Associates

Articles on associates and employees in the retail industry.

  1. Trends & External Forces

Walmart’s Healthcare Rx:  Higher Wages

The New York Times this morning reports that Walmart said yesterday that “it was increasing the wages for 7,700 of its pharmacists and opticians, as it expands its health business and seeks to retain the workers in a competitive environment. “The retailer said the raise would push the average annual salary of the more than […]
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  1. Channel: Dollar/Value

DG posts higher sales and earnings

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. – Dollar General Corp. today said net sales increased 6.8% in its first quarter. Same-store sales were up 1.6%. Operating profit declined slightly, to $740.9 million, and diluted earnings per share declined 2.9% to $2.34 as the retailer confronted a macroeconomic environment that was “more challenging than expected,” according to Jeff Owen, Dollar […]
3 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Amazon Adopting AI To Automate Warehouse Processes

The Wall Street Journal this morning reports that Amazon is using artificial intelligence (AI) tools “across a dozen of its largest warehouses to screen items for damage before orders are shipped to customers.” According to the story, the technology is expected “to cut the number of damaged items sent out, speed up picking and packing, […]
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  1. Channel: Dollar/Value

Dollar General Workers Push For Safer Working Conditions

While Dollar General is opening stores at an extraordinary pace, at the rate of about 1,000 a year, there seems toi be growing discontent within its workforce. CNN reports this morning that “following repeated violent incidents and federal workplace safety violations at stores, some Dollar General workers and labor advocates are calling for stronger safety […]
2 min read
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  1. Channel: Restaurants

Chick-fil-A’s ‘Culture of Belonging’ Hit For Being Too Woke

Add Chick-fil-A to the list of companies being drawn into the nation’s culture wars. The New York Times reports today – not coincidentally, the beginning of Pride Month – that “Chick-fil-A drew fierce criticism this week from conservatives calling out the fast-food chain for its diversity, equity and inclusion policy and questioning the hiring of […]
3 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Your Views:  Continuing Promises

We’ve spent a lot of time here on MNB talking about the problems – and, I would argue, the continuing promise – of America’s cities, which prompted one MNB reader to write: In a very recent interaction with a woman who said she would not come into downtown Minneapolis, fearing crime, and thus remaining in […]
3 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Content Marketing Strategy Framework: Everything you should know

If your job is somehow related to the Ecommerce field, It is almost impossible to not hear the famous quote : Content is king. Bill Gates We can assume that this quote is the primary pillar of “Content Marketing” popularity in this era. Content marketing is an effective way to reach, engage and convert a […]
12 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Walmart raising pay for pharmacists, opticians

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Walmart today announced it is raising pay for approximately 3,700 pharmacists and 4,000 opticians while also rolling out a new pathway for opticians to grow their careers with industry-recognized training that’s 100% paid for by the company. Walmart pharmacists will now be paid more than $140,000, not including bonuses and incentives, the […]
2 min read
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  1. Retail Operations

Ingka Group boosts Ikea omnichannel credentials as it snaps up supply chain technology provider Made4net

Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group (the largest owner and operator of Ikea stores in 31 countries) has acquired Made4net, a US-based supply chain software solution provider. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It says that the move will increase the capacity needed for a successful end-to-end customer offering, making it […]
2 min read
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  1. Department: Nonfood

At Home Taps Walmart Vet for Top Merchandising Role

At Home has named Jeff Evans as President and Chief Merchandising Officer, effective June 19. Evans will leverage 32 years of industry experience including ecommerce, brand building, product development, sourcing and identifying business opportunities, to help the home décor retailer advance its business. Evans has held senior leadership positions at Walmart for 15 years, most […]
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Wearable safety technology is making workplaces safer

Wearable technology has made waves in health and fitness, enabling everything from more personalised fitness training to doctors monitoring their patients remotely. Now wearable tech is helping to make improvements to workplace safety, with several trends helping to improve safety and reduce serious incidents. Wearable safety devices include a range of products that use tech […]
3 min read
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  1. Associates & Employees

More Than 1,700 Amazon Employees Plan Walkout Today

From the Seattle Times: “More than 1,700 Amazon employees have pledged to walk off the job on Wednesday, demanding more flexibility with remote work and more attention on Amazon’s climate impact. “Of the 1,726 employees who had signed on to participate by Tuesday afternoon, about 830 plan to physically walk out of offices in Amazon’s […]
3 min read
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  1. Corporate Purpose

Bud Light Donates $200,000 to LGBTQ+ Organization

Advertising Age reports that Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Bud Light brand, reeling from a series of public relations missteps that have sent its market share into an even greater decline that it was seeing before, announced a $200,000 donation to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The donation, according to Ad Age, extends “an existing partnership with […]
2 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

A Different Angle On The Mean (?) Streets of American’s Cities

We’ve spent a lot of time here on MNB talking about America’s troubled cities, and the impact that urban issues – especially vandalism and theft – are having on retailers. But in the last couple of days, there have been a number of stories examining the issue from a different point of view. •  The […]
4 min read
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  1. Channel: Restaurants

What’s more Important Food or Technology for Restaurants Today

  At the intersection of meals, menu’s, food sold, and food marketing restaurants are increasingly being pressured by customers to eliminate all pain points that may slow down service or hamper ordering the family’s meal. According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® “if your restaurant looks more like yesterday than […]
3 min read
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  1. Department & Category

Marks and Spencer blasted by elderly customers as it goes cashless in automated cafes

Marks and Spencer has come under fire from disgruntled elderly customers after closing traditional counters in eight digital cafes, including at two of the retailer’s megastores. With orders placed via touchscreens, staff are now focused on making food and drinks rather than taking orders, with customers alerted when their order is ready. Elderly shoppers have […]
2 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Doing damage control: How to deal with a reputation crisis

According to actor Keith David, “publicity is publicity, controversy and all that, it’s all good”. Most marketers and business leaders would probably disagree.  A lot of us like hearing about controversy, but we don’t necessarily want to be associated with it. If the news blacklisted our favorite clothing line, chances are we’d be less keen […]
6 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Scaling your business: when, why, and how?

Scaling up a business is both an exhilarating and challenging phase in the life of an entrepreneur. It’s an opportunity to expand your reach, serve more customers, and increase profitability. However, it comes with its share of challenges and responsibilities. Today, we’ll be answering some key questions about scaling your business, focusing on readiness, branding, […]
3 min read
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  1. Department: Beverage

Worth Reading:  High End Wine Retailer Brought Low By Crisis

The New York Times over the weekend had a fascinating story about Sherry-Lehmann, the iconic wine retailer, written by columnist James B. Stewart, that focuses on how far the business has fallen. An excerpt: “One of the world’s most prolific sellers of high-end wines, Sherry-Lehmann introduced Americans to Dom Pérignon Champagne in 1947 and the […]
2 min read
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  1. Channel: Mass

Your Views:  Why The Content Guy Is Going To Hell

I’m conflicted about continuing this conversation, mostly because I do not want to go down a rabbit hole from which there is no escape, and I do not want to take MNB in a direction that undermines its purpose. But, this started as a business story, and so I’m going to take the risk. Last […]
4 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

MNB Welcomes A New Charter Sponsor:  11Ants

MNB has initiated a new sponsorship tier that reflects what for us is a new approach to the topic – I’ve decided that I really want to forge sustained relationships with companies that have value propositions and missions in which I believe and that, in turn, believe in MNB’s value proposition and mission.  My goal […]
2 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

ChatGPT is Now Guiding Consumer Decisions; What Does it Mean for Brands?

Among the hallmarks of direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce is the ability to learn, directly from the consumer, what helped guide their purchase decision. Over the years, such insights have given DTC brands the jump on many up-and-coming marketing channels, including podcasts, Snapchat, TikTok … and at this moment, ChatGPT. Within the past few months, consumer responses […]
3 min read
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  1. Associates & Employees

Payroll employment rises by 253,000 in April; unemployment rate changes little at 3.4%

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 253,000 in April, and the unemployment rate changed little at 3.4 percent. Employment continued to trend up in professional and business services, health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance.
< 1 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Push Notification Fatigue

Braze recently reported that the average smartphone user receives over 40 push notifications a day.  The Atlantic pegged the daily number of push notifications even higher, between 50 and 80. Here’s how Atlantic staff writer Amanda Mull categorized push notifications last week: “Push notifications may indeed be the smartphone’s defining feature. They are, if nothing […]
2 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Three pillars of The New Automation Mindset, for an age when anyone can automate anything with AI

I’m excited to announce a new book coming out this summer, The New Automation Mindset: The Leadership Blueprint For An Age When Anyone Can Automate Anything With AI. Written by Vijay Tella, CEO of Workato, with contributions by Massimo Pezzini and myself, it offers a framework for harnessing automation as an engine of innovation, not […]
8 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

ChatGPT’s competitors and the unique differences between AI chatbots

Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT, it has become synonymous with this new generation of advanced chatbots and the generative text AI that made them possible. However, there are many developers competing in this field who offer different and more unique AI experiences. Let’s talk about these underrated AI projects and the importance of different chatbot experiences […]
3 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Bouclair deploys PredictSpring to connect store and online experiences for employees and customers

Bouclair, a home furnishings and décor brand operating across Canada, has completed the integration of PredictSpring’s PoS into all of its retail locations. “For over 50 years, we have been committed to offering our customers not only stylish and affordable home furnishings, but also a personalised and enjoyable shopping experience,” says Peter Goldberg, President and […]
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  1. Channel: Drug

Walgreens to lay off 10% of its corporate staff

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens said this week that it will cut more than 500 jobs, most of them at the company’s Deerfield headquarters and its Chicago office. About 504 employees — or about 10% of the corporate staff — will be laid off, Walgreens spokesman Marty Maloney confirmed, adding that the cuts will not impact […]
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Trending Topics

Editor’s Choice

  1. Shopper & Customer
  2. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  3. Media & Marketing
  4. Shopper & Customer
  5. Trends & External Forces

Instacart piloting ‘favorite shopper’ feature

The feature, which allows consumers to single out their preferred in-store shoppers to fulfill future orders, will roll out in the coming weeks among select users. Dive Brief: Instacart said in a Tuesday blog it will pilot a feature for customers that lets them select their favorite personal shoppers to fulfill online orders. Select customers and personal shoppers […]
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Courtesy of Albertsons
  1. Stores & Formats
  2. Merchandising
  3. Owned Brands (Private Label)
  4. Stores & Formats

Albertsons gives its Signature private brands a single identity

The grocer is bringing its Signature Farms, Signature Care and Signature Cafe private labels under its flagship Signature Select brand and has launched a new advertising campaign to promote the expanded product line. Dive Brief: Albertsons announced Wednesday it is bringing its Signature Farms, Signature Care and Signature Cafe private label products under its flagship Signature Select […]
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  1. Associates & Employees
  2. Department: Nonfood
  3. Technology & Innovation
  4. Trends & External Forces
  5. Associates & Employees

More Than 1,700 Amazon Employees Plan Walkout Today

From the Seattle Times: “More than 1,700 Amazon employees have pledged to walk off the job on Wednesday, demanding more flexibility with remote work and more attention on Amazon’s climate impact. “Of the 1,726 employees who had signed on to participate by Tuesday afternoon, about 830 plan to physically walk out of offices in Amazon’s […]
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  1. Channel: Delivery
  2. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  3. Department & Category
  4. Department: Food
  5. Data & Insights
  6. Technology & Innovation

Instacart begins nationwide rollout of ChatGPT search tool

The tool allows customers to find products as well as recipes, food prep tips and more using “natural language” instead of keyword-based searches. Dive Brief: Instacart announced Wednesday it has begun the rollout of an artificial intelligence powered search tool that leverages ChatGPT called Ask Instacart. The company said the new capability will scale to all […]
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