While grocers have earned credit for upgrading the quality and branding of their private labels, a new study finds store brands receive little marketing support. The study comes as reports indicate shoppers are trading down to store brands amid inflationary pressures.

In the biggest update since organic standards were first established in 1990, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new guidelines designed to close loopholes and increase confidence in the often pricier product bearing the agency’s organic seal. Will stricter certification guidelines significantly improve the price integrity around organic products?

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?

Express is one of many apparel brands struggling to find new relevance without the draw they once enjoyed during the heyday of the shopping mall. Now the brand is entering into a partnership with a company known for its work recently reviving another iconic retailer. What will it take to reinvigorate Express?

Put a fork in it. Sears Hometown is truly done. The company, made up of franchisees currently operating about 100 small stores selling appliances, hardware, tools, and lawn and garden equipment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. What is your take on the demise of Sears Hometown?

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?

One of the biggest candy manufacturers is slowly rolling out a new, paper-based wrapper material in Australia and New Zealand that could prove to be a more sustainable alternative to the plastic typically used. Do you see recyclable candy wrappers as an innovation that will catch on with American consumers?

Echo devices continually rank among Amazon.com’s best sellers, but the Alexa business is reportedly bleeding money and management is facing questions about the initiative’s viability. Do you eventually see voice shopping taking off, or do see other ways to drive incremental revenue from Alexa-enabled devices?

In her first quarterly analyst call as Foot Locker’s CEO, Mary Dillon said she sees many parallels between sneakers and the beauty category when it comes to supporting growth, but also sees a bigger opportunity for Foot Locker to drive consumer demand. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks from Foot Locker adopting more of a “consumer-led” than “product-led” approach?

Almost exactly three years after its last in-person conference, the Private Label Manufacturers Association met in Chicago this week to share the latest and greatest on store brands. With a few exceptions, there wasn’t anything really new. What should retailers be doing with their store brands right now to grow the segment?

While surveys show that sustainability is important to consumers, a new study suggests that championing durability will likely do better in connecting consumers’ needs with the needs of the planet. Is sustainability messaging overhyped as a purchase driver?

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?

at a time when customers and retailers have sustainability on the mind more than ever, a major environmental group is saying that the practice of plastic recycling just does not work. What do the findings about the inefficacy of plastic recycling mean for retailers and brands trying to pursue more environmentally sustainable operations?

Walmart plans to open Netflix Hub shops selling merchandise from the streaming platform’s films and television series in more than 2,400 U.S. stores as it seeks to build on an online-only deal introduced last October. What will Netflix Hub in-store shops do for Walmart?

Target limited-edition drops are a big part of the chain’s cheap chic appeal. Now, the retailer plans to partner with Marks & Spencer to introduce a curated assortment of the British retailer’s gourmet candy, cookie and tea gifts for the holiday season. Will Target be able to translate its fashion collaboration magic to its food and beverage business?

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?

McDonald’s is beginning a small test of the sale for a limited time of select Krispy Kreme doughnuts at nine restaurants in Louisville and the surrounding area. Does the collaboration between Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s make sense for both companies?

Amazon finds itself coming off as a corporate bully when its private label teams find small and growing brand products and then produce knockoff versions that it sells at a considerable discount. Does Amazon’s approach to developing private label products differ from most other retailers?

Kroger has updated its opening price point strategy in private label, winnowing 17 brands down to two: Heritage Farm for fresh and dairy product lines and a new brand, Smart Way, for nonperishable items. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks to Kroger’s move to consolidate its value-tier private labels to two brands?

Kohl’s is teaming up with Levi Strauss to bring back the jean maker’s SilverTab collection that was part of the hip-hop and streetwear aesthetic in the 1990’s.  Does Kohl’s need more branded Levi’s SilverTab-like deals to set itself apart from its apparel category competitors?

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 has considered exiting its private label business altogether in order to alleviate regulatory pressures, according to multiple reports. Is Amazon’s use of national brand data to inform its private label decisions different from the way other retailers handle that information?

Hasbro has announced a new personalization platform, Hasbro Selfie Series, that employs 3D-printing to let consumers create a collector-grade six-inch action figure in their likeness for $60. Will Hasbro’s ability to produce a personalized action figure for $60 be a breakthrough for 3D-printing?

As inflationary pressures and a potential economic downturn force consumers to trade down, store brands have more going for them than low prices. How likely is it that store brands in the grocery channel will gain meaningful share over the next two years?

Following a trend of breaking up conglomerates, Kellogg Co. last week announced plans to split into three independent companies: global snacks, North American cereal and plant-based foods. Which business benefits the most and least from Kellogg’s potential spinoffs?

Walmart earlier this week debuted its latest home collection with Miranda Lambert, the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and three-time Grammy winner.  What is your assessment of the steps Walmart is taking to raise its profile in the home and apparel categories?

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?

Samsung has introduced a program, MyBespoke, that lets consumers personalize the front of their Samsung Bespoke fridge with their original art, family portraits, vacation photos or “whatever your creative side dreams up.”  How would you rate the opportunity for customization around kitchen and home appliances?

Surveys show that trust in scientists took a hit during the pandemic and it may be impacting science-based marketing claims. Do you agree that consumers have “mixed feelings about science in product development” partly due to their experience during the pandemic?

Fans poured their hearts out on social media upon hearing the news that Apple planned to discontinue its last remaining iPod, the iPod Touch. Should Apple have found a way to keep the iPod going?

With no sign of inflation abating, manufacturers have started to shrink package sizes while keeping prices the same — and customers are starting to notice. Is it a good move for CPGs to reduce the amount of product in packages rather than raising prices at this point in time?

Walmart and Abercombie & Fitch both recently introduced activewear collections to become the latest chains to jump on the sweaty part of the athleisure bandwagon. Is activewear a major or minor opportunity for Walmart and Abercrombie & Fitch?

Walmart is leaning into another celebrity collaboration to help it boost sales of outdoor living products. Will Walmart’s collaboration with Dave and Jenny Marrs help make it a viable home products alternative to Target and its Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line?

A recent article forecasts a world in which products can tell customers anything and everything about themselves using a digital ID, readable via QR code or NFC tag. Do you see digital IDs catching on for all products and, if so, what sort of information will customers expect from them?

A major name in consumer packaged goods is looking to create a new soda bottle more sustainable than anything that has appeared on the shelves so far. Would a fully compostable paper bottle represent a magic bullet for sustainability?

Walmart has scored an exclusive deal on seven new flavors of ice cream from Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, including Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.  Does Walmart’s exclusive partnership with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream point to a bigger opportunity for grocers around limited-edition offerings?

Mimicking nutritional rating labels aimed at encouraging healthier eating, Target has introduced a new Target Zero icon to make it easier for consumers to identify products designed to reduce waste. What do you think of the potential appeal of Target Zero and similar labels to guide sustainable purchases?

Lululemon, retail’s poster child for the athleisure trend, last week entered a new category, footwear, that offers both a massive opportunity and heightened risks. Do you see more potential benefits than risks in Lululemon’s move into the footwear category?

CPG companies aren’t just raising prices defensively to offset against higher costs. Their strategies include working with retailers on more deliberate and symbiotic plans for pricing and promotional practices. What traditional and newer pricing approaches and mitigation tactics should CPG brands be exploring to counter inflationary pressures?

Victoria’s Secret is launching a new online-only private brand in April called Happy Nation. The brand will feature bras, panties and comfortable clothing for pre-teen girls. Is Victoria’s Secret on solid footing to recapture share of the lingerie category with its inclusive marketing approach?

Sephora recently began selling vibrators and lubricants online, following similar moves last year by Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Saks.com as part of an emerging “sexual wellness” trend. Has this trend opened up a big opportunity for department stores and beauty chains as well as a bigger one for mass and drug store chains?

Celebrities such as Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga have worn Brandon Maxwell’s designs. Now the question is whether Walmart’s customers will do the same — and maybe even some of Target’s. Will the new spring collections from Free Assembly and Scoop create buzz around Walmart as a fashion destination?

The Kirkland Signature brand exceeded $59 billion in sales in Costco’s 2021 fiscal year, up 13.4 percent year-over-year and accounting for 31 percent of the wholesale club’s total revenue. How did it get so big? What are some obvious and less obvious factors in the success of Kirkland Signature?

The Labor Department last week said U.S. inflation reached another four-decade high in January, accelerating to a 7.5 percent annual rate. Consumers haven’t fully felt the sticker shock so far, but they may very soon. Will it become more difficult for brands and retailers to pass through price increases to offset inflationary pressures in the months ahead?

McDonald’s recently announced that for a limited time, starting today, January 31, patrons will be able to purchase four special menu items via a new “Menu Hacks” section of its app, or at participating restaurants.  What can retailers learn from McDonald’s hacks menu program?

Mars has updated M&M’s five anthropomorphized color-coded mascots that appear in marketing campaigns as a way to promote inclusivity, leading some to question whether it’s another case of “wokeness” run amuck.  Were M&M’s mascots outdated or were the updates an overreaction to cultural sensitivities?

Two rapid delivery start-ups, Gopuff and Buyk, have announced plans to expand into private label in moves that promise to provide a competitive point of difference and support a road to profitability. Will private label offerings become a key strategy for shoring up differentiation and profitability among rapid delivery firms?

Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer at Nordstrom, said the adoption of non-traditional types of selling partnerships helps to keep up with online’s “endless aisle.” Do you see more benefits or risks to Nordstrom’s moves to secure brands through non-traditional wholesale arrangements?

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?

Americans need some sorting out. It would be difficult to get any other message this week with announcements from both Walmart and Target about new product line launches that their respective customers can use to organize their personal and professional lives. Do you see the home organizing products category heating up in 2022?