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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will others follow Shopify’s lead and cancel recurring meetings?
So many meetings. So little time left to get actual work done. Shopify isn’t having it anymore, at least for the next two weeks as part of a meeting freeze…
Bloomingdale’s looks to make more with less
Bloomingdale’s is going small in Seattle, saying it will open a new Bloomie’s, its small off-mall store concept, this year in University Village in the Ravenna neighborhood, north of the…
Can enhanced self-checkout stop shrink?
Self-checkout may be quick and convenient, but it is not uncommon for retailers to find that the technology allows an unacceptable level of shrink. To combat the problem, some vendors…
Are experiences stealing discretionary dollars away from retail?
Falling coronavirus case levels and fewer restrictions drove a strong recovery in spending on experiences in 2022 and they appear to be continuing to take significant discretionary dollars away from…
Do retailers need a different retention strategy for older workers?
According to a recent McKinsey survey of U.S. retail workers, a lack of supportive colleagues was the leading cause of attrition for those 45 and older while ranking as the…
Victoria’s Secret CEO stepping down after eight months on the job
Amy Hauk is stepping down as CEO of Victoria’s Secret on March 31 after having just been named to lead the lingerie giant in July. Do you expect that Amy…
Can a hospitality bigwig bring new life to Under Armour?
In a surprise move, Under Armour last week named Stephanie Linnartz, the current president of Marriott International, as its third CEO. What do you think of the hiring of Stephanie…
Rite Aid looks to become an Rx oasis inside ‘pharmacy deserts’
In a new pilot, Rite Aid Corp. is opening mini-locations in rural areas in order to serve “pharmacy deserts” and underserved communities. Do you see growth opportunities for Rite Aid…
Are any alternative in-store payments about to break out?
After ramping up efforts to reduce friction in the online shopping experience over the pandemic, retailers are now reportedly focusing their investments on the in-store payment process. Will scan &…
Will Walmart customers ‘Text to Shop’?
Walmart is rolling out a “Text to Shop” feature that allows customers to add items to their online shopping basket using text messages. To work, the free feature must be…
What’s up with the stalled Amazon Fresh openings?
Throughout the U.S., a number of new Amazon Fresh stores have been built out, but are just sitting there, leading some to wonder if Amazon is quietly backing away from…
Unionization efforts may shift gears in 2023
Shoppers planning to visit Macy’s Union Square flagship store in San Francisco for last-minute gifts on Christmas weekend were met with a picket line, as the store’s union went on…
Should Ames be making a comeback?
Ames, once the U.S.’s fourth largest discounter that liquidated in 2002, confirmed plans that it will return in 2023 with the opening of seven stores in the New England region…
If DTC is broken, is CTC the fix?
DTC retail is not getting the positive buzz it did a few years ago — far from it. In fact, downturns among major DTC brands have some industry experts thinking…
The winner of the 2022 RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge is…
Seven weeks of head-to-head competitions have brought us to the finals of the 2022 RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge with six clear-cut winners and one tie. Who will be crowned the…
Will 2023 be all about value?
With customers continuing to seek lower-priced shopping options due to inflation, the major players in value retailing are already far outpacing others in opening new stores in 2022 and appear…
Study sees The Great Resignation heating up in 2023
In early 2021, reports of mass numbers of employees leaving jobs in search of greener, more lucrative pastures led to the phenomenon known as The Great Resignation. A new survey…
Do Silicon Valley’s layoffs present an opportunity for retail?
Laid-off workers from Meta, Google, Twitter and other tech hubs are creating a rare opportunity for old-school sectors such as retail to snag skilled talent and accelerate digital plans. Do…
Did holiday promotions drive gains or only pain?
In the first major assessment of holiday selling, Mastercard estimated U.S. retail sales grew 7.6 percent year-over-year from November 1 through December 24. The performance topped Mastercard’s prediction that called…
McD’s gets decidedly mixed reactions to its robot servers
McDonald’s last week opened its first partially automated restaurant, with machines handling everything from taking orders to delivering the food. The opening sparked both positive and negative responses on social…
Will digital assets stay fashionable with Millennials and Gen-Zers?
A new study finds Millennials and Gen-Zers are the demographics that are purchasing digital fashion assets and fashion NFTs (non-fungible tokens) the most. Will interest by Gen-Zers and Millennials in…
