March 6, 2017 by David Pinto
David Pinto, Target, Walmart
2017, Issue 03-06-2017, Issues, Opinion
Walmart appears to be recovering from the doldrums that surrounded it for the past two years. New, younger, revitalized management, a course correction that successfully abandoned a set of policies and procedures that never captured the hearts and minds of Walmart shoppers, and a return to the basics that had long guided Walmart customers have
February 20, 2017 by David Pinto
David Pinto, NACDS Regional Chain Conference
2017, Issue 02-20-2017, Issues, Opinion
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
January 30, 2017 by David Pinto
David Pinto, Food Marketing Institute, NACDS, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, trade show
2017, Issue 01-30-2017, Issues, Opinion
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
December 19, 2016 by David Pinto
David Pinto, mass market retailers
2016, Issue 12-19-2016, Issues, Opinion
As 2017 is about to begin, the mass market retailing community confronts many more questions than answers and faces many difficult decisions in the months ahead. New faces, new formats, new merchandising approaches — all appear in short supply as the industry attempts to cope with a disappointing year and move on to a new
November 28, 2016 by David Pinto
David Pinto, Doug McMillon, Helena Foulkes, John Standley, retail executives, Stefano Pessina
2016, Issue 11-28-2016, Issues, Opinion
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
November 14, 2016 by David Pinto
David Pinto, Karen Fondu, L’Oréal, L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline, retiring
2016, Issue 11-14-2016, Issues, Opinion
Karen Fondu is retiring. Those industry people not fortunate enough to have known and worked with her these many years may not realize just how that is a loss not easily recompensed. For she has been, for 37 years, one of the most remarkable people the mass retailing community has produced, and one of the
October 31, 2016 by David Pinto
Christmas, David Pinto, holiday, Thanksgiving
2016, Issue 10-31-2016, Issues, Opinion
The holiday selling season remains, just weeks before it kicks off, a mystery, at least in terms of what’s going to happen. Even now, Christmas merchandise is in the stores, awaiting set-up. Holiday promotions have long since been planned, and advertising is locked in. All that waits is for the customer to choose her preferences.
October 3, 2016 by David Pinto
David Pinto, NACDS, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, president and chief executive officer, Steve Anderson
2016, Issue 10-03-2016, Issues, Opinion
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
September 19, 2016 by David Pinto
autumn holiday selling season, CVS, David Pinto, Target, Walgreens, Walmart
2016, Issue 09-19-2016, Issues, Opinion
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
August 29, 2016 by David Pinto
Amazon, brick-and-mortar, David Pinto, online, Target, Walmart
2016, Issue 08-29-2016, Issues, Opinion
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
August 1, 2016 by David Pinto
David Pinto, mass retailing, NACDS Total Store Expo
2016, Issue 08-1-2016, Issues, Opinion
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
July 11, 2016 by David Pinto
chain drug store business, David Pinto
2016, Issue 07-11-2016, Issues, Opinion
The new year is quickly becoming the old year. In other words, 2016 is halfway done. Depending on your point of view, 2016 has thus far been a year of little consequence or momentous happenings. Let’s take the latter view and assume that the current year has been one of serious and lasting change, especially