“Interestingly, Toys ‘R Us announced in late October that it would open FAO Schwarz boutique departments inside nearly 600 of its stores. It is just the latest move by the mega-toy chain to distance itself from Wal-Mart and try to gain an identity that has little to do with price and a lot to do with product. The word is that Toys ‘R Us will stay away from the high-priced products that FAO Schwarz is…”
Publisher's Perspective
“Sometimes common sense must prevail. An article in The New York Times in early September discusses how a division of the Oregon state government is distributing posters and pamphlets to about 4,500 retail stores that sell food, telling them that animals, except those trained to help the disabled, are not…”
“Watch out for Wal-Mart. According to a number of sources, including many from within the company itself, Wal-Mart is making a greater commitment to the pet category. As we have written in this space before, industry insiders say that the giant chain is adding space to accommodate more products and…”
“Is small suddenly better? Well, it appears officials at PETCO are examining a small-size store layout to test whether consumers want more or less from their favorite pet stores. The San Diego-based mega-chain is rolling out what company officials call a 5,000-square-foot “pilot store” in its home city. Apparently, the…”
“A new study by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) found that more and more consumers are buying private-label products across many categories, including pet care and pet food, thanks in large part to a nagging recession that has more consumers trying to stretch their dollars further. Yet, officials at Chicago-based IRI…”