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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Will The ‘Mother of All Savings Memberships’ Grow Walmart+’s Numbers?
Mother’s Day is a big deal at Walmart and the chain is celebrating the 2023 holiday by giving away up to 20,000 one-year Walmart+ memberships to new moms during May.
Do Malls Need Curfews For Minors?
Garden State Plaza, the second largest mall in New Jersey, has become the latest shopping center to restrict access by minors due to unruly behavior.
Is Barnes & Noble’s Membership Upgrade Worth $40?
The new Barnes & Noble paid membership tier, now called Premium Membership, costs $39.99, up from $25 under the previous plan.
Who Wins From Bed Bath & Beyond’s Bankruptcy?
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. yesterday said that it had filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 to wind down its business and seek a sale of its assets.
Should Wegmans Fire Its Baristas?
Wegmans is testing the closure of its full-service Buzz Coffee Shops in favor of self-service coffee stations at select stores in Rochester, NY, as remote working has led to reduced…
Should Amazon Have Ended AmazonSmile?
Amazon.com’s recent move to end its AmazonSmile charity donation program saw many beneficiaries frowning on social media.
How Much Growth Will Ikea’s $2.2+ Billion Omnichannel Investment Get It?
IKEA plans to spend over $2.2 billion over the next three years to support its omnichannel growth strategy in the U.S.
What Are The Keys To Empathetic Leadership?
An Ernst & Young (EY) survey finds 86 percent of employees believe empathetic leadership boosts morale and 87 percent see empathy as essential to fostering an inclusive environment.
Will Convenience Stores Follow 2022’s Record Year With a Bang or a Bust?
Convenience stores achieved a new record for in-store dollar sales in 2022, according to the NACS State of the Industry report.
Did The Pandemic Launch An Indie Revival?
The novel coronavirus pandemic led to many changes in consumer habits, including a greater customer penchant for shopping from independent retailers.
What Happens When a CEO Tells Employees to Skip The Trip to Pity City?
Andi Owen, CEO of MillerKnoll, was recorded last month on a virtual town hall meeting responding to questions from employees on various topics, including bonuses, where she took issue with…
Will ‘Treats’ Make PetSmart a Pet Parent’s Forever Friend?
PetSmart’s “Treats Rewards” program is seeking to deepen those connections with the more than 60 million members who have joined the program since its inception in August 2018.
Does David’s Bridal Have Irreconcilable Differences With Consumers?
David’s Bridal, on Monday, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It previously went bankrupt in 2018.
Will 2-D Barcodes Add A New Dimension To Shopping?
GS1 US, the non-profit standards body in charge of barcodes, has announced an initiative called Sunrise 2027, which will replace the long-familiar UPC with a two-dimensional, QR-code-style alternative.
Can Barbie Deliver An Immersive Brand Experience?
On April 14, a 20,000 square-foot attraction, “World of Barbie,” opened in Santa Monica offering interactive installations which let customers visit Barbie’s Dreamhouse, board a space shuttle and more.
Should More Retailers Roll Out Free Shipping Membership Programs?
A university study concludes that paid, membership-based free shipping (MFS) programs can compensate for delivery costs, reduce customer churn and be a significant revenue source.
Is Amazon’s Generative AI Push a Cloud Gamechanger?
Amazon.com’s cloud computing division last week released a suite of generative AI tools that can enable companies to build chatbots, generate and summarize text, and classify images based on a…
Americans Have Money to Spend. Where Will They Spend It?
The retail market today seems strong than it was a year ago, but will it continue to grow? How will consumers spend in a post-pandemic world? The answer: differently.
Does Virtual Fitting Room Tech Discourage Sales?
University research finds virtual fitting rooms aren’t “uniformly positive” for customers, particularly those customers with unhealthy body image perceptions.
Is It Good Business to Allow Associates to Break or Bend Rules for Customers?
In some circumstances, retail employees find the need to go “above and beyond” for customers, sometimes deviating from organizational rules, a move that has been shown to enhance customer loyalty…
Does Nordstrom Rack Need To Rebrand?
Nordstrom Rack, celebrating its 50th anniversary, has rolled out a new logo inspired by the one used in the ‘70s and ‘80s to differentiate the off-price chain from its competitors…
