Will centralized buying make Whole Foods a more formidable competitor? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: Centralized buying does not seem to fit the theme of local sources including farmers, brewers, etc. Stopping the practice of brand reps in-store that allow these smaller players to promote their products also flies in the face of what … Continue reading Whole Foods shifting to centralized buying →

Is Walmart’s plan to give more hours to its permanent staff the right decision? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: Christmas shopping is always stressful no matter where you shop. I am thankful to my wife who does 90 percent of it and still works full time. My biggest complaint is that seasonal workers tend … Continue reading Walmart’s Christmas plans do not include seasonal hires →

Furniture giant IKEA will be launching their “Home Smart” line in April, a new line of tables, lamps and desks that will allow us to charge our wireless devices through the use of the Qi standard for wireless charging. With 80 QI-enabled smartphones on the market today, IKEA’s innovative line seems to be a game … Continue reading Will IKEA’s new furniture be a mobile game changer? →

The growing popularity of off-price stores such as TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack seems to have enticed another major retailer to join the game: Macy’s. Last Tuesday, the department store giant announced that it was looking into creating a chain to compete with these outlets. “Macy’s has, for many years, had a reputation as a … Continue reading Macy’s restructure plans bring news of possible off-price chain →

From Home Depot to Target to Sony, cyber security was a hot topic in 2014. According to IBM, approximately 61 million records were stolen last year alone which unfortunately marks an all-time high. With hackers becoming more sophisticated with the advancement of technology, it is critical for retailers to implement the highest form of security. … Continue reading Retail cyber threat: better and worse →

While our lifestyles have substantially changed over the past few decades, one of the traits of American retailing seems to have stayed — coupon shopping. While the use of coupons have transitioned from cutouts in newspapers to scanning on our phones, bargain hunting seems to remain a priority for many Americans. Zel Bianco, President and … Continue reading Will couponing continue to be a mainstay of retailing? →

United Parcel Services announced its launch of UPS Access Point, a service allowing customers to pick up their packages virtually anywhere, from convenience stores, pharmacies to even dry cleaners. The service is expected to be greatly beneficial for its current as well as potential customers as it eliminates the problem of consumers missing their package … Continue reading Will store pick-up alter the course of home delivery? →

While Buy One Get One (BOGO) has been trending in retail, one retailer decided to raise their white flag in the price battle. Walmart has decided to venture off from their BOGO battle against Publix and has instead, taken a new direction – the Savings Catcher program. The Savings Catcher program asks customers to scan … Continue reading Walmart Savings Catcher or Publix BOGO? →

In a recent article on Retailwire, there was heavy discussion on whether advertisers should stop sponsoring the NFL. With NFL players being closely examined these days due to some incidents of domestic abuse being reported, more and more advertisers seem to be wary of whether they should continue to support these teams. “For those companies … Continue reading Are advertisers ready to sack the NFL? →

Whole Foods has a lower price point than D’Agostino, Fresh Direct, Food Emporium and Gristedes in the Big Apple. Seem absurd? Perhaps, if you’re used to the Whole Foods = Whole Paycheck image. However, if you’re a Manhattanite like us, you can most likely relate. Cheaper isn’t always better, of course, but busting the Whole … Continue reading For low priced groceries, go to Whole Foods →