Shopping With Steve

Walmart

I think I can safely say that the Walmart retail experience is one of the most underrated in the industry.

Meijer was founded in 1934 during the depression as a grocery store in central Michigan. In 1962, Meijer put a stake in the ground that ultimately redefined retail in the U.S., opening the first “supercenter” in this country.

Walgreens and Brands

I want to emphasize the importance of retailers (in this case, Walgreens) partnering with brands to enhance the shopping experience.

The Value Channel

As I studied the value channel across a few prominent retailers, I couldn’t help but consider the impact this rapidly growing segment is having on major manufacturers and traditional retailers.

Wawa in Miami, Florida

When I began authoring this column, I never thought I’d refer to a convenience store as a destination or an experience. The opening of three Wawa stores in Miami has changed that.

Home Improvement Channel

A recent ranking by Morning Consult of the “most loved brands in America” (based on analysis of more than 400,000 consumer/shopper interviews) revealed The Home Depot as No. 5 and Lowe’s as No. 11.

Target in Schaumburg, Illinois

Steve Frenda not only examines the traditional shopping trip at a newly remodeled Super Target, he also show how the shopping experience can be combined with the pickup (or delivery) of staple items.

IKEA in Schaumburg, Illinois

IKEA is a furniture store chain from Sweden, and about 10% of its 424 stores are located in the U.S. These are incredibly large, high-volume stores that make IKEA the largest furniture retailer in the world.

Wegmans in Parsippany, New Jersey

Thinking of Wegmans’ history, it truly was the first supermarket chain to emphasize experience. Today, its model is emulated by many operators.

Abt in Glenview, Illinois

We talk about “experiential retail” a lot these days. Well, look up that term and the Abt Electronics logo just might be there.

CVS/pharmacy y mas in Hialeah, Florida

When you walk into a CVS/pharmacy y mas in the Miami area, you know you are not in your padre’s CVS.

Sephora in Deer Park, Illinois

At the Path to Purchase Expo in early October, we noticed that beauty/cosmetics retailer Sephora was mentioned repeatedly. Later in the month, we paid a visit to a store. See what we found.

Restoration Hardware in West Palm Beach, Florida

Talk about reinventing brick-and-mortar retail and creating an experience that shoppers will find appealing. Restoration Hardware (or RH) has now opened 17 design galleries across the U.S. and Canada that are nothing less than spectacular.

Woodman’s in Carpentersville, Illinois

Woodman’s, a 16-store supermarket chain out of Wisconsin with stores in Northeast Illinois, is something of a secret unless you live in that area.