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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
SoBe Tries Bubbly Beverage
Mr. Green Soda Pop, SoBe Beverages’ first carbonated beverage, will be supported by an aggressive grassroots marketing campaign. What are the keys to successfully managing the carbonated soft drink…
Placebo Beats Zoloft and St. John’s Wort
A study finds that neither for Pfizer Inc.’s top-selling antidepressant Zoloft nor St. John’s Wort are better than a placebo for major depression. Will the Duke University Medical Center study…
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…
Elders Want to Know What They Are Eating
Older consumers want more information about the health benefits of various foods, the types of food that fit their dietary restrictions and what food safety practices are being carried out…
Online Grocery Shopping Beset with Flaws
A new survey says online supermarket shopping is often beset with flaws. How can retailers improve the human component and customer service aspect of online shopping and home delivery services?…
Dog Chow Gains Feed Nestle Sales
Nestle SA is expected to post an 11 percent rise in first-quarter sales mainly due to the inclusion of sales by U.S. food group Ralston Purina, purchased for $10.3 billion…
Book Superstores Take Cue from Supermarkets
Borders’ new category management strategy that will eventually transform how it does business with publishers and customers calls for a comprehensive analysis of hundreds of book categories and a detailed…
Luxury Shoppers Bypass Baubles for Comfort
In the post-September 11, post-NASDAQ-boom world of American wealth, comfort is in, but excess is out. Are a growing number of consumers intentionally trading down on retail purchases?
Wal-Mart Threatens to Cast Shadow on Kroger
Kroger executives no longer view Wal-Mart as only a remote threat. Does Fred Meyer give Kroger the means to compete with the supercenter formats of Wal-Mart and Target?
Jury Awards Millions to Six Women Against Ralphs
A jury has awarded $30.6 million to six women who alleged they were subject to violent behavior and sexual harassment by a store director at Ralphs Grocery Co. Is sexual…
Pharmacies Lace Lollipops with Nicotine
Hundreds of independent druggists across the U.S. are producing new smoking cessation products outside of the umbrella of the FDA, and sales of these items, in the form of flavored…
Self-Serve Cosmetics Stores Outshine Counters
Specialty, stand-alone cosmetics stores have boomed in recent years, threatening a department store staple. Where are specialty stores (aka category killers) the biggest threat to broad line retailers?
US News Ranks MBA Schools
Today’s business schools are extraordinarily diverse, offering students a broad range of both concentrations and learning opportunities. How valuable are advanced degrees in today’s business? Are they worth the…
Snapple Bottles Wax Whimsical
The Snapple Beverage Group is adding more attention-getting elements to the brand’s already offbeat selling efforts on the battleground of the non-carbonated beverage category. Does Snapple have the resources to…
Atlantic Baking Strives for Private Label Cookie Lead
Atlantic Baking Group Inc. will acquire Kellogg Co.’s Bake-Line Products business, and four baking facilities from Consolidated Biscuit Co. in a move to make it an industry leader in store-brand…
Retail Sector Earnings Surpass Expectations
Bed Bath & Beyond and The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. report better-than-expected earnings, which added girth to the retail sector. What are the challenges and opportunities for A&P…
e-tail Grows Stronger in UK than US
Online retailing is growing ten times faster in the UK than it is in the US. Why do you think UK consumers are more active than their US counterparts in…
Organic Consumers Defy Stereotypes
The first priority for organic marketers may be to do away with any notion of a “typical” consumer. Marketing to diversity based on values requires new tactics. How can main…
Business Sought Before Sex
People are looking less for sexually oriented material on the Web and more for business and travel information, according to a new study. What broader issues does the Penn State…
Tesco Goes Local for Global Expansion
As it expands globally, Tesco charts a bold course by pushing localization further than companies in other industries or even its own competitors. Ninety-five percent of employees in Tesco’s foreign…
Smaller Stores Focus on Perishables in Future
Many store designers are now saying they envision smaller stores that will focus on perishables. The trend report also predicts increased popularity of self-checkouts, the advent of mobile commerce, plus…
