Starbucks last week committed to investing in several initiatives focused on the mental health and wellness of its associates. Are most store managers adequately prepared to identify and refer associates who may be facing mental health challenges?
Ace Hardware has closed on the acquisition of Handyman Matters Franchise, a franchisor of home repair and maintenance services. What synergies do you see coming from Ace Hardware’s acquisition of Handyman Matters Franchise?
Burberry has partnered with Apple to roll out a new chat service, which will allow its high-value and mobile-first customers to text directly with store associates. In what ways is text messaging emerging as a shopping tool?
Glossier, the billion-dollar Instagram-driven beauty brand, has appointed 19-year Amazon.com veteran Melissa Eamer as its COO. She will be responsible for overseeing the growth-driving parts of Glossier’s business. How might an Amazon veteran take Glossier to its next level of growth?
Walmart is opening a health clinic called Walmart Health in Georgia that will provide comprehensive and low-cost primary care. Services also include dental, hearing tests, counseling sessions, vision and hearing tests, and x-rays. How far should/will Walmart venture into healthcare services?
In recent years, Starbucks added online ordering with in-store pickup and home delivery to try to manage its line problem. How important a feature will mobile order and in-store pickup become for foodservice operators over the next decade?
Reporters from The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times recently simulated firing a virtual employee to explore how well virtual reality (VR) works as a training tool for employees. Is virtual reality more effective than real-life role-playing or other training methods for stores?
If Amazon implements its latest high-tech checkout innovation at Whole Foods, customers won’t need to pull out a credit card — a wave of the hand will do the trick. The solution uses hand-based identification to facilitate payment. What advantages/disadvantages might hand recognition have over other methods of enhanced checkout?
Jockey International, the premium underwear and apparel brand, announced that it will open its first-ever pop-up shop at Simon’s edit @ Roosevelt Field space, which provides a showcase primarily for consumer-direct brands without a current physical store presence. What will be the keys to success for Jockey as it launches its first-ever pop-up shop at edit @ Roosevelt Field?
The Vitamin Shoppe announced it is moving into the crowded supplement subscription market with the launch of Only Me, a program that delivers a tailored mix of vitamins and supplements to members on a monthly basis. Will having physical stores provide an advantage for Vitamin Shoppe in its efforts to capture share of the supplement subscription market?
