This week, the death of one high-profile grocery chain, and the ascendancy of another, tells us a lot about what Americans …
supermarket
Strange Bedfellows: 4 Companies Surprisingly Getting into the Hotel Business
What do a toy company, a supermarket, a low-cost furniture chain, and a movie studio have in common? They’re all trying to extend their brands—perhaps in embarrassingly awkward fashion—into the hotel business.
Why Americans Are Cutting Coupons Out of Their Lives
Did American consumers suddenly get rich, or just get sick of using coupons? Not likely. Did the number of coupons issued shrink last year? No again. Then why did the number of redeemed coupons decrease dramatically?
Guys and Dollars: How Groceries, Barbies, Fashion and More Are Being Marketed to Men
Word has gotten out that men do more of the household shopping nowadays. Accordingly, we’re being asked to shop in “man aisles” in supermarkets, and we’re even being subjected to an awful new made-up term: “mansumer.”
The Secret Life of a Government Inflation Agent
The next time you’re at the mall, the supermarket, or perhaps even a used car lot, you might run across a shopper meticulously taking note of the prices of everything from Red Delicious apples to women’s undergarments. This …
Right Business, Right Time: Struggling Economy Means Boom Times for Discount Grocer Aldi
The newest grocery store in Manhattan has less than half the selection of a typical supermarket, and features brands you’ve never heard of. And the grocery chain in question, Aldi, is enjoying a remarkable success streak, with …
Groceries or Mobile Phone? Plenty of Consumers Spend More on the Latter
Based on all the excitement over Apple’s new iPhone 5, there’s no denying plenty of consumers just can’t get enough of their gadgets. But do some people care more about their mobile phones than they do about food—you know, the …
Will Customers Love or Hate ‘Personalized’ Grocery Prices?
The concept of “personalized” grocery store deals strikes some consumers as inherently unfair. How would you feel, after all, if you were charged more than the person in front of you at checkout for the same exact item? Few …
Fire Up the Barbecue? Drought Will Bring on Cheaper Meat Prices for a Spell
This summer’s historic drought is bound to yield rising prices at the supermarket. The awful harvest of corn and soybeans is causing their prices to soar, and since they’re utilized in so many other foods—cereal, soda, feed for …
Sorry Kids, We’re Sold Out: Ice Cream Trucks Face Shortage of Frozen Favorites
The familiar jingle emanating from the ice cream truck might seem like little more than a tease this summer. Ask for a Chocolate Éclair, Toasted Almond, Snow Cone, or many other frozen treats at an ice cream truck, and there’s a …
The War Against Couponers: Double Coupons Going Way of the Dinosaur
As of April 1, yet another major supermarket chain has put an end to double coupons, in which a store matches a manufacturer coupon, doubling the discount. The move comes amid a larger strategic war against “extreme couponing” …
Maybe Shoppers Don’t Want ‘Fair and Square’ Prices After All
At some level, all shoppers know that a game is being played in every aisle of every store. Original prices, weekly promotions, clearance racks, coupons, Black Friday, blue-light specials, flash sales, oddly specific prices …
