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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: In what ways, if any, have you seen consumers change how they use retail therapy since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus? Do you expect the practice of buying things to feel better to increase, decrease or remain the same over the next six months? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : We are not going out to restaurants, bars, music or theater events, which in NYC can be Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Will bookstores in the U.S. experience renewed interest when they reopen, similar to what happened in the New Zealand market, and for the same reasons? What should bookstores do to prepare and make themselves more successful in the post-COVID-19 world? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : I am a news and politics junkie and have now added all of the mini whitepapers and reports on what to do Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Will Dom’s Market & Kitchen have any advantages starting its grocery concept from scratch? How much do you think pandemic-era planning will inform the long-term characteristics of the new stores? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : Yes, he will have quite an advantage for the following reasons: 1.) Having the experience he has had in previous businesses and more specifically testing all of the experiential ideas, he had Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Should retailers perform temperature checks on associates and customers before they enter stores? Does the testing of customers pose any more or less of a challenge versus employees? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : Yes,by all means they should do whatever is necessary to stop the madness! We may never get things going if we, as Americans do what what we did this weekend. What the heck were people thinking? Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What changes do you expect under the “new normal” of retail operations at food retailers? What change do you hope COVID-19 brings operationally to food grocery? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : One change that I hope sticks around is that the situation has all of us showing gratitude and respect to essential workers in-store and throughout the supply chain. As Warren says, “Without them we are screwed.” Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Are concerns about Amazon’s motivation for developing face shields at-cost for frontline healthcare workers valid or overblown? Do you think that other large retailers are likely to follow Amazon’s lead in developing their own private label personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and/or the general public? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : You know what? Let’s worry about that once things are under control. Right now, our frontline Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: How can farmers’ markets better position themselves to allay customer fears during this time? Should traditional grocers consider outside operations during the pandemic and might they remain in operation after the threat has passed? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : My daughter and son-in-law live in Brooklyn and they have been ordering a box that is put together by vendors at the farmers’ market where they pick what Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Has curbside pickup become a bigger opportunity amid the pandemic or do you see it as a temporary solution for most retailers? What hurdles may the expansion of curbside pickup face? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : I do think curbside pickup is here to stay. It will mean that many retailers will quickly need to figure out how to ease the congestion of cars that will certainly Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: How likely are Fanatics, Walmart and others to gain a business benefit as a result of their participation in the All-In Challenge? Are there any other current cause-related efforts by retailers that you think are noteworthy? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : Hey, a great idea can come from anywhere. Why not this? Even those that do not get a deal on Shark Tank benefit from the exposure. Read more…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Should stores require, recommend or forgo policies regarding wearing masks inside stores amid the pandemic? How should shoppers that do not follow in-store social distancing guidelines established by authorities or businesses be managed? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments, featured on RetailWire’s Braintrust : I agree with Ryan. It’s really pretty simple. Retailers, even those that are in close proximity to a beach, require customers to wear shoes don’t they? What the heck Read more…