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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Does Neiman Marcus have too many eggs in too few baskets?
In a keynote presentation at the 2023 NRF Big Show, Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Neiman Marcus Group’s CEO, was asked about the benefits and risks of the retailer’s high concentration levels…
PepsiCo’s retention recipe starts with technology
In an employment landscape with a lot of turnover, PepsiCo has begun investing in technology and automation and operational changes to keep its workers happy, fulfilled and on-board. What processes…
Will gambling on a Saks Fifth Avenue flagship casino pay off?
Hudson’s Bay Company has bid for a gaming license to install a high-end casino on the top three floors of the famed Saks Fifth Avenue flagship in Manhattan. What do…
Is culture the key to Target’s success?
Target had a lot to say about the importance of company culture in a keynote presentation at the 2023 NRF Big Show. Target CEO Brian Cornell led a discussion on…
Marvin Ellison advises aspiring execs to ‘take tough assignments’
Marvin Ellison, CEO at Lowe’s, speaking at the NRF Big Show, said he learned early on that, to get ahead in his career, his best approach was to “just take…
Macy’s gains control of its inventory and markdowns
At the NRF Big Show, Jeff Gennette, Macy’s CEO, discussed how process changes and improved data science helped the retailer overhaul inventory disciplines over the pandemic. Are more retailers using…
Is Saks Off Fifth better off online?
E-commerce has proven to be a huge area of growth for off-price luxury retailer Saks Off Fifth. In a keynote presentation at the NRF 2023 Big Show, Paige Thomas, president…
Should Rent the Runway sell through Amazon?
Rent the Runway reached an agreement to sell its “Pre-Loved” luxury merchandise on Amazon.com, marking another major partnership for Rent the Runway and a big step into the resale market…
Consumers get some relief as inflation eases
American consumers continued to spend as prices rose steadily higher from 2021 to June 2022. Will they keep up the shopping pace as prices go in the opposite direction? How…
Is nepotism all that bad for retail?
Nepotism has been in the limelight lately as Hollywood stars have had to defend themselves or their children over gaining an unfair advantage from family connections. Is nepotism at family-run…
Will advertisers benefit as Lowe’s brings its retail media sales and ops under one roof?
Lowe’s is bringing all of its One Roof Media Network ad sales and operations in-house. The home improvement retailer said the move will allow it to control all elements of its…
Study says retail jobs are just the worst
A recent study from U.S. News & World Report ranked 190 jobs in order to identify the best jobs in the U.S. today. Front-line retail employment did not land high…
Will Best Buy customers be okay with its rewards program changes?
The good news if you are a My Best Buy rewards program member is that you will no longer be required to make a minimum purchase to receive free standard…
Are targeted online ads going away?
Meta was dealt a significant blow last week when being found guilty by European Union regulators of effectively forcing users to accept personalized ads. Required changes for the parent of…
Is Babies’R’Us ready to make a comeback or is it just a dream?
Babies”R”Us is coming back. WHP Global, which owns the company, yesterday said that it plans to open its first Babies”R”Us flagship store in the U.S. this summer in the American…
Will job cuts spur growth for McDonald’s?
The biggest U.S. fast food chain is planning some corporate job cuts even as it pursues a nationwide store expansion. Where do you see the biggest opportunities for McDonald’s to…
Amazon Prime and Shopify extend their reach into each other’s territories
Amazon.com is looking for growth beyond its own platform. The company yesterday said it was making its “Buy with Prime” program, which offers the same easy checkout, free shipping and…
Do drinking and shopping mix?
Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix on Jan. 12 will become the first outdoor shopping centers in Arizona to allow shoppers to drink alcohol as they shop. Do…
Rite Aid puts out ‘help wanted’ sign for a new CEO
Rite Aid yesterday said that board member Elizabeth “Busy” Burr has been named interim CEO of the company, effective immediately. She replaces Heyward Donigan who has led the drugstore chain…
Are ‘price frictions’ undercutting product sales?
A new university study finds some retailers may be slower to reduce prices to stimulate sales due to “price frictions,” for example, reluctance to move away from prices that end…
Is now the time for retailers to double down on cloud investments?
Microsoft last week was downgraded by UBS as field checks showed slower growth for cloud software providers, including Microsoft’s Azure unit. The downgrade comes as the cloud computing providers reported…
