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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will Renewed Student Loan Payments Dampen the Holiday Spirit?
October’s resumption of student loan payments suspended during COVID could weigh on holiday results as affected consumers find an average of $300 added to their monthly expenses. Does the resumption…
Can Retail Beat the Heat?
Studies have shown that climate change is making heat waves more frequent and more severe. Worker risks include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. What are some obvious and less…
Have Private Labels Like On 34th Become More Important for Macy’s?
Macy’s launched a new private brand, the “On 34th” women’s collection, as part of an extensive “reimagination” of its in-house brand portfolio that will run through 2025. How important is…
David’s Bridal Emerges From Bankruptcy With a New Owner
David’s Bridal will get a new lease on life now that CION Investment Corporation has closed its bankruptcy court-approved transaction to acquire the ailing wedding retailer, narrowly avoiding liquidation. How…
Could More Returns Lead To More Customer Retention?
With many companies trying to dissuade returns, the retailers that are doing the opposite stand a good chance of not only retaining their customers but attracting new ones. How else…
Are Consumers Ready To Pay by Palm?
Amazon is bringing Amazon One palm recognition capabilities to all 500+ Amazon-owned Whole Foods stores nationwide by year-end in a major expansion of the payment technology. Does payment through palm…
Petco Finds a Home Inside Lowe’s
Lowe’s is expanding a program to operate Petco in-store shops to nearly 300 locations by year-end after a successful pilot at 15 locations. Why are Petco’s in-store shops working for…
Do We Need Toy Stores Anymore?
Even though Toys R Us has made a comeback by opening up branded sections inside Macy’s department stores across the U.S., its future remains uncertain. Are the days over when…
Will Back-to-School Shopping Reach Record Levels This Year?
With the end of summer quickly coming into view on the horizon, back-to-school shopping is already in full swing. If the NRF is right about back-to-school spending reaching record levels,…
Should Restaurants Like In-N-Out Ban Masks for Employees?
In-N-Out plans to start barring employees in five states from wearing masks in order to “promote clear and effective communication” and showcase “our Associates’ smiles.” Should retailers start encouraging associates…
The AI Genie Is Out of the Box — But What Does This Mean for Consumer Trust?
Consumers are experiencing a mixed reception to the growing importance of AI in both their lives and retailers’ e-commerce experiences. What steps, if any, should retailers take to make shoppers…
Will Sensory-Friendly Saturdays Make Retail More Accessible?
Saturdays in July and August, most Walmart stores across the nation are providing sensory-friendly hours between 8 and 10 a.m.
Debería McDonald’s haberse sumado a la tendencia TikTok del ‘batido de la mueca’?
El hashtag #GrimaceShake ha acumulado más de 2.700 millones de visitas en TikTok desde el 12 de junio, cuando McDonald’s puso a la venta una edición especial de batidos con…
Should McDonald’s Have Joined the ‘Grimace Shake’ TikTok Trend?
The #GrimaceShake hashtag has amassed over 2.7 billion views on TikTok since June 12 when McDonald’s released a special-edition berry-flavored shake.
Smartphone Design Devolving Due to Replaceable Batteries?
According to Android Authority, the European Council agreed to make official the new regulation requiring all smartphones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries by 2027.
Why Is Barbie Hot Again?
Barbie is back as a cultural icon as the Barbiecore pink-aesthetic trend continues and a blockbuster movie arrives this weekend.
Walmart’s Open Call Continues To Support Products Made in the USA
Walmart has officially kicked off the application period for the 10th anniversary of Walmart and Sam’s Club’s largest sourcing event, Open Call 2023.
Are Online Pickers Ruining the In-Store Grocery Experience?
Online pickers are being called out for hogging parking spots outside stores and clogging aisles inside.
Retailers’ Attempts To Dissuade Returns May Impact Brand Loyalty
The tension between retailers and shoppers is growing, and it’s because of returns.
Is Grocery’s Path to Online Profitability Getting Any Clearer?
Grocers have significantly expanded e-commerce operations over the pandemic, but only 45% are profitable online.
How To Shift to a ‘Test and Fail’ Mentality
A “test and fail” mindset says: “I’m willing to fall a few times along this journey in order to pick myself up, learn on the fly, and ultimately reach the…
