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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Fleming Sees Nothing But Red in Third Quarter
Fleming said that it lost $1.5 million or three cents per share in the third quarter on comparative operations to a $16.5 million profit and earnings of 35 cents a…
Meaty Issues
Among the results of research from the National Pork Producers Council, the average consumer spends four-minutes per shopping trip, three and one-half hours per year, shopping in front of…
Smoothie Sailing
The Juice and Smoothie Association (JASA) reports that juice and smoothie bar business sales moved pass the $1 billion mark last year. Are smoothies next in line for Starbucks-like success?…
26 Shopping Days (Enough) Till Christmas
This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 28 reducing the number of shopping days before Christmas to 26. However, that’s no longer a valid reason for explaining poor or, for that…
Battle of the Supercenters
Competition for Michigan’s consumers is heating up between Wal-Mart and Meijer. Wal-Mart has opened 14 supercenters in Michigan. Eight of those are located in the same community as Meijer’s…
Coors’ Share Price Climbs to Rocky Mountain High
Reuters reports that share prices for Coors reached their highest level in five months following upgrades from analysts at Morgan Stanley and Banc of America Securities. What is your evaluation…
Retailers Hope Early Catalogs Catch the Xmas Shopper
A strong fourth quarter has taken on greater importance for many catalog retailers because of slow sales during the fall/back-to-school period. That is one reason that many retailers began shipping…
It Takes Two to Retail
According to a report in USA Today, retailers such as KB Toys, Sears, Office Depot, Amazon.com, Target, Home Depot and others are looking to utilize the strengths of other retail…
Sniper Panic Hits Everywhere
Saturday’s shooting of a 37-year old man in the parking lot of a Ponderosa Steak House in Ashland Va., assumed to be the work of the serial killer(s) (Beltway sniper),…
Merry Christmas KMartha
James Adamson, Kmart’s chief executive told Newsweek that the retailer has produced two commercials, one with Martha and one without, to support Christmas holiday items coming out under her brand…
Category Management: Pipe Dream or Reality
A column on the Executive Technology web site maintains that category management has “failed to deliver on its promises”. The author believes that problems can be corrected through implementation…
Sears Goes It Alone
Sears is planning to test free-standing stores in an attempt to attract customers currently passing its mall-based locations. The first test location is due to open next fall in Salt…
Consumers Happy with Their Food Choices
Consumers are happy with their food shopping choices, organic or otherwise, based on the results of a new study released by Whole Foods Market. Eighty-seven percent who regularly use organic…
Leaders Wanted
In their book, ‘Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done’, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan write, “If you don’t get the people process right, you will never fulfill the potential…
The High Price of Missing Work
A new survey says that the cost of absenteeism rose almost 5% this year to $789 per employee, and finding that only one out of three who missed work were…
Defibrillators Even a Kid Could Use
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that having defibrillators in public places saves lives because no special training is needed to operate the devices…
A Blockbuster for Beer and Wine Sales
Blockbuster Video is planning to sell wine, beer and other spirits in more of its U.K. stores after a successful test selling alcoholic beverages at locations in England. What are…
Donald Leaves Pathmark for a Coffee Break
Reuters reports that Jim Donald, chairman, president and chief executive of Pathmark, has resigned to become president of Starbucks’ North American division. What impact will Jim Donald’s leaving have on…
A Fresh Approach to Superior Customer Service
Retailing consultant Harold Lloyd is a strong advocate of personal involvement of top management in goings on at store-level. In a recent seminar, he imparted ideas for making customers and…
Vols Love Back to the Future Drug Store
In a day and age when drive-thrus for prescriptions, one-hour photo labs and dashboard dining are the norm, Long’s Drug Store in Bearden, Tennessee has held firm to tradition. Is…
Cause Marketing Getting a Bad Name
Cause marketing is a popular way for companies to give back and drive sales at the same time. That, according to some, is part of the problem. Are consumers…
