Wal-Mart Bids to Call Magazine Shots
Wal-Mart’s plan for reconfiguring the magazine distribution channel in its stores adds a new twist to the struggle to reinvent the newsstand system. Does Wal-Mart’s clout with suppliers concern you?
Author: George Anderson
George Anderson has extensive executive-level experience in editorial, marketing and sales in the advertising, retail/wholesale and print, video and digital media industries.
Mr. Anderson has served as the editorial voice of RetailWire since the site's founding in 2002 and has been interviewed by a wide variety of media outlets including the Charlotte Observer, Providence Journal, MarketWatch, NPR, Wall Street Journal Radio and others.
Previously, Mr. Anderson served as president and creative director of the IdeaBeat Creative division of IdeaBeat.com. His duties included creating Online Profit Guides and Company Spotlights recognized as "Best of the Net" by About.com for a blue-chip list of consumer goods manufacturers and technology companies.
Before joining IdeaBeat, Mr. Anderson created a successful sales and marketing communications and custom publishing company called Not Your Average Agency.
Mr. Anderson's experience includes eight years with Progressive Grocer Associates/Maclean Hunter Media, where he held a variety of marketing services and sales management roles. His assignments included work in the company's four divisions including Progressive Grocer, Frozen Food Age, Retail Technology, and Retail Insights (Supermarket Insights and Convenience Store Insights video division.)
Penney Keeps Eckerd for Now
Chief Executive Allen Questrom says J.C. Penney will decide in about two years whether to sell its Eckerd drugstore chain, which faces lawsuits over drug pricing. What is the real story with Eckerd?
Inner-City Grocer Prospers, Eyes Future
A decade ago, Jonathan F. Johnson wasn’t sure the Community Pride chain of four inner-city supermarkets he operated would last a year. Today, Community Pride, among the country’s largest minority-owned businesses, is prospering and growing. Do white guys in ties have the necessary insights to market to people of color and women?
Mystery Shopping Draws Blank on Improvements
Gallup research finds that doing spot-checks in a company’s stores by surveyors posing as shoppers doesn’t work. Is Mystery Shopping a valid tool for evaluating a shopper’s experience and customer service levels of a store?
Fleming Strikes Supply Agreement with Albertson’s
Fleming has reached an agreement with Albertson’s, Inc., to provide procurement and distribution services to Albertson’s stores in two states. What do you make of this agreement? Do you expect to see further deals between wholesalers and the large self-distributing chains in the future?
Kmart Shutters 284 Stores, 22,000 Jobs, Gets $2B
Kmart Corp. will close 13 percent of its stores, cutting cut nearly nine percent of its work force as part of its reorganization under bankruptcy protection. Should publicly traded companies such as Kmart be required to let shareholders know when turn around efforts are not working?
Miller and Allied Toast RTD Joint Venture
Miller Brewing Company and Allied Domecq will launch two beverages, Stolichnaya Citrona and Sauza Diablo. Will the Stolichnaya brand translate into sales success with products that are not made with vodka?
Natrol Launches Stress Complex for Sleepy Consumers
Natrol, Inc. plans to launch Natrol Stress Complex, which helps consumers manage their stress and get a restful night’s sleep, into the $10 million sleep aid category. What strategies/tactics can retailers use to grow sales and profits of sleep aid products?
Winn-Dixie Rewards Customer Loyalty
Winn-Dixie will launch the new Customer Reward Card, the first such reward program of its kind by a major Florida grocer. Has Winn-Dixie turned it around?
Coke Targets Hispanics with U.S. Return of Fanta
After 20 years on the sidelines, Coca-Cola is trying to gain a new foothold for Fanta in the burgeoning Hispanic population in America. Will Coca-Cola be successful with its relaunch of Fanta?