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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Analysts Reflect on Safeway
Sales have slowed at Safeway, one of the dominant supermarket chains in the country, which aggravates concerns that Wal-Mart may take over the industry. However, Safeway’s annual earnings growth per…
Niche Markets Boost Nutrition Bar Sales
Estimated annual sales for nutrition bars exceeded one billion dollars for the second year in a row. With limited space and an explosion of SKUs, how can retailers manage…
CNS Stifles Snores with New Throat Spray
CNS Inc. has developed a snore-relief throat spray for the more than 85 million Americans who snore. With the reported prevalence of sleep disorders in today’s society, should retailers manage…
Families Members Need to Schedule Appointments
More people are putting family and loved ones on their calendars and organizers to keep relationships from falling between the cracks. How can organization’s train employees to become better…
Leaders Motivate Workers with Good Vibes
Emotions and moods spread around work like wildfire, and it’s usually the person at the top setting the tone, according to a new best seller. Leader must prime positive feelings…
Ailing Chains Launch Marketing Campaigns
In the continued struggle to identify themselves, Kmart Corp. and Gap Inc. have launched new marketing campaigns. Are retailers such as Gap Stores and Kmart demonstrating that they have…
Kava Controversy Continues with FDA Advisory
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer advisory linking use of kava to liver toxicity just a month after an U.S. herbal supplement industry review declared herb safe…
Walgreen Boasts Profit on Market Share
Walgreen Co. reported a 10 percent rise in quarterly earnings as competitive pricing and better store locations helped it to lure customers from rivals and gain market share. What are…
Shell to Lubricate Lead with Pennzoil-Quaker State
Shell Oil Co.’s plan to acquire Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. for $1.8 billion will outfit its vast chain of gasoline stations with a major motor-oil brand and a network of oil-change…
Juice TV Show, Ads Aim to Squeeze out Consumers
Tropicana plans to spend almost two million dollars, what some companies spend to air a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl, to air an entire television show targeted at orange…
Matsushita Develops Cleaning Robot
Matsushita Electric Industrial, the maker of Panasonic-brand products, will test a prototype of a vacuuming robot with an autonomous control system in Japanese households this May. What impact will robotics…
Shoppers Plan to Spend More on Easter Gifts
Shoppers are planning to spend 29 percent more on Easter gifts this year. Does IMRA’s research have implications for the state of retailing going beyond the Easter holiday?
Drought Lifts Sales of Washers, Toilets
Home Depot Inc. and Sears, Roebuck and Co. are among stores cashing in on drought fallout as consumers seek water-saving fixtures. Do worsening drought conditions pose similar types of problems…
Bingo!, Cries One Creative Operator
In an era when department store dining rooms are nearly extinct, Bingo players meet twice weekly at the Cream City Cafeteria for camaraderie and to compete for prize packages. How…
Online Surpasses Catalog at J. Crew
For the first time, J. Crew’s Web sales eclipsed its catalog sales. What broader implications arise from J. Crew’s February results announcement?
Aldi Continues Outback Expansion
Germany’s global supermarket chain, Aldi, continues its Australian expansion. What makes Aldi successful where other operators are not?
Merrill Raises Winn-Dixie Mid-Term Rating
Merrill Lynch raised the mid-term stock rating on grocery store chain Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. to “neutral” from “reduce,” noting that the business had stabilized and downside appears limited, although it…
Inner-City Grocer Prospers, Eyes Future
A decade ago, Jonathan F. Johnson wasn’t sure the Community Pride chain of four inner-city supermarkets he operated would last a year. Today, Community Pride, among the country’s largest minority-owned…
Sears CEO Earns Bonus Despite Profit Fall
Sears, Roebuck & Co. Chairman Alan Lacy’s bonus slid 35 percent last year even though Sears’ earnings per share declined by more than 40 percent in 2001. How can…
Walmart.com Tests Windows-less PC Sales
Walmart.com recently began marketing a Microtel personal computer without an operating system and video monitor for just under $400. Where do you think Wal-Mart is heading with this concept should…
Scanner Collects Pay Dirt from Driver’s Licenses
Driver License scanners can validate licenses and identify underage consumers. They can also collect specific personal information, which may be turned into targeted marketing campaigns. Where do you come down…
