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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Amazon aims to add best employer tag to its most customer centric reputation
Amazon.com can walk and chew gum at the same time. That’s the message from Jeff Bezos, pledging to turn the most customer centric company on the planet into the best…
Are DTC brands still primed for growth?
Some direct-to-consumer brands have gained traction during the pandemic while others appear to have lost some advantages as traditional retailers and more brand manufacturers accelerate digital shifts. Do you still…
What will going to mostly full-time staff mean for Walmart’s stores?
Walmart says it expects that by the end of the year two-thirds of the hourly associates working in its stores will be employed by the retailer on a full-time basis…
Kroger says it will transform grocery e-commerce with ‘first of its kind’ fulfillment tech
Forget about underselling and overperforming. Kroger is going all in with the launch of its first automated fulfillment center (AKA shed) as part of its deal with Ocado, the British…
How should grocers decide which SKUs to bring back?
If the estimates are even close, COVID prompted more SKU rationalization in one year than the grocery industry accomplished in a decade talking about it. What recommendations do you have…
Is e-grocery killing or inspiring impulse buys?
Recent surveys are telling different stories about how the consumer adoption of e-grocery during the novel coronavirus pandemic has impacted impulse shopping. Do you think Americans are sticking to their…
Can own brand credit cards drive loyalty for Instacart and DoorDash?
Instacart, the nation’s leader in grocery delivery, and DoorDash, the largest restaurant takeout delivery platform in the U.S., are both planning to launch their own credit cards. Do own brand…
Nike decides to ‘just do it’ in the sneaker resale market
Nike is selling used sneakers directly to consumers with the launch of Nike Refurbished, a program that takes sneakers returned by customers, inspects and cleans them up for resale at…
Will Bed Bath & Beyond’s new ad help change how consumers see the retailer?
Bed Bath & Beyond has launched a new ad campaign that stands out right away simply because the opening commercial doesn’t include any mention of coupons or other form of…
Toms finds one-for-one charitable model doesn’t add up for its business
Toms, the pioneer of the one-for-one charitable model, will no longer donate a pair of shoes to a child for each pair purchased. Instead, it plans to give a third…
Does GameStop’s next CEO need brick & mortar retail experience?
GameStop’s c-suite shakeup is almost complete. The retailer is now looking to replace George Sherman after having replaced many of the current CEO’s top lieutenants in recent months. Do you…
Will faster deliveries prove to be a valuable loyalty perk for Gap?
Gap Inc. said it will prioritize online fulfillment to its biggest spenders as part of its upgraded loyalty program. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks in prioritizing online fulfillment…
Amazon’s Prime Day is coming earlier and possibly twice
Amazon.com is planning to hold Prime Day in June, a month early for the traditional July event, multiple sources told Recode. Amazon management is also reportedly considering holding a second…
Why are McDonald’s restaurants leaving Walmart stores?
McDonald’s plans to shrink its presence inside Walmart to about 150 U.S. locations from about 500 at the start of 2000 in moves accelerated by the pandemic. Why do you…
Is Levi’s poised to become a consumer-direct powerhouse?
Levi Strauss has made clear that it sees a bigger opportunity to expand its business by selling its clothing directly to consumers. What do you see as the challenges and…
Will Google Maps bring a new dimension to the in-store experience?
Google Maps’ Live View function has long helped tourists and locals navigate metropolitan streets and explore restaurants and other sites. Now, with an artificial intelligence boost, Google is bringing the…
Plant-based drink and meat alternatives look like they are here to stay
As the novel coronavirus pandemic got underway last March, the plant-based food space grew significantly according to a new report. To what extent did the circumstances of the pandemic contribute…
Amazon’s CEO Bezos comes out in support of national infrastructure bill
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, supports spending big on infrastructure, even if that means his company is required to pay more in taxes to get it done. Are…
Will Best Buy’s customers love its new service and savings plan?
Best Buy is testing a new membership program that will deliver benefits including unlimited technical support from the retailer’s Geek Squad, exclusive pricing, free standard shipping of online orders, and…
Will climate action become less of a priority for retail post-pandemic?
Deloitte’s latest “Climate Check“ report shows that over 80 percent of executives are concerned about climate change. The pandemic and economic downturn, however, have stalled ambitious actions, according to the…
Will shelf scanning robots put an end to out-of-stocks?
Of the numerous types of robots that are catching on for use in the front of the store, robotic shelf scanners are the ones that retailers see being most effective,…
