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Retail Paradox Weekly
Retail News Analysis by RSR Research
February 24, 2009
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Consumer Privacy & Data Security at CVS: A Cautionary Tale
By Brian Kilcourse, Managing Partner
2/24/2009
In RSR’s new study on data security and privacy published just last week (Customer Data Security -Beyond Compliance: The Merging of Privacy and Security), one of our case study interviewees brought up an aspect of customer data security and privacy that doesn’t get discussed much. “What do you do with all of those pieces of paper?,” he rhetorically asked. “How well do you dispose of them? Be it a private label credit card request, credit card slips, or employment application - store management in each of your stores can mishandle that paper – and suddenly you discover that you’ve had a reporter doing a dumpster dive, and you’re on the local news."
If that seems a little over-dramatic, we offer this cautionary tale from last week’s news... More
On Supply Chains, Customer Service, and General Incompetence
By Paula Rosenblum, Managing Partner
2/24/2009
When Dell announced deals with Wal-mart, Staples, Carrefour and other retailers in late 2007 to sell its computers through those third parties in addition to its direct business I was befuddled. Dell was the original “mass customization” king. Having seen the company’s distribution center in Austin – really something of a marvel actually, and recognized a supply chain that was designed to deliver products in “each’s” or otherwise small batches, I wondered how the company would make the shift from mass customization to mass production. Would one channel suffer at the expense of another?
I had a somewhat personal stake in... More
Not Buying the Price War
By Nikki Baird, Managing Partner
2/24/2009
I'm not a financial analyst, and frankly I don't want the job - especially lately. When I look at vendor or retailer viability, I tend to look more at the products and less at the financials. But just as much as my way can be too narrow, just looking at the financials can sometimes lead you astray too. This month, Citigroup took an interesting stand: predicting a price war among grocery retailers, as they claw after a smaller pie of consumer demand.
While I do see all retailers being more aggressive with promotions, I don't see... More
Copyright © 2009 RSR Research LLC. RSR is a tradename of Retail Systems Research LLC. All Rights Reserved
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