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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Greenpeace study trashes plastic recycling
at a time when customers and retailers have sustainability on the mind more than ever, a major environmental group is saying that the practice of plastic recycling just does not…
What would Shein stores do to the U.S. retail apparel market?
Shein is moving closer to launching its first permanent brick and mortar store in Tokyo. The store, which measures about 2,163 square feet over two stories, will open November 13 in…
Will Netflix send customers streaming into Walmart’s stores?
Walmart plans to open Netflix Hub shops selling merchandise from the streaming platform’s films and television series in more than 2,400 U.S. stores as it seeks to build on an…
Can Marks & Spencer help Target replicate its designer collab magic in grocery?
Target limited-edition drops are a big part of the chain’s cheap chic appeal. Now, the retailer plans to partner with Marks & Spencer to introduce a curated assortment of the…
Will freight operators serve as a canary in the retail coal mine?
Freight demand is dropping, as reported by some of the biggest long haul freight companies in the U.S. The trucking firms say they have seen demand for their services wane…
Kroger goes to school on grocery pickup at the University of Kentucky
Kroger has opened a grocery pickup location for students at the University of Kentucky. The initiative melds retail’s experiments with grocery pickup points and serving colleges, both of which have…
What are the biggest emerging threats facing online delivery?
The “Annual State of Shipping Study” from UPS Capital, UPS’s financing arm, finds porch piracy, fraud and climate-related issues to be the top emerging threats facing online delivery. Which of…
Walgreens is ditching task-based performance metrics for pharmacists
Walgreens is eliminating task-based metrics for pharmacy staff as part of performance reviews in order to place an “even greater focus on patient care and outcomes.” Do you think task-based…
Has forecasting for Halloween costumes become a scary trick?
The hot costume picks for Halloween have shifted away from generic staples (sexy cats, spooky witches) toward pop culture references, making choosing the right mix a more hair-rising effort for…
Can Walgreens help Abercrombie achieve its ‘digital revolution’?
Abercrombie & Fitch customers can now place orders online and pick their purchases up at Walgreens. (Walgreens?) Is a suite of fulfillment options like those offered by Abercrombie & Fitch…
Will Apple find more room to grow inside of Target?
Target is expanding its partnership with Apple so that more people looking for Apple products at the general merchandise retailer can have an experience closer to what they would get…
Ulta courts customers and controversy with its ‘The Beauty Of…’ podcast
Ulta Beauty faced boycott threats last week after featuring a star trans influencer in a video. An episode of “The Beauty Of…” podcast featured a TikTok star being interviewed by…
The new boss is the same as the old boss at Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond’s search for a CEO is over. The retailer yesterday said that it has named Sue Gove as president and chief executive officer of the company. Ms…
Will Amazon cash in on the P2P payment market?
Amazon on Tuesday said that it is adding the Venmo peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service to the options it provides shoppers purchasing goods from its platform. Where do you see the…
Are home improvement shows changing the purchasing path to reno projects?
A university study finds homeowners are increasingly influenced by home improvement media, leading to continuing anxiety about whether their homes are measuring up to standards. How has the popularity of…
Adidas drops the other shoe on Ye
Adidas yesterday ended its partnership with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, following a series of antisemitic remarks he has made recently in multiple forums. Will the Adidas brand…
Are backorders costing retailers sales and profits?
Nothing beats having an item in stock. New research shows that brick and mortar retailers that need to backorder items to meet customer demand are losing out in the longer…
How far will Marc Lore’s mobile ghost kitchen concept go?
Wonder, the latest venture from serial entrepreneur Marc Lore, supplies customers with chef-designed meals cooked from vans parked outside the their home. What do you think of the potential for…
Why is Walmart killing off a $1 billion private label?
Walmart has grown its Secret Treasures private label into a $1 billion business that has the largest customer base of any brand in the women’s intimates and sleepwear market. But…
Canada investigates grocers over charges of price gouging
With inflation driving grocery prices sky-high over the last year, the Canadian government is stepping in to determine whether or not grocers have been gouging. Do you think U.S. grocers…
Will Amazon’s air cargo investments take off?
Amazon plans to hire Hawaiian Airlines to fly packages on 10 leased Airbus SE jets around the U.S. while taking a stake in the carrier. How much of an edge…
