By George Anderson
Wanted: A retailer with unique brand identity to team up with another retailer to produce greater overall sales and profits.
According to a report in USA Today, retailers such as KB Toys, Sears, Office Depot, Amazon.com, Target, Home Depot and others are looking to utilize the strengths of other retail brands to grow sales while keeping overhead expenses low.
Amazon is probably most the retailer most identifiable with this strategy having developed online partnerships with Target, Circuit City and Office Depot.
In the Office Depot deal, Amazon handles the online sale and the office products retailer manages inventory and fulfills orders. Products can either be shipped to the consumer or picked up at an Office Depot location.
Cynthia Cohen, president, Strategic Mindshare said, "This is a lesson in maximizing the things you're really good at and looking to other companies to provide services that are not your main line of business."
Moderator's Comment: Which currently known partnership between retailers do you expect to reap the biggest dividends for both? [George Anderson - Moderator]