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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
American Greetings’ Slotting Fees: The $1 Billion Question
A report on Barron’s web site claims that American Greetings has slotting fee deals that exceed its book value. The estimated slotting-fee contracts bind the greeting card manufacturer to nearly…
Atlanta Business Chronicle: Kmart to Shutter 565 Stores
The Atlanta Business Chronicle claims to be in possession of a list of 565 Kmart stores tentatively scheduled for closing next year. Kmart was quick to deny the report. Will…
Retailers Willing to Risk Out-of-Stocks
The shaky economy and an uncertain future have many (re: most) retailers hedging their bets for the upcoming holiday season by reducing the amount of inventory they carry. What…
Hispanic Market a Blockbuster
Blockbuster is installing special purple DVD and video sections with movies of interest to Hispanic consumers in approximately 1,000 of its stores. Are retailers taking advantage of store-specific merchandising opportunities?…
Retailers Take High Road to Margins
Some are predicting that retailers will take the high road (prices sans discounts) and concentrate their efforts on staying in-stock and delivering customer service this holiday season. Will retailers refrain…
Amazon Clothes-out Site
Consumers that have bought products from Amazon.com received an email from the company’s chairman and founder, Jeff Bezos, yesterday announcing the launch of ‘Ruby’, a beta test of Amazon’s new…
A&P Canada Takeover Speculation Begins
Canadian analysts believe that A&P’s decision to split into separate units makes A&P Canada an attractive takeover target. It would also give the company needed cash to upgrade its US…
Ex-Kroger SVP to Run Longs Drug Stores
Longs Drug Stores has announced that its Board of Directors has selected Warren Bryant, former senior vice president, Kroger to be the company’s new president and chief executive officer. What…
Creating a Legend in the Consumer’s Mind
Businesses that wish to build a brand identity can do it by sharing their history with consumers, writes John Malmo on gomemphis.com, who says a company or product’s history or…
Wal-Mart and Kraft Top Cannondale’s Power Rankings
Cannondale Associates has announced that Wal-Mart and Kraft Foods were at the top of the market research firm’s 2002 Power Rankings study. The annual study reports on how retailers and…
Big Changes at A&P
Major changes have been announced at A&P including the resignation of Elizabeth Culligan, president and chief operating officer. A&P has said it is splitting its American and Canadian businesses into…
Three Million New Consumers Shop in Dollar Stores
IRI estimates that the dollar stores channel is generating annual sales of $12.5 billion as consumers increasingly turn there for items once purchased in other formats. Are dollar stores…
Craft Brewer Still Seeing Red
The third quarter 2002 was a mix of good news and bad news for Redhook Ale Brewery. On one hand, the craft brewer saw an increase in barrels and dollar…
You’ve Got Sales
The 2002 holiday selling season is going to be a good one, assuming you’re an online merchant, according to a just released report, which projects an increase of 16 percent…
Pharmacists Wanted
There were nearly 7,000 openings for pharmacists in 2000 up from just 2,700 two years earlier according to the Department of Health and Human Services. What is the answer to…
Lowe’s Speaks Hispanic Consumers’ Language
DIY retailer Lowe’s has announced that its 600-project “how-to” library is now available in Spanish on the company’s web site. How does Lowe’s customer-focus compare to retailers in other channels?
Is Big Brother in Shopping Carts
CNET News.com has reported that Safeway is testing shopping carts with touch screens and scanners in two of its stores. The carts track a shopper’s path through the store and…
Most Would Vote for Union
Americans have little faith that the economy is going to rebound anytime soon. They have even less faith in their employers, which is why most say they would vote for…
Canadian Consumers a Lot Like Americans
The Toronto Star has reported that ACNielsen of Canada will unveil research that says a generally older, urban and time-pressed Canadian consumer has meant sales increases for convenience products and…
Sainsbury Puts Square Cans onto Linear Shelves
J. Sainsbury plans to expand its tests of its new square soup cans, says the retailer’s packaging innovation manager, Terry Robins. Mr. Robins said, “So far feedback from the trial…
Fewer Days to Christmas Means More Online Sales
Analysts are predicting sales increases of up to 35 percent over last year’s fourth quarter levels for online retailers. The shortened shopping season, retailer incentives such as free shipping and…
