Whether we’re calling it omnichannel, phygital, experiential or something else, the influx of technology into the in-store shopping experience has been one of retail’s most significant trends this decade. Is it accurate to say that stores are trying to make the in-store experience more like shopping online? Should they be?
Target is partnering with local artists in its new small-format stores to support community building. The executions range from murals behind registers to installations in parking lots. How important is partnering with local artists to the success of Target’s small-market locations?
Counterfeit books are a problem for Amazon.com, according to recent articles in The New York Times. Allegedly many of these fakes are printed and sold on Amazon by third-party sellers, but some are printed by Amazon’s self-publishing subsidiary. Whose responsibility is it to prevent counterfeit books from being available on Amazon?
Next month, Banana Republic will debut Style Passport, a monthly service to appeal to younger female customers who want to both switch up their wardrobes and reduce the associated environmental impact. What do you see as the pros and/or cons of Banana Republic’s launch of Style Passport?
Grocery is among the key categories on which Target has focused since Brian Cornell became CEO in 2014. Now the chain is taking another run at grocery success with the introduction of a new private label line. How much progress do you think Target has made at improving its grocery business in recent years?
Kroger has partnered to bring Zero Hunger Mobile Market — described as a “single-aisle grocery store on wheels”— to Louisville neighborhoods that lack a nearby supermarket. Do you see Zero Hunger Mobile Market as a potential market opportunity for Kroger or simply a goodwill initiative?
On J.C. Penney’s second quarter conference call with analysts, CEO Jill Soltau made clear that her job and that of her team was not simply running the department store chain’s business. It was rebuilding it. Do you think Jill Soltau and her team can rebuild J.C. Penney, or was the chain too late in bringing new management on board?
Amazon has taken steps to answer its critics and improve its brand image at the same time. Yesterday, the company announced the creation of Fulfillment by Amazon Donations. Do you think Amazon, generally speaking, is winning or losing the public relations battle with critics of its business practices?
By mixing and matching data resources, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has been able to target shoppers more effectively and identify growth opportunities for its retailer customers. What advice would you have for using multiple data sources for category and customer insights?
ThredUP bills itself as the largest online thrift store. Soon it may also call itself the largest online thrift store inside the biggest department store chain in the U.S. What do you think of Macy’s partnership with thredUP and its place in the chain’s strategy to attract younger customers?
