Target’s fourth quarter was not as strong as Brian Cornell and company would have liked, but the retailer did post its twenty-third straight quarterly same-store sales gains. He pointed to Target’s continuing investments in private brands, store-within-a-store partnerships and customer loyalty as differentiating factors for the chain.

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?

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?

Crate & Barrel Holdings last week revealed that Sebastian Brauer, who oversees product design, development and visual merchandising for the home goods chain, will take on additional responsibility. His new title is SVP for product design, development and metaverse. Which c-suite function should guide metaverse strategy for retailers?

Retail toy sales got off to a hot start in 2021. How well the category performs, however, particularly during the critical Christmas season, remains to be seen. Are you expecting toy unit sales to outperform last year’s Christmas selling season or will supply chain issues and high prices limit growth?

Netflix will launch an online store to sell limited-edition apparel, lifestyle merchandise and collectibles from its extensive catalog of shows and movies. The site marks the world’s largest streaming service’s first direct-to-consumer retail push. What do you think of the overall merchandising opportunity around Netflix’s ever-expanding library of content?

Target reached an agreement to introduce in-store Disney shops. The partnership also includes a Disney-themed online microsite and a Target store opening inside Walt Disney World. Do you see the hook-up between Target and Disney as an equal win for both companies?

Disney’s theme parks offer unique, immersive experiences, but that hasn’t kept Disney’s retail stores from experiencing the same pains as most other mall-based retailers. To address its challenges, the company is redesigning the Disney Store with a tech window into the Magic Kingdom. Has Disney created an effective bridge between its theme parks and retail outlets?

Imagine, if you will, a new retail concept born of two existing brands — not a merger, but a product of the two, one which takes the best of each to form a new kind of retail entity. What would the perfect Macy’s + Disney baby look like?

Walt Disney was recently awarded a patent that describes identifying and tracking its visitors based on their footwear in order to provide customers with customized experiences. Does tracking customers by footwear offer advantages over smartphones and other recognition methods?

While movie tie-ins often include toys, Halloween costumes and video games, “Cinderella” appears to be a rare movie that extends its merchandising across a wide range of fashion categories. Is “Cinderella” a unique case or do you expect to see an increase in big movie tie-opportunities for retailers?

The Mall Of America, already one of the largest malls in the U.S. at 4.2 million square feet, plans to add up to another 5.6 million square feet to make it even more of a tourist attraction, particularly for high-end spenders. Do you see parallels between Mall of America’s “attraction” strategy and that of Disney?

By this time, consumers in the U.S. know how the system works. A new blockbuster is advertised online and on the television and you either go to see it in a movie theater or you wait until it’s out of the theaters to rent or buy the movie. What changes do you expect to see in how films are released to the home market in the years to come?

In her presentation at this week’s eTail West event, Disney Stores’ VP of ecommerce and marketing, Elissa Margolis, noted that, even though the Disney Store division represents a smaller piece of the corporate pie, its customers view shopping in its stores as the next best thing to visiting one of its theme parks. What lessons does Disney Store’s omni-channel push offer for other retailers?

The eye-popping statistics that permeated last week’s eTail West showed that growth in mobile has exceeded just about everyone’s expectations. Yet many companies are only now discovering its unique challenges. What pain points still need to be resolved before mobile truly takes off as a shopping tool?

Moving deeper into personal data collection, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is introducing a MagicBand tool, rubber bracelets that enable Disney to track guest behavior in minute detail. Will shoppers forsake privacy concerns for a more interactive and personalized shopping experience?

At Walt Disney’s theme parks, often the way employees deliver their smiles, attentive assistance and perky attitude is by faking it, according to a recent study from the University of Central Florida. How important is the ability to “fake it” to successful retail selling?

Sound levels in busy restaurants and shopping malls can be as high as 70-110 decibels, the equivalent of a busy construction site. And it is a vicious upward spiral of sound with loudness feeding loudness creating customer discomfort and physical and mental stress on staff. Do you believe there is a noise problem at retail?

Heritage vs. innovations vs. relevance. This is something that almost all retailers will face at one time or another. This is true whether the heritage comes from being a multi-generation family business, a focused corporation or a successful entrepreneur. How should conflicts over “heritage vs. innovations vs. relevance” be resolved?

“Retail is a daunting undertaking” said Stephen Finney, SVP, global retail operations, Disney Store, at a Super Session at the NRF convention. The company found out first-hand watching Disney Stores languish, then wind up in bankruptcy court in 2008. What do you think of Disney Stores’ ongoing reinvention efforts?

Walt Disney, already praised for its crowd control expertise at its theme parks, is taking the managing of wait times to another level, because video games and smartphones are feeding “a cultural shift toward impatience.” What lessons does Disney offer to retailers in managing crowds and line waits?

The Walt Disney Co. last week opened the first of its 300 planned revamped Disney Stores in Montebello, CA. Inspired by Apple Inc.’s design team, the store features multimedia technology and interactive storytelling with a goal of keeping shoppers entertained for 30 minutes. What interactive elements at Disney’s revamped stores appear most promising?

The Walt Disney Company, with an assist from Steve Jobs and Apple’s retail operations group, is undertaking a major remodeling effort at its 340 Disney Store locations in the U.S. and Europe. Is Disney on the right track with the Imagination Park concept?

Walt Disney Co. said last week it wants to return to running its Disney stores in North America. Re-owning the stores “can be an important extension of the ‘Disney’ brand” and would serve as a launching pad for the company’s growing number of creative franchises, according to Disney. Do you think it’s a good idea for Walt Disney to take back its North American retail business?

Walt Disney Co. is branching out into furniture, linens and even wine as part of an effort to sell more upscale products. The latest efforts are new food products are being launched at Costco based on Disney’s new animated film Ratatouille, a tale of a rat who wants to become a French chef. What are some challenges for Disney in building an upscale presence? How do you think it will affect its mass business?

The Walt Disney Company, buoyed by the percentage of orders for goods being made on the company’s web site this past holiday season, has decided to can its catalog and bring its consumer direct business totally online. Disney’s move takes place when a number of web-based businesses including Amazon.com and eBay have made the decision in recent years to mail catalogs to consumers. What is your reaction to Disney’s decision to discontinue its catalog in favor of its web-based business?

The parent of the successful Children’s Place chain announced yesterday it has reached an agreement to buy Disney Stores. Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. hopes to close the deal to acquire 313 North American retail stores from Walt Disney Co. by November. What is your reaction to this deal?

The Children’s Place retail chain has confirmed it is in discussions to buy the 325-unit Disney Store operation from Walt Disney. What do you see as the opportunities/drawbacks of The Children’s Place making a deal for Disney Store?

Walt Disney Co. is testing disposable, self-destructing videos that will allow consumers to bring home a movie and then toss it in the trash rather than returning it to a video rental store. What are your thoughts on Disney’s E-ZD test?

On the heels of selling its ownership of the Major League Baseball champion Anaheim Angels, Walt Disney Co. is now reported to be considering closing more stores or perhaps even selling part of its retail store business. What should Disney do with its retail store business?

Top executives of American companies say that the terrorist attacks of last September 11th have affected their views on business and life. How have our personal lives and work been changed?