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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Retailers Hit Brakes on IT Spending
Evidence is painting a picture that retailers are seriously cutting back on information technology budgets. A number of technology companies serving the industry have reported slower revenue and earnings growth…
President Wants Dockworkers and Shippers to Work Things Out
Dock workers have agreed to let federal mediators help bring an end to the lock out of West Coast ports caused by a contract dispute between shippers and the dock…
Overweight Kids: Big Problem and Big Business
A new Datamonitor report finds that one in four children between the ages of six and 17 are overweight. The implications of this unhealthy state extend well into adulthood. Aside…
Customer Service: Slow Down You’re Moving Too Fast
The need for speed in serving consumers is a modern day fact of business life. Unfortunately, haste often translates into waste when it comes to customer service issues. How can…
Is the Wholesaler a Supervalu?
Supervalu improved earnings per share 16 percent in the second quarter of 2002 compared to the same period a year earlier. The earnings improvement was largely due to cost reductions…
The Book on Innovation
Business books are big business. Occasionally, they are even helpful to readers. Recently, a panel of experts assembled by Forbes named the 20 most influential business books of the past…
Groceries and Self-Scanning in St. Louis
Schnuck Markets and Dierbergs have announced plans to install self-scan checkouts in all their stores by next year. Each grocer intends to have four self-scan checkouts per store with one…
Consumers Shop Less and Trade Down More
The Star Tribune of Minneapolis/St. Paul maintains that consumers are shopping less often and purchasing fewer items as concerns over the economy continue to grow. Grocery shoppers are trading down…
Convenience Items Clean Up
Products such as Procter & Gamble’s Swiffer, SC Johnson’s Pledge Grab-Its and other items designed to cut the time consumers spend cleaning are apparently here to stay. Will convenience…
NOW: Shame on Wal-Mart
The National Organization of Women and organized labor advocates are again taking exception with how Wal-Mart treats its employees. Wal-Mart’s position is that it pays competitive wages. Does NOW have…
Fred’s Small Boxes Keep Growing
The Memphis-based retail chain, Fred’s, is using its small box discount store format to ring up impressive sales and profit growth. Net income increased 73% in the second quarter of…
A Publix Record of Customer Service
Publix has built its reputation “not so much with the lowest prices, but rather with immaculate stores in the right locations, savvy marketing, and well-trained and friendly employees who own…
Boomers in Hog Heaven
Motorcycle unit sales have tripled over the last 10 years and risen 7.8 percent in the first six months this year. The growth has come, in large part, from aging…
D’Agostino: Kings’ Sized Opportunity or Mistake?
D’Agostino Supermarkets is expected to complete its $160 million deal to acquire Kings Supermarkets this week. In making the deal, D’Agostino is buying a chain with more stores (28…
Pre-paid Milk Card is a Hit with Consumers
Farm Stores in Florida is offering customers a card that prepays for milk. In addition to promoting dairy, card data is being mined to help Farm Stores identify its best…
Samples Getting Tossed by Cosmetics Industry
Lower volume numbers are causing cosmetics makers and retailers to become stingier about handing out free samples to consumers. Manufacturers are looking to contain costs while still acknowledging that most…
Consumers Get Real
Terrorist attacks, a struggling economy and scandals involving everyone from CEOs to the clergy have many wondering which way is up. The result according to an Orlando Sentinel piece is…
The King of Kmart’s Grocery Strategy
Former Albertson’s president and current consultant, Richard King was brought in last month by Kmart management to fix the retailer’s food business. Disappointing food sales have been given as one…
Food Lion and Kash ‘n Karry Losing Price War
Delhaize has cut its forecast for the second time in two months, because of slower sales in its U.S. operations. A weakening economy and Wal-Mart are given as the reasons…
Report: Target’s on Target (Mostly)
A new Retail Forward report examines moves Target is likely to make over the next five years. Retail Forward sees a number of growth opportunities and challenges for Target. What…
The Big Chain that Could (Maybe)
Kmart chairman James Adamson and president Julian Day recently expressed optimism about the retailer’s future, despite a loss of $1.83 billion for the six-month period from February through July. September…
