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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Microsoft Gives Developers Peak Into Windows Code
Microsoft has announced that it will begin to comply with an antitrust settlement by making public what was, up till now, proprietary computer code for its Windows operating system. How…
Analyst Concerned About Future of Department Stores
Salomon Smith Barney analyst Deborah Weinswig is taking a cautious approach to department store stocks as mass merchants and discounters continue to grab greater share of the retail market, giving…
Mr. Buffett Goes to Bentonville
Warren Buffett understands that it takes investments to make (keep) a business. In the case of keeping Wal-Mart as an insurance customer, it would seem that a $125 million loan…
P&G and Kellogg’s: Perfect DSD Together?
Procter & Gamble may be interested in distributing Pringles through Kellogg’s direct store delivery system. Does P&G need DSD to substantially grow its Pringles business or is this more about…
New Head Elf Looks to Bite into Nabisco’s Cookie Sales
Paul Lustig, the new president and CEO of Keebler has as job number one revitalizing the company’s cookie and cracker business. What does Keebler need to do to compete more…
Costco Cuts Off Vendor Following Fax Receipt
Costco has ended its 18-year business relationship with Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods. Costco reportedly received a fax that offered better pricing of Michael Angelo products to another retailer. Does Robinson-Patman…
Bottled Water Fortifies Retail Sales
The New York Times reports that, “Dozens of brands of fortified water are appearing on grocers’ shelves, attracting health-conscious consumers with various combinations of herbs, vitamins and minerals.” Do retailers…
Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement Gets Scientific Nod
A dietary supplement called Basikol may lower total cholesterol by about 15 percent. Are retailers providing adequate internal on-going education to pharmacists and associates on health-related developments and products?
Fruits and Veggies Fortify Smokers Against Disease
New research finds that eating lots of fruit and vegetables can cut the risk of smoking-related diseases. Are grocery retailers clearly defining themselves as whole health “providers” in the eyes…
Busy Moms Buy Furniture Online
Online furniture and appliance buying grew at a 100-percent rate in the second quarter of 2002, based on data gathered from ComScore Networks’s worldwide panel of 1.5 million online consumers…
Wal-Mart Tests Dollar Store Within a Store
Wal-Mart Stores is testing an in-store “dollar store” in which existing merchandise that sells for a dollar or less is grouped together in a separate section. What do you think…
Wal-Mart Participates in National KidsDay
Wal-Mart reports that it is joining forces with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to celebrate National KidsDay. Does participation in events such as National KidsDay increase consumer loyalty and…
Too Many Choices Spoil the Sale
Columbia University’s Dr. Sheena S. Iyengar and Stanford’s Dr. Mark R. Lepper found that providing too many options, especially when the differences are small, can overwhelm customers, and decrease sales…
Low-Rise Jeans Raise Retailers’ Hopes
Retailers are counting on low-rise jeans as a “must-have” item for men to help reverse the dismal sales trend reported by youth-oriented retailers on the cusp of the back-to-school shopping…
Senate Rejects Drug Plan for Seniors
The Senate rejected a last-ditch effort to break a five-year deadlock on new prescription drug coverage for older Americans. Is a Medicare prescription drug plan needed? What elements should be…
Consumers Prefer Buying Fresh in Supermarkets
A newly released study by Information Resources reports that while supercenters gained roughly five million new customers in 2001, consumers prefer to purchase meat and produce from the grocery store…
Fleming Mulls Its Future as a Retailer
Although Fleming, reports a second quarter profit after a loss a year earlier, the company says it is “carefully and thoughtfully evaluating” strategic alternatives related to its low-priced food stores…
Kmart Gets Back-to-School Jitters
Back-to-school marks the first potentially significant shopping milestone for Kmart since it filed for bankruptcy. What does Kmart need to do to set itself apart from other retailers selling…
Bush Signs Legislation to Curb Business Fraud
President Bush signed legislation aimed at curtailing fraud and corruption in corporate America to help restore the public’s confidence in the economy. Will the bill signed into law by…
Households Shrink, Singles Proliferate
During the past 30 years, the demographic of singles of all ages has grown. Forty percent or 82 million adults are unmarried in the U.S. today, resulting in the greatest…
Winn-Dixie Plunks Down Early $100-Million Repayment
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., paid down $100 million of its bank notes early from excess free cash flow from operations. Has Winn-Dixie turned itself around?
