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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is simpler better for rewards programs?
A new university study finds that non-tiered customer rewards programs aren’t so hot at driving frequency or spending but highly effective at serving loyalty’s core goal of reducing attrition. Do…
Boxed is taking bulk e-commerce public
It has been a couple of years since the press was buzzing with news about what might become of successful warehouse-style e-commerce startup Boxed. Now, after an unprecedented shift in…
Amazon scales its Just Walk Out tech for a full-size grocery store
Amazon.com is putting its cashierless Just Walk Out (JWO) technology to use in a new full-sized Amazon Fresh store in Bellevue, WA. Do you think Amazon will roll out Just…
How will companies manage a staff of vaccinated and unvaccinated workers?
Employers are reopening offices and some are asking employees for proof they have received their COVID-19 vaccines as they return to work. How would you advise retailers to manage vaccinated…
How can retailers best navigate supply chain turbulence?
National Retail Federation’s monthly “Global Port Tracker” report showed record imports arriving at the nation’s ports as vaccines allow consumers to return to normal shopping patterns, but shortages are still…
UPS entry could even the same-day delivery playing field
UPS recently indicated that it is exploring a same-day delivery option at its Investor & Analyst Day event. How do you see same-day services — delivery and pickup — taking…
Is Netflix about to replicate Disney’s product merchandising success?
Netflix will launch an online store to sell limited-edition apparel, lifestyle merchandise and collectibles from its extensive catalog of shows and movies. The site marks the world’s largest streaming service’s…
Could the ‘largest retail liquidation store’ change the discounting game?
Quicklotz Liquidations, which just announced plans to open the country’s “largest retail liquidation store,” is among a number of retailers mixing gamification and the treasure hunt experience to reinvent the…
What distinguished e-commerce winners and losers during the pandemic?
The novel coronavirus pandemic gave e-commerce adoption an unprecedented boost and brought huge sales increases to some retailers. New data suggests, however, that retailers of all sizes did not benefit…
How do retailers and brands overcome consumers’ ‘green’ skepticism?
A new survey finds U.S. consumers want to make more environmentally-friendly choices when shopping for apparel, but many are held back by a lack of availability and trustworthy information on…
Retailers expected to ace the back-to-school sales test
Back-to-school spending hit a record high last year as parents spent more on items such as laptops and desks for the millions of kids across America forced to attend school…
Will grocery basket sizes be cut down to their former size?
For grocers, significantly larger basket sizes more than made up for fewer transactions due to lighter traffic during much of the pandemic. Whether in-store grocery basket sizes return to pre-pandemic…
Will retail achieve double-digit sales growth this year?
It’s amazing what a difference a year can make. The U.S. retail sales appear poised to climb to record highs as more Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19, public health restrictions…
GameStop’s digital transformation to be led by former Amazonians
GameStop went shopping for a new CEO and CFO and found them at Amazon. The retailer announced yesterday that it has named Matt Furlong as its new chief executive and…
Is now a good time for retailers to open new stores?
Retailers have announced some ambitious expansion plans that take advantage of pandemic-related closures. Perhaps not by accident, among the biggest are from chains that have minimal e-commerce presence. What conclusions…
Membership gets you 24/7 access at new grocery store
A new grocery store in Minnesota is only staffed and open a few days each week for the general public, but members can visit any time — day or night…
Did the pandemic fundamentally shift retailer/vendor relationships?
The novel coronavirus pandemic brought about changes to how retailers and consumer brands conducted business with one another. Just how many of those changes will stick remains to be seen. …
How fast can stores fill curbside pickup orders?
During the first quarter, over 90 percent of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ curbside orders were ready within 15 minutes, according to the company. Upon checking in at the store, half were…
Will prescription med discounts help Walmart+ gain ground on Amazon Prime?
Walmart is adding a new perk to its Walmart+ subscription program that promises members they’ll pay as little as $0 on select prescription medicines while receiving discounts on 85 percent…
Amazon offers ‘returnships’ for professionals rejoining the labor market
Amazon.com announced last week the launch of Amazon Returnship, a new employment initiative focused on hiring professionals that have been unemployed or underemployed for at least a year. Are retailers…
Will closing stores on Thanksgiving become the new retail tradition?
Walmart has joined Target in announcing plans to close its doors on Thanksgiving for the second straight year, describing the day off as a way to show appreciation to associates…
