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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Technology Helps Unlock Customer Behavior
A new generation of analytical technology from software companies such as Siebel and Blue Martini promises to help e-tailers and retailers make sense of the mountains of sales data collected…
Burger King’s Veggie Burger Goes Untried
The SupermarketGuru.com Consumer Panel quick poll on Burger King’s new “Veggie Burger” found that not many people have tried the new menu item yet. However, indications are that the product…
Home Stores Find Growth with Ladies’ Nights
Home Depot Inc. and Lowe’s Cos. estimate that about half of all purchases made in their stores are made or influenced by women. Both companies have expanded their clinic offerings…
Seven Key Steps Aid Loss Prevention
One of the biggest challenges facing convenience store managers is finding ways to reduce losses and shrink in their stores, because losses so clearly affect the bottom line. What are…
Retailers Make Fortune’s Best to Work For Grade
In this dark time of cuts and layoffs, one thing that makes a company fit for fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For is its willingness to…
The Handgun Conundrum Continues
An article in the Boston Globe and on Reason.com questions whether the link between handgun ownership and high rates of murder has been established as reports in the media would…
Wal-Mart Tops Fortune 500
Wal-Mart propelled itself from rural Arkansas, where it was founded in 1962, to the top of the Fortune 500 this year. What are the biggest challenges/opportunities ahead for Wal-Mart as…
Loyalty Cards May Cost More Than They Save
Consumers give up a degree of privacy for supermarket loyalty card programs, which don’t offer much in terms of dollars-and-cents savings when prices are compared with those of their major…
Suicide Bomber Injures Dozens at Jerusalem Supermarket
A female suicide bomber detonated explosives at the entrance to a Jerusalem supermarket Friday afternoon. What do retailers need to do to better protect associates, shoppers and property from terrorist…
Sexagenarians to Quadruple in Next Half Century
The number of people older than 60 years of age will quadruple during the next half century in a worldwide “demographic revolution” that will strain pension and health care systems…
American Tastes Move on up to the Top
Millions of Americans who once made up the vast middle of the nation’s $7 trillion consumer market are migrating upscale toward premium and luxury goods. What challenges does the…
Registrations Increase for GMDC Conference
GMDC is experiencing a leap in member registration for its 2002 GM Marketing Conference. What do you think of GMDC paying the way for retailers/wholesalers to attend its Controlled…
Prescription Drug Use Raises Healthcare Concerns
Consumer spending on prescription drugs at pharmacies rose more than 17 percent last year. The trend raises concerns about increases in health-insurance premiums and steeper pharmacy bills for those without…
FTC Scrutinizes Wal-Mart in Puerto Rico
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s February 6 acquisition of Puerto Rico’s largest grocer amid concerns that it could lead to higher food prices on the island…
Online Grocery Services Meet Mixed Reviews
Safeway and Albertson’s both launched online grocery shopping services in the Bay Area earlier this month. They are easy to use and reasonably affordable, although shoppers must push through a…
Consumer Confidence Slips Online
Holiday e-shopping snafus, and concern over risks associated with online buying eroded consumer confidence in the Internet, and more people expect to spend less on the Net in the upcoming…
Demographic Composition Shifts Tastes
While demographic swings will affect all future consumer markets, they’re already beginning to change foods, ingredients and the amount of time spent in the kitchen. What factors will have the…
Kmart.com Vies with BlueLight.com
Kmart’s Web store, BlueLight.com, is testing whether more people would access the site under the Web address Kmart.com, Should BlueLight.com be renamed Kmart.com?
Sony Designs Product Line for Target
Sony Corp. will design an exclusive product line for Target Stores and target.com that will be unveiled this spring. Is Target on target with the Sony deal? Should retailers look…
Home Depot Launches Smaller Urban Stores
Home Depot is rolling out the first of its smaller-size stores in Brooklyn, New York, in an effort to break into new markets. What opportunities/challenges do you see for Home…
Trade Dimensions Delivers On-Premise Information
Trade Dimensions has syndicated its new On-Premise database, which delivers universal coverage of On-Premise outlets where liquor, wine and/or beer are consumed. How should retailers go about assessing competitive threats?…
