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Retail Paradox Weekly
Retail News Analysis by RSR Research
April 22, 2008
Oracle Update: The Titanic Turns
By Nikki Baird, Managing Partner
4/22/2008
I have never been on an aircraft carrier, but I have seen videos of what it looks like when one turns – turns hard. From the perspective of someone on board, it starts out very subtly – you are hardly aware that the turn is happening. Then all of a sudden, things start sliding. You become aware of a distinct tilt.
The tilt is on at Oracle. The question is, are they able to turn hard enough and fast enough... More
The Economy: How Can You Be Sad Sitting on an Orange Couch?
By Brian Kilcourse, Managing Partner
4/22/2008
Conventional wisdom has it that in uncertain times, consumers hold off on discretionary purchases until the better times (hopefully) ahead. One would be hard pressed to find something more easily put off than a new couch or a dining room set, and yet at least to one industry insider, consumers (and the retailers that service them) aren’t going to let tight money prevent them from cheering up the home. In fact, tight money might be the reason they’re doing it.
Karen Olsen is Vice President of Marketing for Merchandise Mart Properties... More
Cleaning Up After Yourself: Where Does Responsibility Lie?
By Paula Rosenblum, Partner
4/22/2008
I’m a firm believer in taking responsibility for both successes and failures and fixing what you break. It has been so my entire career. Before I became a researcher /analyst, I spent more than 20 years in retail IT, about 8 of them as a CIO. Over the length of my career, I earned a 2-part reputation.
Part 1 – “The Innovator”: I won’t get into this now, but like my partner
Brian Kilcourse , I brought a lot of “firsts” into my companies. Part 2 – “The Cleaner”: If you had an IT mess... More
Runners Unite: Social Networking Comes to Sporting Goods Retail
By Steve Rowen, Partner
4/22/2008
Runners are a different breed. They wake early to get their morning “high,” not from a cup of coffee, but from a grueling and repetitive exertion of physical energy on still-dark streets in rain and cold. They take to the road after work to burn off the troubles of the day. And they, even more so than most cultural segments, like to share their accomplishments and experiences with one another.
One small cooperative of retailers understands how different runners truly are, and is looking to capitalize... More
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