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Big issues loom over industry

Big issues loom over industry

The convention season began in earnest earlier this month with the NACDS Regional Chain Conference. This event, traditionally one of the more anticipated on the NACDS meetings calendar, is noted for setting the tone for the many meetings, conferences and trade shows that follow throughout the year. Devoid of the country’s largest retailers, and the

A look at the trade show circuit

A look at the trade show circuit

Where will mass retailing executives be spending their out-of-office time in 2017? Surprisingly, fewer viable choices are immediately apparent, though the obvious ones — the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Food Marketing Institute — still stand out. On the face of it, the broad selection of recent years has diminished, in part

These retail execs stand out

These retail execs stand out

Who are the outstanding retail executives of the year? In years past, this determination would be a difficult task, because so many capable executives would be in contention. This year, not so much — not, at least, if individual success is measured by the success of the company. As we’ve pointed out, 2016 will not

Anderson, NACDS merit praise

Anderson, NACDS merit praise

Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, was recognized as association executive of the year last month by a group of association and business executives that annually designates one of its own to receive this recognition. So it was that, at a lunch in Washington, D.C., to

Holiday selling season preview

Holiday selling season preview

The autumn holiday selling season is upon us — and clues are scarce as to which mass retailers will emerge in the best shape. Indeed, very little data has surfaced as to which products look to dominate, or which retailers appear most confident that the upcoming Christmas selling season will turn out well. The soon-to-be-waged

Digital retail a game changer

Digital retail a game changer

The struggles between brick-and-mortar retailers and their online offspring continue. More precisely, the competition shows no signs of abating — or reaching any conclusion. If anything, it has gathered momentum, with the insertion of Amazon as the target of brick-and-mortar retailers seeking to build a viable online ­business. Perhaps enough has been said and written

New crop of merchants rises

New crop of merchants rises

A new generation of faces has quietly assumed leadership positions within the mass retailing community, a generation that has come to dominate the buying and merchandising ranks. In the main, these merchants are largely unknown outside their companies, though they are quickly gaining recognition and respect. With the NACDS Total Store Expo event coming to