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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Kids of Boomers Shop Till They Drop
Children of baby boomers are surpassing their parents in size and impact as the most coveted market ever. How are N Geners affecting retail marketing and merchandising strategies and tactics?…
Kmart Speaks Spanish
Kmart says it will publish a Spanish-language version of its weekly advertising circular to be featured in 10 Spanish-language newspapers nationwide and in 160 stores serving large Hispanic communities beginning…
Target 86es 88
Target is pulling red-and-black baseball caps and shorts carrying the insignia “88” off the shelves of its 1,100 stores nationwide. Did Target make the right decision in pulling its “88”…
One Third of Americans Are Pre-Diabetic
As many as one in three Americans has a condition called insulin resistance syndrome, putting them at high risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to a committee of experts…
Martha Stewart Shows Off Her Furniture
Martha Stewart gave 100 furniture dealers a private showing of her new furniture collection at a High Point showroom. It’s the latest indication that she has no plans of letting…
Sears to Sell Big TVs for Big Bucks
Sears, Roebuck and Co. has entered into selling top-end, big-screen TVs saying the lure of the newest sets would outweigh concerns that economic woes and a jittery stock market could…
Census Releases Grandparent Facts
The Census Bureau has culled facts pertaining to grandparents from recently released Census 2000 reports and other sources to mark the celebration of Grandparents Day. What must retailers do to…
Caffeine May Fight Skin Cancer
A study suggests that a skin lotion with caffeine or with another compound found in green tea can reduce by more than half the number of cancer tumors on the…
Americans Say ‘Take This Job and Shove It’
Workers are becoming less content with their jobs in many parts of the country, most especially in New England. Do companies need to focus on inspiring employees to greater performance…
Consumers Play Hooky on Back-to-School Sales
Wal-Mart says sales in the recent week hit the low end of its August same-store sales growth target as warmer weather led shoppers to buy fewer back-to-school clothes. Does a…
Gross Ads Target Teens
Advertisers are finding a way to connect to the powerful youth market that commands $170 billion in annual spending power with inane, often gross teen humor. Do consumer/retail marketers worry…
Are Malternative Sales Going Stale?
Although there has been speculation that demand may be cooling for the new malt liquor drinks branded with hard spirit names, Jack Daniel’s is rolling out Jack Daniel’s Hard Cola…
Nestle Bids for Hershey
Nestlé is offering about $11.5 billion, or $82 a share, to buy Hershey Foods, making the company a front-runner in the controversial race to acquire Hershey. Assuming that Nestle or…
The Deviant’s Guide to Business Success
How business ideas move from the edge to the mainstream and how companies can profit from the process are the subjects of a new book aimed at helping top management…
Seven Instances to Consider a Business Name Change
Naseem Javed, syndicated columnist and author of Naming for Power, gives seven intances to identify when a business name change becomes necessary. How important is a retailer’s company name in…
Consumers Crave Specialty Foods
A new report says consumers are increasingly happy to pay extra for “gourmet” products such as ostrich meat as an alternative to “bland” mass-produced food and drink. Is there…
Sobeys Decreases Private Label Products
A Canadian supermarket chain has taken the opposite approach from retailers that have increased their roster of house brands in tough economic times. Is Sobeys making the right move by…
FDA Gives Interim OK for OTC Prilosec
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it will approve sales of an over-the-counter form of heartburn drug Prilosec, but only with a label that consumers can understand. How can…
Colgate Challenges P&G in Whitening Products
Colgate-Palmolive Co. is set to challenge Procter & Gamble Co.’s lead in the fast-growing at-home teeth-whitening market with its a gel that costs less than half the price of Crest’s…
AMA Cautions Use of Antibacterials
Antibacterial soap and lotion do not prevent infections, and may actually be harmful, new research finds. Will the AMA’s position on antibacterial products hurt the sale of these products? Will…
Organic Customers Found Loyal, Non-Buyers, Uninterested
New research released by ACNielsen shows that organic food buyers are extremely loyal to the category, and intend to keep buying, while non-buyers have virtually no interest in organic products…
