A study from Bain & Co. finds voice assistants and grocery apps remain two under-utilized tools that could help break shoppers’ “analog” habits such as written lists that are holding back adoption of online grocery. Will apps and voice assistants play a large role in elevating the online grocery experience in the years to come?
As predictive analytics become more sophisticated, companies are increasingly relying on aggregated data. But how much should firms trust the wisdom of the crowd? Does it make sense that crowd-sourced “surprisingly popular” answers are often more accurate than the majority vote?
Foot Locker has made a $100 million minority investment in Goat Group, which claims to be the largest resale marketplace for sneakers. Where do you see the greatest potential benefits from the partnership between Foot Locker and GOAT?
Are we developing associates to be chatbots or true retail sales professionals that have the ability to connect with customers and solve problems? Where does the development of interpersonal skills (e.g., picking up on verbal and non-verbal cues) stand with the training of sales associates at retail?
A free rewards program pilot launched in the Dallas-Fort Worth market last April by Target appears to have been successful as the chain announced this week that it is expanding its rollout. Where do you see the greatest potential for Target to benefit from its Circle rewards program?
If history teaches us one thing, it’s that spirituality is a surefire way to turn a profit. Is spirituality-based consumerism just a fad or a trend that mainstream retailers should take seriously?
J.C. Penney CEO Jill Soltau has decided that the department store chain will no longer sell appliances after the end of this month. Do you approve of J.C. Penney’s decision to dump appliances?
Walking both the floor at NRF and the city stores of New York last month, it was hard for BrainTrust panelist Laura Davis-Taylor not to look at the industry through the lens of “Retailing 2020: Winning in a polarized world,” a 2011 report by PWC and Kantar. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing legacy retailers today?
The try-on process for many products is the first step toward a long-term investment. Some retailers are using augmented reality to make the experience more convenient for customers. Do you expect AR-based try-on technology to become a bigger part of the consumer purchasing process?
Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of retail for Apple, is leaving the company in April. She is departing Apple roughly five years after joining the company from Burberry where she held the CEO title for eight years.Do you have any concerns about Apple’s retail business with the departure of Angela Ahrendts?
