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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Public Concern Veers Away from the Environment
According to Gallup’s annual survey on the environment, public concern during the past year has fallen off. Is the environment an economic issue? In what ways can retailers positively impact…
drugstore.com inc. Reports Results
drugstore.com showed marked progress on its path to profitability, surpassing earlier estimates for the quarter. Are e-commerce capabilities a competitive necessity for drugstores today?
Viagra Competition Heats up
Viagra competition is rising with a said-faster-acting drug being evaluated for use in Australia and the U.S., and the first topical treatment being unveiled in Hong Kong. How can…
Wal-Mart Leases Space to Sell Used Cars
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to lease space at five of its Houston-area super-center stores to a used-car endeavor planned by Asbury Automotive Inc. What is your reaction to Wal-Mart test…
Frozen Concentrate OJ Packs More C
Active vitamin C levels are higher in frozen-concentrate orange juice than ready-to-drink juice, researchers report. And once reconstituted, the vitamin in frozen juices may keep its potency longer. Will…
MediZine.com Dispels Sugar Myth-understandings
MediZine.com revises six commonly held ideas about sugar with research findings. Is it the place of retailers to educate consumers by addressing the myths and facts concerning the products sold…
Food-Borne Illnesses Decline in U.S. Reports
A 23-percent decline in bacterial illnesses caused by food since 1996 is credited to changes in the management of animal slaughter and processing, better agricultural practices on farms, regulation of…
Grocery Shoppers Focus on Value, Convenience
Among eBrain research findings, buying groceries and preparing meals plays an important role in the majority of U.S. households. Also, most consumers go food shopping on a weekly basis and…
LandWare Releases Wine Enthusiast Guide for PDA
Mobile hardware and software maker LandWare released its Wine Enthusiast Guide last week in the form of a multimedia card that is readable in any expansion-supporting PDA. How can retailers…
Internet Pulls Mom from TV and Spending
Women with children are spending less time in front of the TV and more time on the Internet. What are the implications of the Jupiter Media Metrix survey results?
Half of U.S. Kids, Teens Need More Calcium
Of American children and teens, more than half has a diet lacking in calcium, say experts, putting them at risk for serious health problems. Will the fortified food trend continue…
Recruiting During the Downturn Raises New Challenges
Those who fail to take a long-term strategic approach to recruiting in today’s rapidly changing business world will face a perpetual staffing crisis, according to Bruce Tulgan founder of RainmakerThinking,…
Liquid Band-Aid Covers the Market
Johnson & Johnson began shipping a high-tech super glue called Band-Aid Liquid Bandage to retailers last month, and advertising it on national TV last week. Which trade channel has done…
Consumers Don’t Trust E-Commerce But Buy Anyway
Only 29 percent of users say they trust Web sites that sell products or services, however, more than half of the 123.4 million U.S. Internet users age 14 and older…
Nash Finch Performance Achieves Record Results
Nash Finch Company reports a 37 percent increase in comparable earnings of $5.9 million in the first-quarter ended March 23, compared to $4.3 million in the prior-year. What are the…
Ready-to-Drink Coffee Market Percolates
Despite an uneven track record, food and beverage companies are now rushing to appeal to the twenty-something coffee bar set with ready-to-drink, sweetened, iced cappuccino-like drinks. Should retailers follow the…
P&G’s New Shopping Site Enlists Research Subjects
Procter & Gamble Co. went online with shopping experiment earlier this year in a marketing research effort to help get its products to market faster and more efficiently. What are…
Penney Revamps Customer Check Out
J.C. Penney sets aside its goal of “one-on-one” customer service as it installs central checkout counters near entrances to help time-stressed customers navigate the store faster. Do central checkouts actually…
Office Worker Employed as Pop Tarts Pitchman
Kellogg is now unveiling a new ad featuring the office worker as a very different pitchman for its new Pop-Tarts Pastry Swirls. Are three square meals going the way of…
Self Checkout Relieves Pressure at the Front End
Thirty-five percent of shoppers say their supermarket did not have enough cashiers on duty when they shopped, reports a recent Harris Interactive survey. Do self-checkouts and other technologies deliver the…
Moistened Toilet Paper Wipes Out
Cottonelle Fresh Rollwipes sales are disappointingly confined to a regional market a year after its introduction, and are so small they aren’t financially material. Is there a national market for…
