Nordstrom Rack, celebrating its 50th anniversary, has rolled out a new logo inspired by the one used in the ‘70s and ‘80s to differentiate the off-price chain from its competitors better.

Victoria’s Secret & Co. last week said it was launching “The VS & PINK Collective,” a pilot of its first loyalty program that gives Victoria’s Secret and Pink customers an opportunity to share rewards. Will the VS & Pink Collective rewards program be successful in driving incremental sales for the two Victoria’s Secret & Co. brands?

Convenience stores may not need to worry much about what customers have to say about them — if they have anything to say about them at all, but new research finds that reputations matter in the convenience store world. How influential are customer reviews on a convenience store’s reputation?

“De-influencing,” trending on TikTok since January, amounts to a backlash against overconsumption caused by social media influencers. Whether it’s bad for the influencer community is up for debate. Do you see the de-influencing trend on TikTok as an authentic backlash that may force influencers to reassess how they promote products and brands?

In a win for hype over design experience, Louis Vuitton last week placed 13-time Grammy-award winner Pharrell Williams in charge of its menswear line. Is the appointment of Pharrell Williams as men’s creative director more of a positive or negative for Louis Vuitton?

A university study determined that only half of artificial intelligence-generated ads are open about the fact they were created by bots, potentially tricking consumers into false beliefs or causing confusion and dissatisfaction. Will AI-generated advertising content drive more benefits or chaos for marketers?

Neiman Marcus’s CEO recently made a statement about the type of customer that the luxury department store operator wants to attract. Some sales staff believe he is putting out the wrong vibe, which might end up hurting the retailer. What do you see as the value of customers outside of the top two percent for luxury retailers like Neiman Marcus?

The Temu e-commerce site has only been live in the U.S. since September, but that didn’t stop the Chinese-owned marketplace from looking to connect on a long ball during the broadcast of Super Bowl LVII. What do you think Temu set out to accomplish with its Super Bowl Sunday commercials?

The broadcast of Super Bowl LVII featured a halftime show by Rihanna. ESPN reports she “crushed her performance.” The same may be true of some of the commercials that aired during the game. Which commercial do you think won Super Bowl LVII?

A new study from Bain & Co. concludes that, while luxury spending‘s growth is expected to slow in 2023 following two gangbuster recovery years, the sector has become “more resilient to recession.” Do you agree that the luxury goods sector has become less susceptible to the impact of downturns?

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. Is the concentration of its customer base and vendor base a concern for Neiman’s?

Those Netflix subscribers with a New Year’s resolution to get in shape can now pursue their fitness goals using exclusive content from one of the biggest names in athletics. Nike has partnered with Netflix on an initiative called the Nike Training Club. What value will Nike derive from its content relationship with Netflix?

A newly recognized practice, “green hushing,” finds brands deliberately downplaying, underreporting or keeping silent about their emissions and carbon-offsetting targets. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks in companies toning down or not openly discussing their green targets?

In a surprise move, Under Armour last week named Stephanie Linnartz, the current president of Marriott International, as its third CEO. What do you think of the hiring of Stephanie Linnartz to guide Under Armour’s next phase of growth?

Seven weeks of head-to-head competitions have brought us to the finals of the 2022 RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge with six clear-cut winners and one tie. Who will be crowned the champ? Which spot was the best?

The year 2022 has been a big one for grocery stores in the RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge. This week’s matchup pits SPAR Ireland, the largest convenience store chain in the Republic, against Walmart, the largest in the world. What is your critique of the Christmas spots from SPAR Ireland and Walmart?

Mental health oriented messaging is quickly becoming table stakes for retailers that cater to next gen consumers. Seventy-one percent of Gen Z consumers like when brands make mental health a part of their marketing, according to the American Psychological Association. Will Gen Z consumers become more or less interested in positive mental health messaging in the coming years?

Macy’s and Wegmans are going for the heart strings in round six of the 2022 RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge. Which one will join Etsy, Kroger, Publix, Amazon.com and Aldi UK in the finals? What is your critique of the Christmas spots from Macy’s and Wegmans?

The World Cup has been a missed opportunity for the major players in the retail industry. Only one retailer, Walmart, has created a meaningful, themed campaign to run during the month-long World Cup, which ends Dec. 18. Did Walmart gain a marketing advantage running commercials during World Cup broadcasts?

The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge may not rise to the competitive level of the World Cup but, for this week at least, it will bring together two international grocery powerhouses, each with their own holiday stories to tell. What is your critique of the Christmas spots from Aldi UK and Lidl?

A university study finds originality and follower size are among the common factors driving engagement in influencer campaigns. However, many influencer attributes fall under the Goldilocks Effect, or the sweet spot between too little and too much. What factors drive optimal engagement in influencer campaigns?

Will it be Amazon or Asda that joins Etsy, Kroger and Publix into the finals of the 2022 edition of the RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge?  What is your critique of the Christmas spots from Amazon and Asda?

Episode three of the RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge includes one of the most highly anticipated spots of the holiday season, and one that fits the spirit of the season, even if it is not all about December 25. What is your critique of the holiday spots from John Lewis and Publix?

Cisco, SAP and Salesforce have all added a chief trust officer (CTrO) to their c-suite as the digital economy has elevated the importance of trust. Should retailers follow? Do retailers need a chief trust officer or to put a c-level exec in charge of trust?

Count the critics as unimpressed with their choices in last week’s RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge choice. That brings us to the second in a series of commercials served up for your viewing pleasure (and scrutiny). Today’s match pits Aldi Australia vs. Kroger, presenting two distinctly different takes on holiday messaging. What is your critique of the holiday spots from Aldi Australia and Kroger?

Gap is for sale on Amazon.com. Gap made “thousands” of its items available last week at Amazon.com/Gap with the promise of “fast, free Prime delivery.” Does the Gap or Amazon gain more from their new selling partnership?

The 2022 RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge (year 10 of our annual event) kicks off today with two different approaches to holiday marketing from Etsy and Hobby Lobby. What is your critique of the Christmas spots from Etsy and Hobby Lobby?

The Walt Disney Company last week launched a “limited test” in the U.S. that will allow Disney+ subscribers to shop exclusive merchandise from franchises like “Star Wars,” “Black Panther” and “Frozen” through the Disney+ app. How would you rate the viability of selling themed merchandise alongside certain Disney+ shows and films?

Adidas yesterday ended its partnership with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, following a series of antisemitic remarks he has made recently in multiple forums. Will the Adidas brand be negatively affected by what some saw as a a slow response to Ye’s antisemitic comments?

Walmart has grown its Secret Treasures private label into a $1 billion business that has the largest customer base of any brand in the women’s intimates and sleepwear market. But that isn’t stopping the retailer from replacing the brand. Does the decision to end the Secret Treasures line suggest that it lacked brand equity even among the consumers who purchased it?

According to a new survey, the Lululemon reached the number two favorite apparel brand spot behind Nike, moving ahead of American Eagle Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear and Adidas. Should Lululemon adjust its marketing strategy to capitalize on its newfound popularity with teens?

A new university study finds being asked to donate at cash registers heightens anxiety for shoppers, despite good intentions. Do you see donation requests at checkout as more of a positive or negative to the in-store shopping experience?

The biggest impediment to creativity is not a lack of direction or failure to be bold enough, it’s a risk-averse culture, cited by 51 percent of marketers, according to new research from the World Federation of Advertisers. What do you see as the greatest barriers to creativity in advertising and marketing campaigns?

Victoria’s Secret’s new campaign, “Undefinable,” builds on last year’s rebrand and marks a further step from its controversial 2014 campaign, “The Perfect Body.” What further steps might be necessary for Victoria’s Secret to overcome its heritage and embrace inclusivity and female empowerment?

McDonald’s announced for the first time the release of a Happy Meal aimed at adults in a limited-edition collaboration with cult streetwear label, Cactus Plant Flea Market Box. And you should know what comes in adult happy meal.

No matter which Wegmans a customer is shopping at in the U.S., they will not find single-use plastic bags available at checkout. Does Wegmans’ chainwide ban on single-use plastic bags make business sense for the grocer?

Dollar General says it is not abandoning the pricing on its selection of $1 products, even as inflation continues to drive retail prices up nationwide. How important is the $1 price point to Dollar General shoppers?

A new best-selling book, “Retail Gangster: The Insane, Real-Life Story of Crazy Eddie” is bringing back nostalgia for the long-gone electronics chain’s abrasive yet memorable commercials.  Are Crazy Eddie’s television commercials antiquated or would such an approach work today?

Dove and Wendy’s in Canada have both launched campaigns against ageism in support of a beloved Canadian news anchor who was relieved of her duties, allegedly for letting her hair go gray.  Do you see Dove and Wendy’s recent campaigns around ageism as timely, opportunistic or risky?

A university study finds requesting feedback from online users can favorably influence their behavior, even when they disregard the requests. Do you find online customer feedback requests to be more positive than negative to the online shopping experience?

Tractor Supply is making changes to its Neighbor’s Club rewards program, putting greater emphasis on building closer relationships with the pet parents who shop in its stores. What do you think will be the result of Tractor Supply’s decision to clearly link its name and rewards with its Petsense business?

Reviving the pre-pandemic pop-up hotel trend, Pabst has partnered with a motel in Traverse City, MI, to decorate and rent three Pabst Blue Ribbon-themed rooms tinged with 1980s nostalgia. What’s driving the pop-up hotel trend?

Timed to International Youth Day, The Body Shop has launched a youth voter engagement and registration drive across its U.S. stores and website ahead of the November midterm elections. Does Body’s Shop’s voter engagement and registration campaign make sense for the cosmetics chain as well as for many other retailers?

With today’s shoppers interacting with retailers on their phones, through social media, websites and countless other modes, “unboxed retail” has created a dilemma for many retail formats anchored on street corners across America. What factors have become more important in guiding retail success amid increasingly “wherever, whenever, however” shopping behavior?

Traditionally, chief marketing officers have oversight over promotions to get products out, but not much influence on initial pricing as products come in. Should marketing play a larger role in setting initial pricing, particularly during inflationary times?

The Nordstrom tire return story, often thought of as a piece of fiction used to demonstrate the length the department store would go to serve its customers, is true. What role does storytelling around acts of service, like the tire story, play in creating a culture focused on customer happiness?

Major League Baseball last week revealed it is moving ahead with plans to place advertising on uniforms for the 2023 season, leaving the National Football League the last remaining major American sports league holdout. Is the opportunity to advertise on MLB uniforms more likely to be a home run or strikeout for advertisers?

A university study finds that, although brand essence, or authenticity, ideally comes through an association with the creator, one other proxy to measure essence is the recipe and manufacturing process. What do you think about telling founder stories as a tool for elevating brand authenticity?

Amazon.com yesterday filed lawsuits against the administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups that it says recruited people to post fake reviews on its site in exchange for money or free products. Is the public’s perception of the validity of reviews on Amazon’s site affected by legal action it takes to find fraudsters?

Costco last week earned widespread media coverage for raising prices on two popular items on its food court menu, the chicken bake and 20 oz. soda. Is holding prices on most food court items more important for Costco than on grocery prices?