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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Walmart posts strongest U.S. comps in more than a decade
It’s really good to be Walmart. Yesterday, the world’s largest retailer announced that its same-store sales in the U.S. grew 4.5 percent the 13 weeks ending July 27, the strongest…
Ross Stores is on an off-price roll
While some retailers are running into hurdles in the new economy, off-price retailer Ross is thriving, and is intent on becoming an even bigger force in the world of discount…
Bark barks outside the box with BarkPark
Bark, the pet supplies company responsible for BarkBox, announced the launch of its branded BarkPark dog park in Nashville, TN. Do you see BarkPark as a concept that will endure…
Gallup poll says consumers prefer to shop for their own groceries
Big name grocers have been putting huge resources into getting online grocery shopping right, but a recent Gallup poll indicates that customers just aren’t feeling it. Are the Gallup poll…
Macy’s shares get crushed after it beats expectations
Publicly traded companies are frequently rewarded when their sales and earnings performance for a given quarter comes in higher than Wall Street’s expectations. That was not the case for Macy’s,…
Got truck drivers?
June capped an unprecedented 15-month run of truckload rate increases, as the national average spot rate for refrigerated loads climbed to $2.69 per mile in June, the highest ever recorded…
Why is translating analog customer service to digital so complicated?
What consumers want from a store experience will always be recognizable. They want well-trained and informed people to talk to and welcome them into a retail space and, yes, they…
Lampert’s Kenmore offer seems like more shuffling of chairs on Titanic’s deck
The truth is not many retail industry watchers believed that the company was “fighting like hell” to turn its business around. A new Wall Street Journal report that Mr. Lampert’s…
Kroger teams with Alibaba to sell private labels to half-a-billion Chinese consumers
Kroger is looking to make its first overseas move a big one. America’s largest operator of supermarkets announced yesterday that it will test an online store selling its private label…
‘Less is more’ when competing with Amazon
When is too much choice a bad thing? Brain scientists and psychologists have discovered that too many choices overwhelm our brain. Too many choices become intimidating, frustrating and can result…
Aldi shoppers are getting curbside pickup, but do they want it?
The latest grocer to try curbside pickup isn’t one that is generally associated with offering fancy amenities. Discount grocer Aldi has decided to launch a pilot of the service in…
Can H&M finally become a serious online competitor?
Yesterday, H&M announced updates to its U.S. site and mobile app that will eventually deliver the changes promised during the company’s second quarter earnings call back in June. Which digital…
J.C. Penney goes after Babies ‘R’ Us customers with new shops
If you want to buy baby clothes in J.C. Penney stores, it’s no problem, but for a variety of other baby products you needed to go to jcpenney.com. Soon, however,…
Can AR help shoppers get where they need to go?
For years, retailers, brands and tech companies have been trying to find the perfect use for augmented reality. Now a startup is launching an AR app meant to enhance a…
Hy-Vee opens fitness-focused grocery store concept
Hy-Vee has opened a mini-grocer that features healthy foods along with a fitness boutique next door. How would you rate the growth potential for the Hy-Vee HealthMarket concept and Hy-Vee’s…
Walmart.com to offer easier returns for marketplace purchases
Walmart.com is looking to improve the shopping experience for customers making purchases from third-party sellers on its online marketplace by making it easier for them to return products they do…
Party City to run pilot with Amazon, ‘the world’s largest and most trafficked mall’
Party City is the latest retailer to decide that co-opetition beats competition when it comes to Amazon.com. The nation’s largest party supplies chain announced yesterday that it will run a…
Can on-demand sales stabilize Blue Apron?
With the demise of Chef’d underscoring the troubled meal kit subscription space, Blue Apron’s best chance to stabilize may be through offering on-demand meals such as in its partnership with…
What’s the ideal soundtrack for grocery shopping?
A new study from the University of South Florida finds that loud music in a restaurant or grocery store leads to more unhealthy food choices, while quieter music leads to…
Consortium is made-to-order for people who want customized brands
If customers want customization, then Consortium might have what they’re looking for. The retailer has opened a series of pop-ups all dedicated to providing made-to-order products from fashion and beauty…
Rite Aid and Albertsons call off merger – what’s next?
Many have questioned the merits of a merger between Albertsons and Rite Aid since the two companies first announced their plans to do so back in February. What is your…
