Starbucks’ open-door policy previously allowed people to use the restrooms and linger around without buying anything.

“We can kind of teach the crew to run register and stock shelves. That kind of stuff is not what’s important. What’s important is if you really like people.” How influential is culture to a retail organization’s performance?

According to a new Gallup poll, U.S. consumers do not trust retailers as much as they used to — and they do not have much trust for anyone else, either. Do you agree with Gallup’s assessment of the state of trust for retail businesses and the steps retailers should take to earn customer trust?

Grocery delivery workers were hailed as heroes during the pandemic. However, Instacart’s experience shows how the sudden moralization of work, which is often used to control workers, can backfire, according to a university study. What effect did the moralization of grocery delivery and other retail jobs during the pandemic have on employee morale?

A new report from small-business lending platform OnDeck finds consulting, finance and technology among the top sectors for creating future business founders. Retailers, by comparison, ranked low. Have the traits that drive entrepreneurial success in the retail space significantly changed over the years?

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 the value of the company’s culture in successfully navigating the pandemic and the chain’s ongoing success. Has “culture,” as Target defines it, been as important to the retailer’s success throughout the pandemic as the people on the panel believe?

So many meetings. So little time left to get actual work done. Shopify isn’t having it anymore, at least for the next two weeks as part of a meeting freeze intended to boost productivity. How big an issue are excess meetings in corporate environments?

According to a recent McKinsey survey of U.S. retail workers, a lack of supportive colleagues was the leading cause of attrition for those 45 and older while ranking as the eighth most important factor for those under 35. Should retention efforts differ significantly for older retail workers versus younger ones?

Lesley Salmon, SVP, global chief information officer at Kellogg Company, says that she spends a lot of time thinking about her team and how to engage its members in ways that deliver continually improving results for the consumer packaged goods giant’s stakeholders. What do you think are the pillars upon which positive corporate cultures are built?

A new survey finds that professionals spend more than one-third of their working hours in meetings and they see about 30 percent of them as unnecessary. What do you see as the core problems with the way meetings are held today?

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?

BrainTrust panelist Ron Margulis says, “Pardon my cynicism, but if I had a dollar every time I heard some variant of the phrase ‘the customer must be at the center of every retail decision’ at Groceryshop last week, I’d be able to buy a nice meal at one of the many overpriced restaurants in Las Vegas.” Does the customer really need to be the primary focus of every retail decision?

In its report, Microsoft revealed that 85 percent of managers “have a hard time knowing for sure that their people are being productive” away from the office. The effect this “productivity paranoia” has on leaders risks making hybrid work unsustainable. What solutions do you see for overcoming “productivity paranoia” developing out of remote and hybrid work environments?

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?

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?

Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum, Jason Buechel said one of his goals as the next CEO of Whole Foods Market is “to reconnect to many parts of our heritage as a company.” What advice would you have for Jason Buechel as he prepares to take over as CEO of Whole Foods?

Paraphrasing from John Maxwell’s leadership mantras, valuing people is foundational to changing your company, your community and the world. What traits are common to successful companies with missions to help their employees thrive?

Businesses believe they are much more trusted than they actually are by both consumers and employees because executives are misreading what moves the needle on trust, according to a new survey. What do you think builds trust in companies among consumers and employees?

Social holidays have increasingly become a revenue stream for many retailers, capitalized on with branded merchandise. These assortments and corporate stances have not been without controversy. What impact do you think increased diversification of sexual and gender orientation will have on the retail industry?

Google last week shifted to a new system for “employee development, learning and progression” it calls GRAD, designed to streamline the process and reduce tensions around employee reviews and career development.  Did Google make the right moves in overhauling its employee review and promotions process?

Dave Wendland’s journey to gaining recognition as a thought leader did not begin by accident, nor did it occur overnight. What advice would you have for someone seeking to establish themselves as a thought leader within the retail industry?

A new survey of chief data or analytics officers finds that only 26.5 percent believe they have created a data-driven organization.  NewVantage Partners’ “Data and AI Leadership Executive Survey” also found less than half replying that they were competing on data and analytics. What advice do you have for retailers and brands looking to become data-driven organizations?

The term “consumer” is reportedly facing some backlash as over-consumption takes the blame for many environmental issues, according to a new article. Should brands and retailers stop using the word “consumer” or be more careful about how it is used?

If Starbucks makes good on its most recent environmentally-minded endeavor, by 2025 you may not see nearly as many of the chain’s paper cups in the hands of coffee drinkers. To what extent do you think Starbucks will be able to reduce reliance on the disposable paper cup?

Fifteen percent of Americans are in a position to determine 2022’s winners and losers in retail and politics, according to new research. Will catering to “aspirational independents” prove successful for retailers if also trying to appeal to consumers with less moderate political leanings?

In its own #MeToo moment, CVS on Friday said it fired several employees, including executives, following an internal investigation into how the company handled sexual harassment complaints. How confident are you that #MeToo and related movements have had a positive impact on workplace behavior?

Recent reports suggest that Amazon has a serious human resources issue on its hands as large numbers of skilled tech staff are leaving the company. Is the turnover of skilled workers at Amazon described in recent reports in line with or below what is seen in other large companies?

Lululemon for the second year in row was the highest-ranking retailer on Glassdoor’s annual list of the “100 Best Places To Work.” Perks were particularly called out in employee reviews. How important are product discounts, free food, gym credits, tuition reimbursements and other perks in supporting retail employee satisfaction and retention?

PepsiCo Foods’ CEO Steven Williams said that one silver lining coming out of the pandemic has been the opportunity to form stronger connections with employees and consumers. What suggestions do you have for retailers or brands trying to retain or build on any consumer goodwill acquired during the pandemic?

In the technology space, in-house teams are facing challenges balancing product public relations with the desire to showcase their company’s value, mission and purpose, according to a new study. Have you been seeing heightened conflicts between brand marketing and product marketing, and what advice do you have for marketers?

A primary way to accelerate decision-making, rethink strategies and drive transformation is to move out of your comfort zones. What tips would you have for moving beyond your comfort zone to embrace new ideas?

DoorDash will bring back a program requiring all employees, including the CEO, to once a month perform deliveries or other duties not normally part of their jobs. Some staffers are apparently unhappy about it. Do you see more pros or cons in requiring corporate staffers to work selling floors, customer service departments or fulfillment centers?

Recent columns have charged that the “Great Resignation” is being misinterpreted. One attributed the high number of people quitting jobs to greater availability of job openings, giving workers confidence to try something more promising. What’s driving the Great Resignation and what does it mean for retail?

According to a new survey, 83 percent of Americans would prefer a four-day workweek. The survey of 4,000 full-time workers taken in mid-October found the appeal of four-day weeks fairly equal across generations. Does the four-day workweek make sense for retail’s corporate or in-store staff?

A Bank of England monetary committee member caused a stir in the U.K. media last week after saying that as more women work remotely and will likely continue to do so, there may be a “she-cession,” putting their career advancement at risk. Is the work-from-home trend a positive or negative for women’s career development and retailer’s overall gender equality goals?

Frontline workers are praised for being the heroes who keep things together despite the challenges created by the pandemic. But many associates feel that they are not being heard by management when it comes to important issues.  Do you see major communication issues between frontline workers and management in retail at present?

Target announced that it will pay store associates $2 an hour extra for working on Saturdays and Sundays starting on November 20 and running through December 19. How does Target’s approach to human resources compare in your mind to other big retail industry employers?

New research from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania finds major benefits to expressing emotions in the workplace. Is encouraging the sharing of emotions net beneficial on selling floors, corporate retail offices, both or neither?

Rite Aid is taking a remote-first approach when it comes to corporate associates by building a network of collaboration centers in markets where the drugstore chain operates to meet and collaborate in-person as needed. Do you think Rite Aid is on the right track with its remote-first approach to its corporate workforce and its use of collaboration centers?

In the prospectus for its IPO, Allbirds said its growth will be driven by three trends influencing how consumers make their purchase decisions in apparel and footwear: purpose-driven positioning, casualization and omnichannel retail. Which of the three trends will be most important in driving Allbirds’ growth in the years ahead?

A new online retailer is going a long way to keep the brands it sells honest about their avowed commitments to environmental and social issues. Do you see the enhanced level of vetting for social and environmental responsibility claims that Toward is implementing as being something that will set it apart?

Although change for change’s sake is seldom a good course of action, a well-executed brand refresh could be just what the doctor ordered — if the underlying rationale justifies such measures. What do you consider the right and the wrong reasons to undergo a brand update?

Environmentalism was already on the rise before the novel coronavirus pandemic, but a recent study indicates that since the pandemic, consumers are even more driven by environmental concerns. Do you think that most retailers are engaged in good faith efforts to reduce their environmental impact, or is greenwashing commonplace?

Authenticity in leadership is judged by how you behave, how you communicate and how you serve your stakeholders and customers. What traits define authenticity in leadership?

A new survey finds U.S. consumers want to make more environmentally-friendly choices when shopping for apparel, but many are held back by a lack of availability and trustworthy information on what makes clothing more (or less) sustainable. Do you generally find yourself skeptical of sustainability claims made by brands and retailers and do you think others do as well?

Amazon.com can walk and chew gum at the same time. That’s the message from Jeff Bezos, pledging to turn the most customer centric company on the planet into the best employer with the safest workplace environment. Do you expect Amazon to bring a similar level of focus to becoming the best place to work as it does to satisfying its millions of customers?

Toms, the pioneer of the one-for-one charitable model, will no longer donate a pair of shoes to a child for each pair purchased. Instead, it plans to give a third of annual profits to local community-focused organizations. What, if anything, does Toms’ decision to end its one-for-one charity model say about cause marketing at this point in time?

Many believe that Clayton M. Christensen’s theory of “disruptive innovation” is one of, if not the most, important business ideas of the current century.  Where do you think disruptive innovation will take the retailing industry?

They say the first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem, and according to Walmart, they’ve had a big one. “We fail our customers today,” reads the first bullet in a slide from their planning deck for an internal project codenamed Project Glass. Should more retailers follow Walmart’s brutal self-assessment strategy?

Target last week announced plans to significantly downsize its corporate offices, joining a number of other retailers embracing a flexible, hybrid work model that enables some employees to continue working from home. What challenges may retailers face trying to optimize the benefits of a hybrid in-person/work-from-home model?