Retailers have at least three paths to join in on the upcoming elections: giving their employees time off to vote, encouraging customers to go to the polls and selling election merchandise. What advice would you give retailers and brands for taking advantage of marketing or merchandising opportunities around the upcoming presidential election?

Starbucks was a pioneer in establishing itself as a place for remote work. Now, the coffee chain is opening a concept making it as much a co-working space as a coffee shop. Do you see a business opportunity for Starbucks to develop co-working spaces as part of its U.S. coffee shops?

Starbucks last week joined a small group of multi-state retailers that are requiring customers to wear masks for entry across all locations. Will Starbucks’ move to make masks mandatory for in-store customers likely heighten or lessen the risk of confrontations from shoppers?

Videos and photos of in-store shoppers purportedly behaving badly have been going viral on social media for years, but the occurrences have spiked in recent weeks as some shoppers rebel against face mask mandates. Is the viral shaming of shoppers who refuse to wear masks on social media more of a positive or negative development for retailers?

Everyone knows they are in Best Buy when they see a blue shirt associate or in Trader Joe’s when they come across crew members working in Hawaiian shirts. We are not, however, in normal times. Do you think that retail and restaurant employers should relax current dress codes to allow associates to display solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement?

A number of retailers have begun checking the temperatures of employees before shifts. Apple last week, however, became the first major retailer to require customers to have their temperature checked before entry. Should retailers perform temperature checks on associates and customers before they enter stores?

Starbucks’ CEO Kevin Johnson said the coffee chain plans to employ a “monitor and adapt” strategy as it reopens stores amid a decline in new COVID-19 cases. Do you think it is wise to have store managers and district managers make the decisions on when and how individual stores and food establishments reopen?

Free coffee, donuts and shoes are among the items retailers and brands are bestowing on health professionals for the risks they’re taking combatting the coronavirus pandemic. What advice would you have for retailers and brands around supporting health professionals and other organizations fighting the coronavirus pandemic?

Apple, Nike, Warby Parker, Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, Glossier and Allbirds were among a number of retailers that have closed or announced plans to close their U.S. stores to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Should all non-essential stores temporarily close to counter the spread of coronavirus?

A coffee chain in China has outdone Starbucks — at least in terms of its physical footprint — and has done so by using data to drive an uncommonly rapid expansion. Is the Luckin data-driven model for expansion one that you could see being widely adopted by U.S. retailers or restaurants?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an update earlier this week on the spread of the coronavirus from Wuhan, China to the U.S. and other countries. What would you say is the current state of readiness among American retailers and restaurant operators for an outbreak of the coronavirus or other easily spread viruses?

A joint study found that Starbucks’ stores experienced a decline in traffic since shifting from a customer-only to an open bathroom policy in May 2018. Is an open, customer-only or no-access bathroom policy the best option for stores and food establishments?

Starbucks last week committed to investing in several initiatives focused on the mental health and wellness of its associates.  Are most store managers adequately prepared to identify and refer associates who may be facing mental health challenges?

In recent years, Starbucks added online ordering with in-store pickup and home delivery to try to manage its line problem. How important a feature will mobile order and in-store pickup become for foodservice operators over the next decade?

Starbucks started referring to itself as a “third place” away from home or the office some time ago. Caribou Coffee, however, is now launching a concept that caters exclusively to those who don’t want to stick around. How would you rate the pros and cons of a no-seating coffee concept such as Caribou Cabins?

A recent survey set out to find which brand mascots stuck in consumers’ memories most strongly, and discovered some interesting trends in the process. Is it more or less important for a brand or retailer to have a mascot in 2019 than it was in the past?

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?

Starbucks may be fashionable in the U.S., but in Japan the coffee retailer is taking steps into the actual world of fashion with a line of apparel and accessories. Why would or wouldn’t having designer apparel and home goods collections available at the Roastery concept work in the U.S. market?

Starbucks is planning a launch of a cloud-based platform providing end-to-end solutions focused on improving the customer experience in restaurants. Will cloud-based platform elevate Starbucks beyond being just a coffee company?

What is experiential retail? It’s when the retailer gives you a distraction in hopes you’ll find it compelling enough to want to hang out. Are many experiential retail efforts more likely to drive one-and-done rather than recurring visits?

It stands to reason that Annie Young-Scrivner, who became CEO of Godiva Chocolatier in 2017, will use the knowledge she gained at Starbucks as her current company embarks on a major expansion of its café concept. Do Godiva Cafés have the potential to disrupt the foodservice market in areas where they are located in the U.S.?

Burger King last week introduced a $5.00-a-month coffee subscription service. Does the BK Café Subscription program represent a competitive threat to McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin or others?

Leaders with the vision of Howard Schultz are few and far between in retailing. It’s clear, by his own admission, that Kevin Johnson is no Howard Schultz. Is it cause for concern that Kevin Johnson doesn’t appear to share the same vision for Starbucks as Howard Schultz?

At its investor day on Thursday, Starbucks said that, in a partnership with Uber Eats, the chain will roll out home delivery to nearly one-quarter of company-owned stores in the U.S. by the end of the second quarter. Do consumers want coffee to be delivered to their homes and offices?

Justice is launching an entertainment division called Justice Studios to create graphic novels, video series, music, documentaries and more — content all in line with the brand’s stated values of girl empowerment. How might Justice weave its entertainment products into its brick-and-mortar stores to generate customer interest?

Bill Ackman and his hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital, has accumulated 15.2 million shares (about 1.1 percent of the total) in Starbucks with plans to double that stake over the next three years. Have activist investors been a net positive or negative for the long-term prospects of the companies in which they invest?

AT&T is testing a concept meant to turn its brick-and-mortar outlets into a place for entrepreneurs, remote workers and people just to hang out – whether they’re AT&T customers or not. Do you think The Lounge by AT&T concept can be successful in markets with a strong coffee shop culture?

Starbucks announced plans to have 10,000 “Greener Stores” — all powered by 100 percent renewable energy — by 2025. Do you see green store design and operations eventually becoming as important a priority to consumers as green products?

When you visit the quick-serve drive-thru, the voice taking your order might not be human — if one new startup is successful. Should QSRs be thinking seriously about automating the drive-thru experience with voice assistant technology?

Marking its biggest acquisition ever and first step into retailing, Coca-Cola announced plans to plunk down $5.1 billion to acquire Costa Limited, the third-largest player in coffee retail. What will Coca-Cola bring to the coffee category?

Starbucks is not jumping on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, not just yet. Reports last week that Starbucks is ready to begin accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as payment were a tad premature. Do you see Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies becoming widely used in the consumer marketplace over the next decade?

McDonald’s is offering free fries every Friday for the rest of the year for spending at least $1.00 through its mobile app. How important is it for QSR establishments to encourage mobile ordering and payment?

When Howard Schultz stepped down from his position as CEO of Starbucks in April 2017, many wondered how well the coffee giant would fare without its longtime leader in the role. Now, as it turns out, Mr. Schultz believes Starbucks is in good hands and is stepping down as executive chairman. What will the future hold for Starbucks without Howard Schultz?

Blue Apron’s recently announced partnership with Costco is meant to help the meal kit provider out of a year-over-year slump. But one consultant who spoke with RetailWire saw the Costco deal as a poor move for Blue Apron. Do you agree that an acquisition by Starbucks offers Blue Apron better prospects than a partnership with Costco?

Nestle has obtained the rights to market, sell and distribute Starbucks’ consumer packaged goods and foodservice products around the world for $7.15 billion. Do you see the licensing deal between Nestle and Starbucks as a positive or negative for the companies?

Shake Shack said last week it was ending its test of a cashless location in lower Manhattan following customer complaints. Was being cash-only or kiosk-only likely the bigger drawback for customers at Shake Shack’s Astor Place location?

Earlier this week, Starbucks announced that it would close all 8,000 of its company-operated stores in the U.S. on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct a training session intended to prevent racial discrimination in its stores. Do you see eliminating the type of problem that occurred at Starbucks in Philadelphia being more of a recruitment or training issue?

Starbucks has brought back its popular afternoon happy hour with deals on Frappuccinos and extended the program to more items. The catch: it’s now invite only. How do you assess the changes Starbucks has made to its happy hour program?

In some cities around the U.S., it seems as though the biggest competition any particular Starbucks store faces is another Starbucks down the street. In the future, there may be even more as retail space may soon be cheaper to rent. Do you agree that retail rents are due for a “permanent” drop in the near future?

Known as one of the pioneers in developing rewards cards, Starbucks has partnered with Chase to launch its first co-branded credit card. Do you see the Starbucks Rewards Visa Card helping revive sales for Starbucks?

A Starbucks in Seattle isn’t interested in your cash. In fact, it won’t accept cash should you try to use it as payment for your purchase. Do you think cashless restaurants and stores are going to become ubiquitous in the near future?

Dunkin’ Donuts is continuing along its path to a new look and feel with a new concept store. But is Dunkin’ making a mistake by trying to move upmarket?

In 2017, a growing number of Western retailers decided to go where they can grow. Toys “R” Us, Starbucks and now Walgreens are among retailers expanding their brick-and-mortar and e-commerce presence in China’s booming retail market. What’s the primary hurdle holding U.S. retailers back from expanding into Asia (through physical stores and/or e-commerce)?

Long lines queue up most mornings at Starbucks across the country as people look to get their caffeine boost and perhaps a breakfast sandwich or pastry to go with it. The same cannot be said of the chain’s locations during lunch hour. Now, Starbucks is looking to change that. Is Starbucks finally on the right track with its Mercarto lunch menu?

Starbucks is closing its online e-commerce site that sells coffee, tea, drinkware, syrups, water bottles, brewing accessories and gift sets. Will Starbucks come to regret closing its online store?

When it comes to social issues, Starbucks has positioned itself as one of the more politically progressive chains out there, but that image doesn’t always hold when it comes to the company’s labor relations. What is Starbucks doing right and wrong with its North Star initiative?

On June 2, “National Donut Day” also known as“National Doughnut Day” saw a number of large and smaller doughnut sellers give away free products to customers. Do you see annual national days as a proven marketing tool to reach new and existing customers or are they largely ineffective in achieving those goals?

An unspecified number of Starbucks stores were unable to process payments yesterday due to problems caused by a software update to the chain’s point of sale system. The issue prevented stores from accepting cash payments as well as credit and debit cards. Did Starbucks go far enough in addressing customers inconvenienced by its outage?

Starbucks and Kellogg are among the few brands that have figured out a way to tie their rewards programs to grocery store purchases. Why aren’t more vendor loyalty programs linking to store purchases?

With many municipalities now charging a small fee for plastic bags at stores to reduce their environmental damage, a study finds charging for disposable cups could work the same way. Do you see the clamor to reduce the use of disposable cups reaching the same level as plastic bags?