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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Target leans on vendors in trade war
Target has sent a letter to suppliers insisting they absorb any costs related to increased tariffs on Chinese-made product. Is Target making a wise move in insisting that suppliers absorb…
Costco’s first day in China gets wild
The increasingly acrimonious U.S./China trade war didn’t seem to have an impact on the opening of Costco’s first store in China earlier this week. In fact, the first location was…
Lord & Taylor to be sold to Le Tote
While some stores are partnering with or launching their own rental subscription services, Lord & Taylor, America’s oldest department store, is being bought by one. Does a fashion rental subscription…
Why ‘radical self-inquiry’ can create a thriving workplace
Executive coach Jerry Colonna wants managers to stop focusing on output and achievement. Instead, he wants them to engage in radical self-inquiry, which builds the maturity required for leaders to…
Amazon seeks more third-party price control
Amazon has launched Sold by Amazon (SBA), currently in beta, a program that lets Amazon control the prices on enrolled FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) products in exchange for a guaranteed…
Innovation: Are retailers trying to do too much?
All the innovation in the world isn’t going to help if you don’t know what that one special thing is that consumers want from you. Sometimes, retailers need to go…
Caribou appears in Starbucks’ rearview with drive-thru concept
Starbucks started referring to itself as a “third place” away from home or the office some time ago. Caribou Coffee, however, is now launching a concept that caters exclusively to…
Is composting key to sustainable e-grocery?
Customers want the convenience of having things shipped to them, but that creates a lot of excess garbage in the form of packaging. Now a startup is trying to reconcile…
Will Nordstrom’s sustainable fashion site win over eco-conscious consumers?
Nordstrom has become the first U.S.-based multi-line fashion retailer to offer an online shopping microsite dedicated to sustainable fashion. Do you see healthy consumer appeal for Nordstrom’s online portal focused…
How to make a big deal out of a chicken sandwich
With an endless number of new product and concept introductions by retailers and brands each year, retailing execs might want to take a close look at Popeyes and its new…
What makes a good brand mascot in 2019?
A recent survey set out to find which brand mascots stuck in consumers’ memories most strongly, and discovered some interesting trends in the process. Is it more or less important…
Trump’s tariff war escalates
The trade war got uglier Friday as President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs higher and ordered U.S. companies to exit China after Beijing unveiled retaliatory tariffs on $75 billion…
Will Disney shops entertain guests inside Target’s stores?
Target reached an agreement to introduce in-store Disney shops. The partnership also includes a Disney-themed online microsite and a Target store opening inside Walt Disney World. Do you see the…
Is it time for retailers to create a tech strategy for pop-up shops?
The pop-up shop is the ultimate expression of a trend whereby retailers reach beyond their stores and put themselves in front of consumers instead of waiting for them to show…
Will the next recession devastate mall-based retailers?
Seventy-four percent of U.S. business economists expect a recession to hit the U.S. by the end of 2021, according to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics. How…
Why is Whole Foods CEO dissing plant-based meat alternatives?
Whole Foods has been among the retail industry leaders when it comes to introducing plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products. But CEO John Mackey is not a fan of…
Direct-to-consumer brands aren’t so direct anymore
A major development in retail has been direct-to-consumer brands opening stores to leverage the advantages of brick-and-mortar. Recent research, however, reveals that in the CPG space, direct-to-consumer brands are going…
Will shoppers thank heaven for mobile checkout at 7-Eleven?
7-Eleven knows that its customers in New York City are on the go, and the chain is looking to speed them on their way with the introduction of mobile checkouts…
Will tech take the place of speaking with pharmacists face-to-face?
Customer satisfaction levels in the U.S. pharmacy industry are high and that is largely due to interactions with pharmacists, according to a study released earlier this week. Do you think…
Groupon hopes its rewards program engenders more loyalty
Groupon, the beleaguered daily deals website, has officially launched a rewards program to increase engagement and repeat purchase rates. Are Groupon’s loyalty program and card-linked deals an improvement over its…
Where is the Kroger/Walgreens relationship headed?
The relationship between Kroger and Walgreens is going to the next level. The two retail giants have announced plans to expand a pilot program that places Kroger Express store-within-a-store shops…
