Brick and Mortar

Articles on B&M stores.

  1. Trends & External Forces
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 […]
  1. Channel: Dollar/Value
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 […]
  1. Data & Insights
Walmart is adopting new measures designed to reduce the amount of packaging waste associated with online orders. This includes moving from plastic to recyclable paper mailers, right-sizing cardboard box packaging, giving customers the option to consolidate shipping on e-commerce orders, opting out of single-use plastic bags for online pickup orders and last mile delivery efficiencies […]
  1. Channel: Dollar/Value
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 […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
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 […]
  1. Stores & Formats
Retailers and lawmakers have to develop new approaches if they are serious about taking a bite out of organized retail crime rings. Going after and heavily punishing boosters, the people who steal merchandise from stores, has proven ineffective and the INFORM Consumers Act does not require online marketplaces to certify that goods sold on their… […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Walmart has announced new measures designed to make its online orders more sustainable. Recognizing that its customers have hundreds of millions of packages shipped from Walmart each year, the retailer said Thursday that it is making it easier for customers to reduce plastic waste, for example. Moving forward, nearly all orders shipped […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
Six Flags is set to become the first theme park operator to pilot Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, with the aim of reducing wait times for customers wanting to purchase food and drinks. It will soft launch the tech at its theme park in New Jersey on 1st June. A similar roll-out is planned later […]
  1. Retail Operations
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 […]
  1. Department: Nonfood
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 […]
  1. Data & Insights
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 […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Crystal Anderson got her start in events during her time at Tough Mudder and went on to help produce some of the most frequently cited experiential activations in the retail industry: The Museum of Ice Cream and 29Rooms. These “selfie factories” were consumers’ “first foray into people stepping out from behind their phones and being […]
  1. Stores & Formats
Convenience stores and supermarkets should see an increase in sales in June with warmer weather boosting business, according to NIQ (formerly Nielsen). The consumer intelligence company made its prediction as its figures revealed that UK supermarkets enjoyed a 12.3% increase in takings for the four weeks to May 20 compared to the same period last […]
  1. Media & Marketing
Expectations are never-ending in the retail industry. They’re also ever-changing — even more so in light of recent events. People have different mindsets when entering a brick-and-mortar store. Some people are certainly cautious about in-person interactions, so they’re often in the store for a specific reason. Others might have just stopped in out of happenstance, […]
  1. Data & Insights
If one were to dig deep enough into the Library of Congress’s old audiovisual vaults, one would find a wealth of content from the 1950s and 60s about the ‘home,’ ‘city’ or even ‘highways’ of the future. For all of the myriad social problems of that period, it was also a period of intense economic […]
  1. Channel: Dollar/Value
Aldi UK has partnered with recycling technology company Polytag. It will trial the deployment of Polytag’s invisible UV tags onto its packaging, starting from July. With the company’s unique readers installed at the Biffa Teeside recycling centre, Aldi will get insights on the quantity of its packaging that is actually recycled and be able to […]
  1. Department & Category
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 […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
As the economic climate becomes increasingly volatile, more focus has been placed on the consumer. Customers are what keep brands afloat and their behavior can make or break a business. This has always been true, but as we continue to face more uncertainty, many companies are starting to shift their strategies to place more of […]
  1. Data & Insights
It’s been more than a decade since the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business model forever changed the world of consumer brands. With an iconic cohort of industry disruptors, including Warby Parker, Casper, and Harry’s, the model paved the way for an explosion of businesses built upon direct and authentic relationships with their customers and, in some cases, […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Earlier this month, Kroger said that it would eliminate its use of print advertising and coupons because of declining newspaper circulation and many newspapers eliminating their print editions.  Kroger said that it the ads for Kroger stores and subsidiaries, including Ralphs, Fred Meyer and King Soopers, would shift online, with printed copies available in stores. […]
  1. CPG: Beverage
Amazon is continuing to expand the reach of its Just Walk Out (JWO) cashierless checkout tech with a particular focus on events-based venues. Two Six Flags theme parks will feature new cashierless stores where fans can buy park essentials without waiting in line, and at the Coors Field stadium in Colorado, fans can now purchase […]
  1. Channel: Mass
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 […]
  1. Data & Insights
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 […]
  1. Department & Category
  Regular readers of this blog know that as restaurants continue to evolve in foodservice the most likely space and best fit just might be the Grocerant Niche. That space is wide open it is not dominated by Restaurants, Convenience Stores, Grocery Stores, Drug Stores, or Dollar stores according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® […]
  1. Data & Insights
Have you ever compared your online shopping experiences to your in-store experiences? Physical and digital retail experiences should both be inspirational and filled with entertainment and emotion. But that doesn’t change the fact that when it comes to engaging customers and eliciting sales, physical retail has a “leg up” on e-commerce because real-world shopping experiences […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food continues to garner customers, drive top-line sales, and bottom-line profits. Regular readers of this blog have been reading about the continued success that Casey’s General Stores have had ever since the first test experiment they had with pizza.  What a 15-year run it has been. According to […]
  1. Department & Category
  Time and time again restaurants, convenience stores, service delis, and all fresh food retailers need to remember that consumers continue to have a growing top-of-mind awareness of all things sustainable.  Within the grocerant niche the ‘halo’ of better-for-you is a driving factor in the path to purchase according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at […]
  1. Department: Food
  When you think about selling a meal or meal component, have you continued to say no way, not at all, or I tried it and it did not work for me? Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® wants you to rethink your position. Ask yourself why us and why now? […]

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Editor’s Choice

  1. Shopper & Customer
  2. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  3. Media & Marketing
  4. Shopper & Customer
  5. Trends & External Forces
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 […]
  1. Stores & Formats
  2. Merchandising
  3. Owned Brands (Private Label)
  4. Stores & Formats
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 […]
  1. Associates & Employees
  2. Department: Nonfood
  3. Technology & Innovation
  4. Trends & External Forces
  5. Associates & Employees
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 […]
  1. Channel: Delivery
  2. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  3. Department & Category
  4. Department: Food
  5. Data & Insights
  6. Technology & Innovation
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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