American…
Will job cuts spur growth for McDonald’s?
The biggest U.S. fast food chain is planning some corporate job cuts even as it pursues a nationwide store expansion. Where do you see the biggest opportunities for McDonald’s to…
Amazon Prime and Shopify extend their reach into each other’s territories
Amazon.com is looking for growth beyond its own platform. The company yesterday said it was making its “Buy with Prime” program, which offers the same easy checkout, free shipping and…
Do drinking and shopping mix?
Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix on Jan. 12 will become the first outdoor shopping centers in Arizona to allow shoppers to drink alcohol as they shop. Do…
Rite Aid puts out ‘help wanted’ sign for a new CEO
Rite Aid yesterday said that board member Elizabeth “Busy” Burr has been named interim CEO of the company, effective immediately. She replaces Heyward Donigan who has led the drugstore chain…
Are ‘price frictions’ undercutting product sales?
A new university study finds some retailers may be slower to reduce prices to stimulate sales due to “price frictions,” for example, reluctance to move away from prices that end…
Is now the time for retailers to double down on cloud investments?
Microsoft last week was downgraded by UBS as field checks showed slower growth for cloud software providers, including Microsoft’s Azure unit. The downgrade comes as the cloud computing providers reported…
Stitch Fix’s woes reflect a broader subscription box problem
Stitch Fix CEO Elizabeth Spaulding’s exit last week and plans by the company to lay off 20 percent of its workforce mark another troubling sign for the subscription box category…
Is ‘quiet hiring’ the next big thing in labor?
“Quiet hiring,” defined as when an organization acquires new skills without actually hiring new full-time employees, may become the next big trend affecting labor just as the “great resignation” and…
Is Bed Bath & Beyond nearing the end of the line?
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection within a matter of weeks, according to reports from numerous news outlets. Will the current plan in place…
Nike gets Netflix viewers moving
Those Netflix subscribers with a New Year’s resolution to get in shape can now pursue their fitness goals using exclusive content from one of the biggest names in athletics. Nike…
Is green hushing just prudent risk management?
A newly recognized practice, “green hushing,” finds brands deliberately downplaying, underreporting or keeping silent about their emissions and carbon-offsetting targets. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks in companies toning down…
