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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Has ‘Just in Time’ Proved Itself Amid Inventory Gluts?
“Just-in-time” inventory systems are being praised as a rebalancing of global trade has led to bloated inventories. Has the value of just-in-time approaches been validated amid retail’s lengthy destocking phase?
Will Bass Pro Shops’ New Mega Store Change the Retail Store Experience?
Bass Pro Shops announced a new mega outdoor world destination retail store in the Tucson area. What insights can retailers learn from Bass Pro Shops?
Will Blue Apron Help Wonder Create Its Mealtime Super App?
Wonder Group, the food-delivery startup led by Marc Lore, reached an agreement to acquire Blue Apron. Will the acquisition help Wonder in its quest to reimagine the experience around meal…
Should Toys“R”Us Be Toying With Flagships Again?
Six years after filing for bankruptcy, Toys“R”Us plans to open as many as 24 flagship stores in the U.S. Will Toys“R”Us find success by bringing back its old playbook, or…
Is the FTC’s Antitrust Lawsuit a Threat to Amazon?
The FTC’s long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Amazon has arrived. Do you see it as more of a threat or inconvenience to Amazon?
Timex Introduces the World’s First Sustainable Watch Program
Timex has just announced its new sustainability program, ReWound. Do you think this will change more consumers’ minds about choosing sustainable and upcycled products over normal products?
Walmart Doubles Down in Africa, but Will It Pay Off?
Walmart’s international expansion continues, but at what cost? Do you think Walmart is overextending itself by attempting to enter and expand in foreign markets like Africa?
Can Amazon’s Fulfillment Efforts Eliminate Holiday Delays?
Amazon is preparing for a busy holiday season on multiple fronts to head off potential last-mile holdups and ensure purchases arrive on time. Will these investments help Amazon prepare its…
Should Best Buy Join Drop Culture?
For the holidays. Best Buy is introducing Best Buy Drops, offering consumers limited-time deals on electronic gadgets. Do drops make as much sense for a category such as electronics as…
Should Costco Raise Membership Fees?
Richard Galanti, Costco’s CFO, said the question of a membership fee hike was “a question of when, not if.” Is now the right time to be raising fees?
What’s Next After the Messy Fast-Food Fight With Unions?
The California minimum wage for fast-food workers is increasing up to $20 an hour by April 2024. How do you think fast-food restaurants will compensate for this wage increase?
Is the Lululemon/Peloton Partnership a Win-Win Situation?
Lululemon and Peloton have just announced a five-year partnership. Does this partnership hold equal benefits for both companies?
Will Family Dollar’s New App Solidify the Loyalty of Shoppers Who Traded Down?
Family Dollar is enhancing its mobile shopping experience with a revamped mobile app. Do you think off-price retailers will start making more investments in their technology?
A South Korean Robot Has Mastered Fried Chicken
Robots are becoming more mainstream in retail, and in South Korea, a fried chicken restaurant wouldn’t have succeeded without the help of a robot. What do you think about AI…
Can a California-Pennsylvania Company Perfect the T-Shirt?
Buck Mason, a clothing brand that aims to perfect the T-shirt, has purchased a sewing factory and cloth mill in Pennsylvania. Does the majority domestic production from this brand prove…
Will Grocery Shoppers Take To FreshTake’s Community Hub?
While many grocers are feeding into shoppers’ “get in, get out” mentality, a new concept, FreshTake, tries to get people to linger. Are experiential and community-based grocery concepts such as…
US Shopping Malls Teeter Between Success and Failure While Asian American Malls Thrive
The future of the American shopping mall is not guaranteed, but are Asian American malls doing better? Do you think shopping malls will fail or succeed in the coming years?
Is US Luxury Spending Headed for a Brief or Lengthy Downturn?
The latest Saks Luxury Pulse survey showed the first increase in luxury spending plans since the survey began tracking the metric in May 2022. Has the overall luxury growth opportunity…
Why Do Consumers Demand Sustainability While Refusing To Pay For It?
Sustainable products are here, but do consumers really care? What ways can companies convince consumers that sustainable products are worth their value and are not low quality?
Is Now the Time for McDonald’s To Be Raising Franchisee Royalty Rates?
McDonald’s plans to increase franchise royalty fees throughout North America for the first time in 29 years, and franchisees reportedly aren’t happy about it. How would you weigh the benefits…
Should H&M Have Joined the Bandwagon Exiting Free Online Returns?
H&M is the latest fashion retailer in the U.K. to charge to return online purchases amid a broader push across retail to tackle escalating return costs. Has it become more…
