We like healthy debate–turning a considerate eye to the way things are done. Retail and eCommerce has been fraught with all sorts of inefficiencies and outright bad ideas over the years. So, we can appreciate anyone who’s willing to challenge some of those ideas.
RetailWire has time and again published interested articles, framed as discussion questions, to get interesting debates started. Some of the most valuable insight comes from the comments thread, where the real debate ensues. This week we’re reading a few of these articles, and we think you should, too.
Retail Trade Shows
The Value of Trade Shows to the Retail Industry
This article takes a critical look at the value of trade shows to the retailer. It’s certainly a go-to industry strategy (did you come see us ay IRCE 2015?), but many people just do it to do it.
One great quote from the comment thread:
Wake up in 2016 and learn how to really leverage trade shows and drop the shows that are not brand builders or strong knowledge gainers for attendees.
– Tom Redd, Global Vice President, Strategic Communications, SAP Global Retail Business Unit
Buy Online Pick Up In Store
Should stores charge for BOPIS?
This debate was started when a U.K retailer announced that free BOPIS service was unsustainable and that they would begin charging a small fee for it.
Some think the profit isn’t the point:
While you can go broke rationalizing selling at a loss, Amazon and others do not seem to be too focused on near-term profitability, rather long-term market share. Maybe they are on to something.
– Mark Heckman, Principal, Mark Heckman Consulting
RFID
Shoe Store Publicly Dumps RFID
For a long time RFID was the darling technology in supply chain management. It came with a lot of promises, some successes, and some disappointments. The debate is reopened as a mid-sized shoe retailer in Florida made a public statement that they were abandoning the technology.
Not all of the commenters are ready to jump off the RFID bandwagon, though:
It’s hard to condemn RFID over this situation. It seems like good intentions were thwarted with oversights and possibly poor project management.
– Ken Lonyai, Digital Innovation Strategist, co-founder, ScreenPlay InterActive
Join The Conversation