RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Drug Store Chains Grow Sales
Walgreen Co. and CVS Corporation report sales increases for May. Are independent pharmacists a dying breed? How can an independent compete against the drug, supermarket and mass chain pharmacies in…
Lasting Impressions Last in Customer Service
Last impressions count most, according to behavioral findings by researchers at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles. How can retailers make a good…
Ham and Cheese Unite to Defend Slicing Rights
Parma is concerned about losing control of ham production and profits, a fear which is exacerbated by its debate with British supermarket chain Asda over who has the right to…
Dairy Queen Restaurant Experiment Grows
International Dairy Queen Inc. plans to bring its new DQ Grill & Chill to that city next year. Will the growth of fast casual dining result in fewer fast food…
Employers Adjust to Aging Labor Force
A fifth of the U.S. work force is likely to consist of retirement-age Americans deciding to maintain at least part-time hours within 15 years. Is age bias an issue in…
Best Buy to Combine Web and Store Data
Best Buy Co. plans to combine the customer data it collects from users of its Web site with the information it gathers from customers in its stores. Should multi-channel retailers…
Part-time Vegetarians Drive Growth
Although the number of full-fledged vegetarians has declined during the last few years, vegetarian food consumption remains unaffected. This is because the growing number of occasional vegetarians compensates for the…
Calorie Restriction Extends Longevity
Scientists are finding a prescription for long life that few may want to take. Calorie restriction, as it is called, is a diet so low in calories that most Americans…
Retailers Burned by Teens Cry ‘Mommy!’
Gap Inc. is among several apparel retailers that targeted younger shoppers only to incur the disfavor of one of the most powerful consuming groups, female baby boomers. What are…
M&S Signs Exclusivity Agreement for Kings’ Sale
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has signed an exclusivity agreement with the Gristede’s part of the Red Apple Group in a bid to sell its American supermarket chain, Kings. What lessons…
Home Depot Names Philips Sole Light Bulb Supplier
Royal Philips Electronics and Home Depot have formed an exclusive partnership where Philips Lighting will be the only brand name light bulbs that Home Depot stores sell. Do retailers that…
Stay-at-home Trend Impacts Retail
Top U.S. arts and crafts retailer Michaels Stores Inc. reports that quarterly earnings nearly tripled, topping its raised forecasts, lifted by the strong trend toward stay-at-home activities. Are consumers nesting…
Kraft-ing a Growth Strategy
Big U.S. food companies have recently been posting annual volume gains of about one percent. Kraft’s volume, however, is growing at roughly twice that. A big part of the company’s…
Starbucks Express Speeds up Caffeine Fix
One can order a caffeine fix even faster at a dozen Starbucks in the Seattle area. Starbucks Express allows a patron to order and pay by cell-phone for a 25-cent…
Responding to Allegations of Wrong-doing
William Brandt, president and chief executive officer Development Specialists Inc., recommends a course of action in response to allegations regarding misbehavior of one’s company or its officers. How should management…
Association Deplores Discrimination of Gays
The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) members announced their support of the position that the primary consideration in decisions about parenting, including conception, child rearing, adoption, visitation and custody is the…
SAB Becomes #2 Brewer with Miller Purchase
South African Breweries Plc agreed to buy U.S. beer giant Miller Brewing in a $5.6 billion deal to catapult the enlarged group to number two in world brewing behind Anheuser-Busch…
Who Pays for Marketing Private Label?
Retailers and manufacturers can agree that private label needs to be marketed “like a brand.” What they can not agree on is who should pick up the marketing tab. Who…
Blockbuster Challenges Netflix
Blockbuster CEO John Antioco hints that the company might be considering an all-you-can-eat DVD-rental offering to counter similar services offered by Netflix.com. Does Netflix pose a serious threat to Blockbuster…
Costco #1 in U.S. Wine Sales
Costco claims to be America’s largest wine retailer. Its sales of wine grew to more than half a billion dollars in 2001, in what the Wine Institute reports as a…
Nico Water Chases Away Cigarette Cravings
Nico Water, bottled water spiked with two or four milligrams of nicotine, is being marketed as a supplement and is due to hit store shelves in July. Should retailers be…
