I love technology. I guess it is fair to say that it runs in my blood. As someone that formerly worked in the jet engine and rocket propulsion industry it is a natural affection. Within retail, technology can take various forms from the simplest of applications used by retailers for […]

Just before NRF, Sean told us about a situation where the best laid plans of a national retailer’s management and IT department caused havoc for a very well intentioned customer with a very large transaction. This week, I’d like to tell you about another situation involving a national retailer, a […]

For the millions (and sometimes billions) of dollars that retailers spend on their IT systems, it is both amusing and painful to see those systems thwart sales. If the primary purpose of any business is to make money, shouldn’t all systems work together to make that as easy as possible? […]

In early October, Wegmans Food Markets opened its first full-service, in-store restaurant. Honestly, it’s about time! For several reasons, having a well appointed, table-service restaurant is a no-brainer for grocers looking to grow and expand. Margin Pressure As stated in IHL’s “2009 IT and the North American Supermarket” market study, […]

According to Census data, in the past 12 months the US retail economy has seen a 9.4% decline compared to the previous 12 months. While there have been some bright spots, store closings, bankruptcies and layoffs have been the things most prevalent in the news. Most retailers currently have a […]

On a recent date night my wife and I went for a rare shopping trip to the mall without our kids. For those of you without kids, it is hard to convey the excitement we felt when we were able browse unhurried by pleas to go to Build-A-Bear, the food […]

For most of the people who have been suffering the bitter cold winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the more moderate and almost spring-like temperatures this past week were a welcome relief. To even break out the shorts in some locations brought pure joy. It also brought joy to retailers. Ironically, […]

The title says it all, so without any further intro… Number 5 – We Just Can’t Understand Why Sales Are Down So Much In This Store. I have been a fan of a certain shoe manufacturer’s products for more than a quarter of a century. Their shoes are of excellent […]

On Wednesday, it was revealed that John P. Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, had used the pseudonym Rahodeb to post messages on Yahoo message boards. In these postings Mr. Mackey both praised Whole Foods and questioned the performance, value, and quality of rival Wild Oats. It has been widely reported […]

Technology for the sake of technology may be appealing on an emotional front, but without an ultimate impact to the bottom line, it is a waste of shareholder value. Wall Street continues to develop a keen awareness of retail technologies that deliver on making retailers more profitable. From the Street’s […]