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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will Campbell Soup’s Rebranding Make a Difference If It’s Approved?
The Campbell Soup Company is considering a significant rebranding, proposing to drop “soup” from its name in favor of “The Campbell’s Company.” How might this name change impact consumer views…
Is Gap Inc.’s Turnaround for Real?
With Gap Inc.’s second-quarter results topping Wall Street estimates for the fourth consecutive quarter, the company is executing a brand reinvigoration playbook designed to drive more relevance across its four…
Can a NY State Law Mandating Panic Buttons Help Curb Retail Theft?
With retail theft still on the rise, the state of New York has mandated a new law that requires retail stores to install functioning panic buttons based on certain criteria…
Are Restaurant Brands Taking Over Grocery Aisles?
The pandemic and inflationary pressures have led to a surge of new restaurant CPG entrants over the last three years. Does this trend have staying power?
Will Agentic AI Help or Hinder the Customer Experience?
A new concept has started popping up in the world of artificial intelligence: agentic AI. How will the rise of agentic AI in retail impact the balance between personalized service…
Will J.Crew’s Revived Catalog Create Some Buzz?
J.Crew is bringing back its beloved catalog with fanfare as it seeks to build on its recent momentum. What role do you see for retailer-published catalogs at this time in…
Can Walmart Become a Fashion Destination?
Walmart is launching its first-ever Walmart Style Tour this fall, a 40-stop traveling fashion event aimed at bringing affordable, on-trend fashion directly to customers. How might Walmart’s efforts to rebrand…
Why Are Consumer Surveys Often Annoying?
A new survey from Shep Hyken, a customer service/CX expert, finds consumers don’t complete surveys because they’re too long, too frequent, or just pointless. What advice do you have to…
How Dominant Will Private Label Products Become?
Numerator.com has released a comprehensive report detailing the latest trends in the private label sector. How could private label brands moving into niche and premium markets change the competitive dynamics…
Does the NFL Have a Gen Z Problem?
The NFL, according to numerous reports, faces a challenge reaching Gen Zers, a troubling trend not only for the league but for the scores of advertisers backing America’s most popular…
Will Banana Republic’s New Store Design and Layout Make a Difference?
Retail interior design and store layout are two fundamental factors that shape and influence a store’s customer experience and performance. How does adding experiential elements affect the balance between visual…
How Will Holiday 2024 Shape Up?
Early forecasts for holiday spending are generally mixed due to uncertainty created by inflation effects, potential interest rate cuts, and a volatile election season. Salesforce last week predicted a 2%…
Should More Retailers Be Opening Pop-Up Shops?
Pop-up shops are temporary retail spaces that have been invaluable to e-commerce and mobile brands that do not have permanent physical store locations. What future trends or challenges could impact…
Why Are ERP Implementations So Hazardous?
Ulta Beauty has become the latest firm to face snags caused by the rollout of a new ERP (enterprise resource planning) system. What factors can help ensure a successful ERP…
Is Chick-fil-A the Fast-Food Chain To Beat?
Chick-fil-A seems to be maintaining a lead in the fast-food industry without much of a hitch. How do its recent innovations reflect broader trends in retail and fast food in…
Is the Dollar Store Channel Structurally Challenged?
Shares of Dollar General last Thursday tumbled by about 30% after a second-quarter shortfall raised concerns that dollar stores in general are losing share to Walmart, Target, ALDI, Temu, and…
Should More Brands Find Partners in the Sports Industry?
This past month saw many brands announcing partnerships with athletes and entities in the sports industry, even if the retail brands themselves weren’t inherently connected to anything athletic. How do…
Why Are So Many Limited-Edition Food Brand Collaborations Arriving?
Coca-Cola and OREO became the latest iconic food and beverage brands to collaborate on two new, limited-edition food and beverage products inspired by each other. What benefits do you see…
Should 7-Eleven Accept Circle K’s Takeover Bid?
Circle K, owned by Alimentation Couche-Tard, has proposed a $38 billion bid to acquire 7-Eleven, potentially marking the largest foreign takeover in Japan. How might this acquisition impact the U.S…
Should Workers Have the ‘Right to Disconnect’?
Australia became the latest country to give employees the “right to disconnect” outside their standard working hours to support work-life balance in an “always on” digital world. Do you see…
Should Other Retailers Offer New Franchisee Incentive Packages Like Batteries Plus?
Batteries Plus is launching an impressive incentive package valued at over $107,000 to attract new franchisees who commit to opening a store by the end of 2024. What is the…
