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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will in-car ordering reinvent the drive-thru?
For a number of years, quick-serve restaurants have been piloting different combinations of technology to try to address drive-thru bottlenecks. Now a new solution is bringing voice ordering right to…
Did holiday selling beat plan?
In the first major post-holiday report, Mastercard has projected that U.S. retail sales grew 8.5 percent year-over-year and 10.7 percent against the pre-pandemic 2019 period. The gains were attributed in…
Lowe’s wants to help customers age in place
Lowe’s recently formed a two-year partnership with AARP to provide strategies and information for older adults aging in their homes. Do you see a focus on home improvement strategies, materials…
Is the online marketplace model to blame for the shoplifting spike?
Much of the public discussion about the wave of violent smash-and-grab shoplifting raids in major cities has centered around keeping shoplifters out of stores. Yet much of the pilfered product…
What do last-minute holiday shoppers want?
Promising a double-bonus of cost and time savings, Apple on Wednesday began offering free two-hour delivery in major metro areas from Dec. 22 through Dec. 24. What marketing messages do…
Do Americans now prefer strip center shopping?
Open-air shopping centers — also known as strip malls and strip centers — are leading retail’s real estate recovery and building on momentum seen before the pandemic. What obvious and…
Should Nordstrom spin off Nordstrom Rack?
Nordstrom has reportedly retained AlixPartners to explore a spinoff of its recently-struggling Nordstrom Rack off-price business. Do Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack make more sense together or apart?
Kraft offers reimbursements for cream cheese stockouts
With cream cheese in short supply and cheesecakes a seasonal favorite, Kraft has launched a campaign to reimburse customers for up to $20 spent making or buying a non-cheesecake dessert…
Is showrooming still a concern?
Over half of Walmart shoppers made an Amazon purchase within a day of shopping in-store at Walmart, compared to 38 percent of both Target and Costco shoppers, according to a…
Is the Great Resignation really about quitting the rat race?
Recent columns have charged that the “Great Resignation” is being misinterpreted. One attributed the high number of people quitting jobs to greater availability of job openings, giving workers confidence to…
Amazon and Etsy’s Christmas spots speak to the gift of giving of yourself
Acts of selflessness are at the core of the stories in commercials for this holiday season from Amazon.com and Etsy. Which spot does the best job of connecting with each…
Kroger eliminates paid COVID-19 leave for unvaccinated
The largest grocery chain in the U.S. recently pulled its paid COVID-19 leave for employees not yet vaccinated against the coronavirus in a move designed to encourage inoculations. Is Kroger’s approach…
What happens when D2C brands diversify product lines?
Direct-to-consumer brands that have made their names focusing on one product very well are starting to expand into new product lines, making their selections broader and more akin to what…
Will localized e-commerce work for malls?
Mall of America last week announced the debut of its first e-commerce website where customers can shop local inventory from various retailers located at the mall. What do you think…
Bodega owners see ultra-fast delivery as a business killer
Bodegas are go-to spots for quick purchases in New York City. But the city’s iconic, often cluttered mom-and-pop convenience retailers are growing concerned that they are on the way to…
What’s driving the merch opportunity at restaurants?
P.F. Chang’s last week became the latest retailer to open an online retail store. Why have retail merchandise offerings, whether year-round or limited-time, become such a possible tactic for fast-food…
Do retailers have a recommendation bias problem?
Recommendation algorithms help connect customers to products, increase visibility to promotions and make shopping more fun. They have also, in some cases, crossed serious ethical lines that have damaged the…
Do farmers markets need to be reinvented for the digital age?
Small and medium-sized independent farms have discovered online selling in recent years with the arrival of numerous farm-to-door delivery apps, possibly threatening the popularity of farmers markets. Do you see…
Peloton laughs through a ‘Big’ problem
Long time fans of Sex & The City were not the only ones shocked by the premature death of Mr. Big in the first episode of the new sequel series,…
Will consumer behavior actually change this holiday season?
As we move further into the second holiday season during the pandemic, consumers are reevaluating priorities for the future amid both emerging and sustained stressors. That doesn’t mean that new…
Will grocers turn to Amazon as an alternative to Instacart?
Amazon has plans to share its logistical power with U.S. grocers by way of a local delivery service similar to that offered by Instacart. Amazon will roll out the program…
