Shoppers believe grocers are making 14 times more profit than they actually are and also believe food-at-home inflation is about two times higher than reality, according to a new dunnhumby analysis. Are grocers in a “precarious position with their brand perception” in the face of rampant food inflation?

Hy-Vee has suspended its employee discount program after discovering a significant increase in the number of people using it that did not share the same household or even the same city. Is it common for retail employees to misuse store discount perks?

Neiman Marcus’s CEO recently made a statement about the type of customer that the luxury department store operator wants to attract. Some sales staff believe he is putting out the wrong vibe, which might end up hurting the retailer. What do you see as the value of customers outside of the top two percent for luxury retailers like Neiman Marcus?

Walmart is known for its everyday low prices on products across the store, but a recent offer of a carton of 18 eggs for $2 at a store in Kentucky raises questions about how this particular location was able to offer a price so low. How much are Walmart and other large retailers able to influence pricing on commodities such as eggs?

On January 19, Bloomberg published an article entitled, “Fake Meat Was Supposed to Save the World. It Became Just Another Fad.” On January 22, Impossible Foods took out a full-page ad in The New York Times and posted a blog entry vigorously defending plant-based meat. Do you applaud Impossible Foods’ response to the Bloomberg article or was it unnecessary and counterproductive?

In an open letter last week, McDonald’s USA president Joe Erlinger blasted proposed California legislation related to conditions for fast food workers as stemming “almost entirely at the behest of organized labor’s firm grip on many of the state’s lawmakers.”  Have public perceptions changed to the point where retailers need to be more open to working with unions?

A 7-Eleven in Austin, TX, is blasting opera music nonstop outside the store as a deterrent against loiters and panhandlers. The owner said he has faced issues since a homeless encampment developed next to the location. What do you think of the use of loud, classical music to deter loitering outside stores?

CVS and Walgreens have both begun the certification process to sell abortion pills under a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation that will allow the medication to be offered by retail pharmacies for the first time. Not unsurprisingly, the backlash has begun. Are CVS and Walgreens making the right business decision to pursue certification to sell abortion pills?

Hudson’s Bay Company has bid for a gaming license to install a high-end casino on the top three floors of the famed Saks Fifth Avenue flagship in Manhattan. What do you think of the prospects for adding a casino atop Saks Fifth Avenue’s Manhattan flagship?

A newly recognized practice, “green hushing,” finds brands deliberately downplaying, underreporting or keeping silent about their emissions and carbon-offsetting targets. Do you see more benefits than drawbacks in companies toning down or not openly discussing their green targets?

Baristas at over 100 Starbucks stores across the country have called a one-day strike for today, one of the chain’s busiest days of the year (AKA Red Cup Day), in response to the coffee giant’s reprisals against union organizers and for its refusal to bargain on a labor deal for its members. What do you expect to come out of the one-day strike being called by members of Starbucks Workers United?

Ulta Beauty faced boycott threats last week after featuring a star trans influencer in a video. An episode of “The Beauty Of…” podcast featured a TikTok star being interviewed by a gender-fluid hairdresser, about ‘the good, the bad and the silly moments that come with finding girlhood.’ How will Ulta’s and Sephora’s support of the trans community affect their businesses?

Adidas yesterday ended its partnership with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, following a series of antisemitic remarks he has made recently in multiple forums. Will the Adidas brand be negatively affected by what some saw as a a slow response to Ye’s antisemitic comments?

With inflation driving grocery prices sky-high over the last year, the Canadian government is stepping in to determine whether or not grocers have been gouging. Do you think U.S. grocers will come under pressure similar to what is taking place in Canada should food inflation continue to rise?

Fast-fashion giant Shein is the most downloaded retail app in the U.S. despite operating a business model that critics claim is helping to push the Earth towards environmental calamity. Will Shein’s new resale platform mute its critics?

CVS is slashing prices on its menstrual products and working to eliminate sales tax on such items across states as part of a broader push against the “pink tax,” a term referring to the premium women tend to pay versus men for personal health goods. What do you think of CVS’s moves to reduce prices on menstrual and other personal products?

Victoria’s Secret’s new campaign, “Undefinable,” builds on last year’s rebrand and marks a further step from its controversial 2014 campaign, “The Perfect Body.” What further steps might be necessary for Victoria’s Secret to overcome its heritage and embrace inclusivity and female empowerment?

Fast Retailing, mother company of Uniqlo, is bringing the fast fashion retailer’s faster, cheaper sibling brand to the U.S. with a new store in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. Will negative sentiment surrounding fast fashion impact how the GU brand is received in the U.S.?

A new best-selling book from journalists at The New York Times, “McKinsey Comes To Town,” documents decades of scandalous behavior by the consultancy, raising questions to some about the legitimacy of the consulting industry and whether regulation is required. Have the scandals at McKinsey and other larger consulting firms in any way impacted the retail consulting world?

Dove and Wendy’s in Canada have both launched campaigns against ageism in support of a beloved Canadian news anchor who was relieved of her duties, allegedly for letting her hair go gray.  Do you see Dove and Wendy’s recent campaigns around ageism as timely, opportunistic or risky?

Barnes & Noble’s CEO James Daunt has defended a new buying policy that some book industry insiders charge only leads to the chain stocking new releases of hardcovers from best-selling authors. What do you think of the moves by Barnes & Noble to focus on best-selling hardcovers and otherwise focus on paperback sales?

Kroger, Giant Eagle and Acme Fresh Market have applied for licenses to install sports gaming kiosks at Ohio locations as the state gets set to legalize sports betting at the start of 2023. Do you see adding sports gaming kiosks as an acceptable extension of lottery sales and a promising foot traffic driver for stores?

Traditionally, chief marketing officers have oversight over promotions to get products out, but not much influence on initial pricing as products come in. Should marketing play a larger role in setting initial pricing, particularly during inflationary times?

In a tweet Tuesday, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, a Canadian celebrity money expert, called for a boycott of Loblaws, encouraging followers to “join in sending a message to the Loblaws group that you do NOT appreciate their profiting and calling it ‘inflation.’” How would you define profiteering in the current inflationary climate and are certain grocers and food manufacturers guilty?

An uproar ensued last week after fans of Bruce Springsteen found some tickets to his first tour in six years fetching prices in the range of $4,000 to $5,000 due to Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” model. What lessons does the fuss over Bruce Springsteen’s ticket pricing offer retailers and brands around the use of dynamic pricing?

Major League Baseball last week revealed it is moving ahead with plans to place advertising on uniforms for the 2023 season, leaving the National Football League the last remaining major American sports league holdout. Is the opportunity to advertise on MLB uniforms more likely to be a home run or strikeout for advertisers?

Walgreens has a public perception issue to deal with after recent encounters with store staff led customers to go public with the ill treatment they received in the chain’s stores. Does Walgreens need to come up with another response other than citing its company policy in instances where associate’s acts of conscience result in unhappy customers?

Amazon.com yesterday filed lawsuits against the administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups that it says recruited people to post fake reviews on its site in exchange for money or free products. Is the public’s perception of the validity of reviews on Amazon’s site affected by legal action it takes to find fraudsters?

According to a new survey, half of U.S. consumers have some level of interest in eco-labels to guide their fashion purchases, including 13.1 percent who are “very interested.” What do you think of the consumer appeal of eco-labels and the challenges in developing and implementing them?

A recent exposé on fast-fashion retailer H&M alleges that the company’s environmental promise is undermined by greenwashing. What can other chains with an environmental/sustainable promise learn from what H&M is now dealing with?

Ben & Jerry’s has filed a lawsuit against Unilever, after its parent company last week reached a deal to sell the distribution rights to the brand in Israel to a local licensee. Will Ben & Jerry’s brand independence be diminished if Unilever’s sale to AQP goes through?

Shein has become the most downloaded app in America, according to a watchdog group. But now the Chinese fast-fashion giant has gotten on the wrong side of thredUP. Do you see a role in retail marketing for companies to compare and contrast their practices with rivals based on environmental, social and governance grounds?

Businesses believe they are much more trusted than they actually are by both consumers and employees because executives are misreading what moves the needle on trust, according to a new survey. What do you think builds trust in companies among consumers and employees?

T-shirts, flags, decorations and party favors have all become even more widely available this year to celebrate Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday only last year. There has been some backlash to the efforts, as well. Where, if at all, do you see the retail marketing opportunity around Juneteenth?

Starbucks may end its open bathroom policy as the challenges its stores face dealing with the mental health crisis now outweigh the risks of racial bias. Should Starbucks shift from an open-access bathroom policy to one limiting or prohibiting access for non-customers?

Social holidays have increasingly become a revenue stream for many retailers, capitalized on with branded merchandise. These assortments and corporate stances have not been without controversy. What impact do you think increased diversification of sexual and gender orientation will have on the retail industry?

Old Navy, last August, made a promise to women that it would offer all the items in its line in sizes 0 to 30 and XS to 4X and that it would not charge more for larger sizes. The retailer’s pledge of inclusivity was laudable. The executional reality, however, is that sales performance suffered. What do you think has gone wrong with Old Navy’s BODEQUALITY program?

Fans poured their hearts out on social media upon hearing the news that Apple planned to discontinue its last remaining iPod, the iPod Touch. Should Apple have found a way to keep the iPod going?

James Cromwell, the Oscar-nominated actor, has a problem with Starbucks over its policy of upcharging for non-dairy milk options, and demonstrated it by gluing his hand to a counter as part of a PETA protest. Do objections by celebrities increase the likelihood that Starbucks will end the upcharge for non-dairy beverages in its coffee drinks?

With no sign of inflation abating, manufacturers have started to shrink package sizes while keeping prices the same — and customers are starting to notice. Is it a good move for CPGs to reduce the amount of product in packages rather than raising prices at this point in time?

Hy-Vee in full-page ads last week in several newspapers announced that it will ask up to 500 corporate-level employees to switch to retail jobs at its 285 stores as it battles macroeconomic pressures. What do you think of Hy-Vee’s decision to publish an advertorial disclosing the details behind its restructuring?

Since last week’s release, “White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch,” has consistently ranked as the top movie on Netlix’s platform. The chain’s current management continues to hammer home the message that “we’ve evolved.” Will the popularity of the documentary be a net negative for the retailer?

Amy’s Kitchen, the 35-year-old organic/vegan/vegetarian-oriented consumer foods producer, has worker treatment accusations to deal with. How does a company/brand such as Amy’s Kitchen repair its reputation after allegations are made that threaten to undermine its brand positioning?

Amazon in mid-March canceled plans to open a four-story warehouse in Churchill, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, after local residents complained about the potential for excessive pollution and traffic. Will local opposition be a minor or major hurdle towards building the warehousing and infrastructure necessary to support e-commerce’s growth?

Dave Wendland’s journey to gaining recognition as a thought leader did not begin by accident, nor did it occur overnight. What advice would you have for someone seeking to establish themselves as a thought leader within the retail industry?

The term “consumer” is reportedly facing some backlash as over-consumption takes the blame for many environmental issues, according to a new article. Should brands and retailers stop using the word “consumer” or be more careful about how it is used?

In its own #MeToo moment, CVS on Friday said it fired several employees, including executives, following an internal investigation into how the company handled sexual harassment complaints. How confident are you that #MeToo and related movements have had a positive impact on workplace behavior?

McDonald’s and Starbucks have announced a suspension of operations in Russia following that country’s unprovoked attack on neighboring Ukraine that has resulted in thousands killed and the largest refugee crisis to hit Europe since the second world war. Will retailers and brands that continue operating in Russia lose sales in Western nations as a result?

Barnes & Noble has added a page on its website and small sections to some stores featuring “Banned And Challenged Books,” or books that have faced censorship. What do you think of Barnes & Noble’s move to market and merchandise books that are facing or have faced censorship?

Victoria’s Secret is launching a new online-only private brand in April called Happy Nation. The brand will feature bras, panties and comfortable clothing for pre-teen girls. Is Victoria’s Secret on solid footing to recapture share of the lingerie category with its inclusive marketing approach?