Walmart’s Produce 2.0 Plan

Walmart’s Produce 2.0 Plan

December 9, 2019
Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.

Walmart is making plans to renovate its produce department with wider aisles, low-profile displays, new signage, and segmented organic offerings.

Walmart will consider the change a success if shoppers add produce to their basket while shopping in other departments, essentially making Walmart a one-stop shop for consumers.

Video Spotlight: Walmart to redesign produce section

This post is based on the Produce Retailer article, Produce 2.0 ‘very important move in the right direction’ for Walmart, by Ashley Nickle, November 26, 2019, and the YouTube video Walmart to redesign produce section, by Newschannel 9 WSYR Syracuse, November 21, 2019. Image source: Shutterstock/Iakov Filimonov.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is Walmart investing in its produce business?

Guidance: Walmart wants to position itself as a complete one-stop retailer that customers will think of as a place to buy everything including produce.

2. Is Walmart’s Produce 2.0 a strategic operational decision?  Explain.

Guidance: Produce 2.0 is a strategic operational decision because it enables Walmart to compete better by raising its reputation as a non-traditional grocer and providing customers with a better one-stop shopping experience.

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Straight to the Moon, Adidas

Straight to the Moon, Adidas

December 8, 2019
David Little, Ph.D.

Adidas is partnering with the International Space Station to perform product testing in a microgravity environment to improve soccer ball and shoe design. Sustainability is also being studied to account for reuse of every gram of material.

Adidas hopes to learn how to improve sustainable manufacturing as a result of this partnership.

Video Spotlight:

This post is based on the CNN article, Adidas is partnering with the International Space Station to test products in space, by Allen Kim, November 5, 2019, and the YouTube videos in the Video Spotlight. Image source: NASA.

Discussion Questions:

1. Jeff Bezos has a vision of manufacturing on the Moon, given the possibilities noted in the article.  How does Adidas’ research with the ISS position the company for future growth via a Moon-based manufacturing facility?

Guidance: Adidas clothing and footwear could be supplied to the Bezos Moon facility.  In addition, all of the private firms with space manufacturing ambitions could be supplied with Adidas gear.  This question is aimed at getting students to recognize that space manufacturing could be a Continue reading →

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Organized Retail Crime at Home Depot

Organized Retail Crime at Home Depot

December 6, 2019
Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.

Crime rings targeting retail stores have become well organized.

The stolen goods quickly change hands through a network of criminals and often end up being sold online with little traceability. Fueled by the opioid epidemic, the problem has been growing steadily, causing serious shrinkage in retailers’ inventories. Home Depot and other retailers have increased their crime prevention efforts and are working with law enforcement to protect their bottom line and honest shoppers.

Video Spotlight: Fighting Organized Retail Crime and Sting Operations

This post is based on the CNBC.com article, Inside Home Depot’s Efforts to Stop a Growing Theft Problem at its Stores, by C. Reagan and J. Schlesinger, November 22, 2019, and the YouTube video, Behind the Scenes of Home Depot’s Operation to Take Down Professional Shoplifters, by CNBC Television, November 22, 2019. Image source: Â© SIBSA Digital Pvt. Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is shrinkage and how does it occur? Why is the type of shrinkage featured in the article particularly worrisome?

Guidance: Shrinkage means that the retailer has less inventory than what is shown in accounting records. Theft by customers or employees, damage, defective items, loss of items, Continue reading →

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