Carol Spieckerman

Ralph Lauren is the quintessential lifestyle brand(s) and the company has enjoyed an enviable run of success through retail's roughest waters. The company has done a fantastic job of mixing tradition with modernity (although I still see Burberry as setting the standard in that regard), and its carefully-curated brand...

The operative word is "shopping" (not to be confused with purchasing). To me, shopping includes navigating the store environment, accessing ratings, reviews, product specs, and coupons, checking online or in-store availability, etc. Mobile would seem to play a growing role in the shopping realm across multiple categories. Mobile transactions...

I give Tesco props for pulling the program rather than forcing it through, particularly as its share of the UK grocery market hits a seven-year low. Remember when Walmart announced that carbon footprint labeling of some kind would be the culmination of its phased sustainability initiative? Ms. Fleming would...

Although diminutive formats are getting a lot of attention these days, I've written and spoken quite a bit lately about the new reasons why bulkier boxes are enjoying a selective resurgence. Some of them, like Walgreens' Manhattan mega-store are what we call "proto-ships," a cross between a flagship and...

The downsizing of big boxes and the slow-but-steady expiration of long-term mall leases presents a big opportunity for malls to reinvent space. When it was announced that Bloomingdale's was departing the Mall of America, I posited that sub-dividing the space would make sense (especially since the list of potential...

Interesting timing as just yesterday, I checked out a Amazon reviews for a new book written by a to-remain-nameless failed executive touting business advice. Review upon review gave the book five stars -- each one following a similar effusive pattern and each prominently mentioning the author's name -- a...

Brand shops? Thumbs up. Finally, a move to differentiate the brandapalooza that is Penney's. I still think a bit of pruning is in order.

Cleaning up promotions? Thumbs up. Speaking of brand, when Penney's upscale brand launches such as American Living hit the floor at 25% off, the message...

Target's fundamental assumption, that vendors control retail pricing (or promotions), makes this stop gap tactic flawed from the get-go. Pushing responsibility down to vendors may feel like a solution but the realities are too complex and, without clear standards, enforcement will be arbitrary and confrontational.

Why not go the...

The ham-handed and reckless handling of Ms. Deen's announcements are putting a spotlight on the darker realities of endorsements. A little spacing, a touch of finesse, and she would be a hero. Don't shoot the messenger.

Penney's isn't the only one. Walmart returned to its EDLP roots and Lowe's announced a similar no-games pricing strategy recently as well. None are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, of course. The fact is that, in an omni-channel world of radical price transparency and hyper-localization,...