RetailWire

2024 Year-End Retail Winners and Losers: What Did US Consumers Value This Year? As the year draws to a close, many analysts — both industry professionals and casual observers — take an opportunity to reflect upon the events that took place in 2024, particularly concerning the retail business. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gPyzFMgu

Papa Johns Should Stick to Making Pizzas, Says CEO Instead of diversifying its menu, Papa Johns should stick to making pizzas that are consistent day in and day out for customers, says the company’s CEO Todd Penegor. Is staying true to a core product the key to long-term success in today’s competitive market? Read more and share your comments below: https://lnkd.in/gDBfugNH

Will Labor Unrest Get Worse Before It Gets Better? Recent strikes over the holiday period show the labor pressures aren’t letting up. Do you see labor activism at retail taking another step forward or retreating in 2025? Read the article & panel discussion here: https://lnkd.in/emUwuExx David Biernbaum "It is likely that economic instability will continue for at least a year, even under Trump, which could exacerbate labor issues in 2025." Paula Rosenblum "Count on it"

These Are All the Restaurants and Retailers Open and Closed on New Year’s Day 2025 New Year’s Day may be a time when those who rang in 2025 a bit too hard may take 24 hours to rest. However, for those who use the day off to run errands and, perhaps, spend some time enjoying a meal with family and friends, here’s a quick list of restaurants and retailers that will be open on the first day of the new year: https://lnkd.in/gRyWRSsz

JOLT Cola: The Beloved ’80s Beverage Is Back Do you remember JOLT Cola? The beloved ’80s beverage is back after partnering with a sports nutrition powerhouse that promises to introduce a new generation to the bold energy carbonated drink. How can brands tap into nostalgia while staying relevant to modern consumers? Read more and share your comments: https://lnkd.in/g_4asRev

Walt Disney World Reveals Free Food Plans for 2025 Walt Disney World is using an old trick to get people to visit its Florida theme park: free food. Guests can opt for a free dining plan when purchasing select 2025 vacation packages. Could strategic perks like these be the key to driving customer engagement and boosting loyalty across industries? Read on and share your comments: https://lnkd.in/gJQcvkiH

Hertz Asking EV Customers to Buy the Vehicle They Just Rented At one time, Hertz wanted to be known as the leader in renting electric vehicles to travelers, ride-share drivers, and anyone else needing a temporary car. How could this blend of rental and retail inspire similar strategies in other industries? Read on and share your comments: https://lnkd.in/gX7QBcKk

Shake Shack, Five Guys Enterprises Named Most Overpriced Fast-Food in America: But Do Customers Care? Shake Shack and Five Guys were named the most overpriced fast-food chains. Can these brands beat back value-oriented criticism? Read the discussion and share your comments below: https://lnkd.in/eJYHsJKq Jeff Sward "I don’t buy anything ‘overpriced’. I do occasionally treat myself to ‘expensive’ items. And yes, Five Guys is expensive, and worth it." Georganne Bender "Overpriced? All fast food is overpriced, but if that’s what you want, or it’s all that’s available, it’s what you’re going to get. Who hasn’t overpaid for something at a hotel gift shop or a store at an airport? It’s all relative." Brad Halverson "'Overpriced' is in the eye of the beholder and is meaningful for a specific target customer base as opposed to everyone, everywhere."

British Airways in Talks With SpaceX and Amazon Over Wi-Fi Deal British Airways’ owner is in talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Amazon about its in-flight Wi-Fi service, and discussions between the companies will continue for the foreseeable future. How can advanced connectivity reshape customer experiences in travel? Read more and share your comments: https://lnkd.in/gEHeW8ru

Is Drone Hysteria an Ominous Sign for Drone Delivery’s Prospects? Mystery sightings of unidentified aircraft on the East Coast have exposed and elevated public anxiety around drones, but experiments around home delivery via drones continue unabated. Which concerns around drones heard lately do you see as the most challenging to overcome? Read the discussion and share your comments below: https://lnkd.in/e7-YNyYy Ananda Chakravarty "Lots of hysteria about drones won’t impact drone delivery or the overall trend. Drone delivery is still at best, experimental." Robert Amster "Recent events, while they do not justify hysteria, do not bode well for delivery by drone." Neil Saunders "The concerns around regular drones relates more to security and privacy than it does of stoking fears of a pending alien invasion."