Do you see food concepts — farmers markets, food halls, grocery — helping to revive traffic at the mall? Would bringing food culture be a minor or major step in increasing the social relevance of malls? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: Part of the foodie culture is experiencing the atmosphere of the actual place, … Continue reading Will foodie culture save the mall?
Are retailers underestimating radio advertising’s ability to target specific audiences? Do you see the medium regaining popularity among retail advertisers in the years to come? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: In a word, yes, they are. Radio is a medium that I place under the category of “as much as things have changed, some … Continue reading Are retailers deaf to radio advertising’s potential?
Do separate pickup-only facilities make the most sense for grocery? Does fulfilling grocery pickup through stores face too many execution issues? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: I’ve seen the one in Bentonville and although it that city is the headquarters for Walmart, the wide variety of venues showcase how this concept can work in … Continue reading Walmart expands test of pickup-only grocery store concept
Will Hershey’s roving insights trailer result in more effective category management execution at the retailers it visits? What do you see as the pros and cons to the MCIC project for Hershey? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: Agree with many of the comments but you will never please everyone with this type of tactic. … Continue reading Hershey delivers category insights directly to retailers via tractor trailer
Are grocers underplaying the plant-based foods trend in their assortments? Will buyers eventually catch up or are they facing challenges incorporating diverse selections of meat and dairy substitutes into their mix to appeal to flexitarians? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: Grocers should not underestimate this trend. I’ve just returned from the Natural Products Expo … Continue reading Are grocers shortchanging flexitarians?
Do you agree that retail is “not talking about” the value and potential benefits of capturing in-store customer data? Has in-store data become accessible enough to support targeting and personalization efforts both in-store and online? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: The main reason for this has been that retailers have not been willing to … Continue reading Gap CEO says retailers not turning in-store data into action
What factors are driving the current boom and bust realities of retail real estate in markets across the U.S.? Can you offer solutions for reducing vacancy rates in places such as Manhattan? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: I agree with Bob that there are many factors to this dilemma, but greed is certainly the … Continue reading A tale of two retail real estate markets
Will selling “high-quality, lightly used product at lower price points” likely impact REI’s sale of full-price items and overall margins? Do you see opportunities for REI to provide greater value to consumers and supporting sustainability goals through REI Used? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: It confirms an idea I’ve been kicking around that most … Continue reading REI finds an audience for used gear
How seriously should CPGs take the idea of creating distinct voice presences to help them stand on Alexa and other voice assistants? How should brands go about “finding their voice”? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: Ad agencies have seen their reason for being questioned in the face of advertising becoming more about data science … Continue reading Do CPGs need their own voice for Alexa?
What kind of brick-and-mortar strategy, if any, makes the most sense for Google to support its hardware lineup? What lessons should Google take from pushes by Apple and Amazon into physical retail? Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments: This will continue to confirm the strategy that in most cases, you need a physical retail location … Continue reading Is the time ripe for Google stores?
