It was only a matter of time.
Groupon fired its charismatic CEO Andrew Mason on Thursday after a tumultuous tenure pockmarked by accounting gaffes, sophomoric stunts and a whopping 77% decline in the company’s share price. …
Retail
Macy’s CEO: ‘Shocked … Sick to My Stomach’ After Betrayal by Former ‘Friend’ Martha Stewart
The Macy’s-JCPenney-Martha Stewart squabble has quickly gotten personal, even reminiscent of high school—with accusations of backstabbing, betrayal, and months of deception among executives who once considered themselves “friends.”
Office Depot/OfficeMax Merger: Another Nail in the Coffin of Traditional Retail?
The strong start to 2013′s M&A market continued yesterday, with Office Depot announcing it would acquire its rival OfficeMax in a $1.17 billion deal.
Best Buy Swears Shoppers Don’t Have to Bother Showrooming Anymore
With the launch of a new price-matching guarantee, electronics giant Best Buy promises “the end of showrooming”.
Why Consumers Just Don’t Feel the Love for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a pale, pink shadow of its former self. Once associated with throbbing red passion and romance, today it’s more likely to elicit a sense of obligation, dread or apathy.
Why Some Brand Extensions Are Brilliant and Others Are Just Awkward
When done correctly, a brand extension can be a huge hit, with the only complaint among consumers amounting to Why didn’t they do that sooner? Sometimes, though, the launch of a new product featuring a well-known brand is such a mismatch the reaction is more like What were they thinking?
Thanks to Colin Kaepernick, 49ers Won Super Bowl for Team Merchandise Sales
The San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick doesn’t play or look like a prototypical quarterback along the lines of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. And the fact that Kaepernick is so different has been great for merchandise sales.
5 Top Trends for 2013 Super Bowl Commercials
The cost of advertising in the Super Bowl is rising, running an average of $4 million for a 30-second spot—up from $3.5 million last year and just $42,000 back in 1967. To justify the expense, advertisers aim to present fans with something more than just another entertaining but ultimately forgettable commercial.
JCPenney Brings Back Sales, but What’s the Deal with Those ‘Suggested’ Prices?
A year ago, JCPenney promised an end to “fake prices” and the usual retailer mind games played to make customers think they’re getting a deal. Now that the ambitious attempt to wean customers off endless discounting and markdowns …
Is There a Future for Same-Day Delivery? How About Online Grocery Shopping?
For the time being, brick-and-mortar retailers don’t seem to have to worry too much about two of the most hyped, potentially “game changing” options in e-commerce.
The Sleep Industry: Why We’re Paying Big Bucks for Something That’s Free
You Probably Spent 13 Hours on Hold Last Year
Add this factoid to the many others concerning the poor state of customer service, right alongside the one about how we collectively lose $38 billion annually waiting around for the cable guy to show up.
