What sets Amazon apart from other retailers is how much it charges for space on its toy page over the holidays. A narrow strip across the top of the web page costs $500,000 per month in November and December, up ...
Read More
What company in the tabletop industry has invested in a tech company? I don't know of one. I believe our industry should be doing what UPS does and investing in tech--and I'll explain why.
As today's WSJ shares, UPS has a venture capital arm and it has this because smart businesses know that most businesses are becoming more like: software businesses. Therefore, businesses have to ‘buy’ that know-how by investing in a tech company. UPS knows that it doesn't have the internal tech know-how to...
Read More
June 16, 2019
June 16, 2019
Business lunch: how retail is changing :)
Old retail is 80% analog. This consists of: the physical store, staff, customer service training, etc. What you’d expect walking into a Saks or Macy's. And it's about 20% tech: computers, cash registers (POS systems), mobile shopping, Google ranking, apps, hiring social influencers, Instagram, etc.
Today, the retailers that are well positioned, growing, and 'hot' carry the opposite equation: they're 20% analog and 80% tech.
There’s a massive retail and in particular shipping war going right before our eyes: Walmart and Amazon are trying to out deliver each other. Why? Quick delivery + Massive selection = Retail Success in 2019 and beyond
I believe the future of retail is about big selection and quick shipping / pick up. The ‘interface’ to manage these features will be a shopper’s mobile phone. To support this belief, I designed our new software to meet this trend. You’ll notice in our new 2.0 Bridge software that ...
Read More
May 14, 2019
May 14, 2019
Following in Amazon’s footsteps, Walmart is offering next day shipping in some cities on about 200k items. Orders must be over $35.
View Post
March 5, 2019
March 5, 2019
Private label keeps growing for the big box stores: Walmart is launching a new one that includes dinnerware. This will put pressure on indie brands because it shrinks their market and margins. Walmart will likely promote its own brand in gift registries over the indie brand.
View Post
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
We post a good deal about Walmart and Amazon. What’s to be made of retailers like Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman’s? It appears they’re just struggling to stay alive, shares today’s WSJ. Macy’s net sales fell 2.5% and it’s even considering new uses for its flagship Herald Square location. One may ask: is a sale of the flagship in the works like what Lord & Taylor did? Macy's could sell the location and lease it back.
View Post
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
Walmart continues to immitate Amazon by seeking to grow its advertising platform, shares today’s WSJ.
I think I read that Amazon currently accounts for 10% or ad dollars spent and is expected to become a top 3 player soon, along with Google and Facebook.
View Post
February 26, 2019
February 26, 2019
National retailers are investing in tech startups in order to push back against Amazon. One such alliance is Home Depot’s investment in Roadie, an Uber like delivery service that utilizes people’s own cars for delivering goods. Walmart and Delta also use the service.
As you may recall, there is a war going on between the camps of Walmart, Home Depot and the like vs Amazon.
“Wayfair reports it spent $196 each on its 3.6 million new customers this year. Customer acquisition costs have an adverse effect on the company's bottom line.” ~ CNBC
I looked up the above information after reading in today’s WSJ that Wayfair reported an increase in active users to 15 million—but it’s still spending amost $200 to acquire each new customer. Wayfair, which has negative cash flow (debt?) of $137m, appears to be open to exiting its predicament by selling itself to a larger retail ...
Read More
February 20, 2019
February 20, 2019
Walmart sales increased 4% last quarter—but that wasn’t easy. Walmart has been spending heavily on its operations and website.
There is a ‘Cold War’ going on between Walmart and Amazon, and seeing Amazon stumble in NYC and Walmart increase sales helps keep the equilibrium.
View Post
January 31, 2019
January 31, 2019
There is a 'Cold War' battle going on between Amazon and Walmart, if you haven't noticed. Both are building platforms that soak up every other business and its products into their respective ecosystems. Walmart is late to the game, but its been on a binge recently buying Art.com and now its partnered with a sport apparel company Fanatics.
As a reference, Facebook, Instagram, and Bridge are all platforms.
What platforms are you on? What is your strategy to chart this battle? Are you a Walmart or...
Read More
January 5, 2019
January 5, 2019
Amazon may start a bank—and become a competitor to JP Morgan. Imagine if Macy’s or Walmart owned a bank. When a customer makes a large purchase, would that make them more appealing than your business? Financing an engagement ring?
Amazon already offers third-party backed credit cards (Chase), cash cards, and a digital wallet, and it’s exploring adding financial integration with its Alexa platform.
+ Online holiday sales are projected to grow 15% this season. + Macy’s reports shoppers buy 25% more when picking items up in-store. + Stores are increasingly offering in-store pickup for online purchases. More stores are offeirng checkout via mobile handheld scanners. + Target and Amazon are offering free shipping on many items. Walmart is offering free expediated shipping on orders over $35. Aka: order a new set of dinner plates and fast shipping is free. That’s a compelling offer to counter ...
Read More
July 17, 2018
July 17, 2018
Walmart and Microsoft team up to stop Amazon reports today’s WSJ.
View Post
June 1, 2018
June 1, 2018
What is Walmart doing to beat Amazon? It's investing in its website. What changes is Walmart making on its website?
See what L2 Research shares about Walmart's new website redesign:
Walmart is becoming more of a tech company—like Amazon. What is your business’s strategy? In general, the future of retail belongs to tech. Main Street business that don’t have good tech are gonna struggle and likely fail.
Today’s WSJ shares that Walmart is hedging retail by getting involved in health care and that Trump is confronting Amazon about taxes and US tax payer-subsidized package delivery.
View Post
The author argues that Walmart is not focusing on customers.
My thoughts on it:
I think that Walmart does know some people’s purchases--and thereby its customers--via its loyalty card program. Now in terms of how this relates to Amazon, could any purchases made in store at Walmart with a loyalty card show up online in one’s account? Sure, ...
Read More