Author Archives: Seth Mendelson

About Seth Mendelson

Seth Mendel­son is the pub­lisher and edi­to­r­ial direc­tor of Mac­fad­den Com­mu­ni­ca­tions, over­see­ing mul­ti­ple titles across many key cat­e­gories. Seth has been a jour­nal­ist since grad­u­at­ing from Syra­cuse Uni­ver­sity in 1980. He was a sports­writer and newswriter for Gan­nett News­pa­pers, before becom­ing an edi­tor at Mass Mar­ket Retail­ers, Non­foods Mer­chan­dis­ing and Super­mar­ket Busi­ness. Also, Seth was pre­vi­ously edi­tor in chief of Retail Mer­chan­diser. He has been quoted in a num­ber of pub­li­ca­tions, includ­ing The Wall Street Jour­nal, The New York Times and many regional newspapers.

Finding the right mix

Posted on May 10, 2013 by .

Suddenly, JCPenney is back in vogue. The company, who trials and tribulations have been well documented over the last year, has become the darling … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Web-Exclusive Content

Nonfoods Talk: Phoning it in at the front-end

Posted on May 1, 2013 by .

Consumers seem to be more intent on surfing the Internet than perusing the front end. How does this impact the sales of products at … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 05 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

Nonfoods Talk: Where the future lies

Posted on Apr 1, 2013 by .

In good economic times or bad, in the end, quality will usually trump price. A manufacturer of housewares products pulled me aside at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 04 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

“Caution” is the Word

Posted on Mar 6, 2013 by .

What’s the pulse of the housewares industry? After spending four days in blustery Chicago with just about everyone in the industry, the word that … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Web-Exclusive Content

From the Publisher: Dialing in on diabetes

Posted on Mar 1, 2013 by .

Diabetes has become a big concern. are grocery retailers doing enough to help shoppers look for sugar-free alternatives? The numbers are staggering. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 03 Article Archives, Columns

Nonfoods Talk: Making the right choices

Posted on Mar 1, 2013 by .

Figuring out what product lines to carry, and not carry, play an important role in a supermarket’s success. I got a pretty interesting telephone … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 03 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

Quick Thinkin’… in the Dark

Posted on Feb 4, 2013 by .

Sometimes it is important to make chicken salad out of chicken….. That is what Kraft Foods pulled off during the Super Bowl, specifically when … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Web-Exclusive Content

Nonfoods Talk: Getting intimate

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 by .

Intimacy products are no longer taboo and grocers that manage the section properly can prosper.  It is time for supermarket retailers to get more … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 02 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

From the Publisher: Independents taking the day

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 by .

With a wide range of products tailored to specific neighborhood needs, independent Chicago-area grocers are thriving. I think I have seen the future of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 02 Article Archives, Columns

Beating the odds

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 by .
Marianos-1

Roundy’s hard work and success has earned the 2013 Grocery Headquarters Independent Retailer of the Year honor. Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 02 Article Archives, Cover Stories

Observations from FMI Mid-Winter

Posted on Jan 22, 2013 by .

At the FMI Mid-Winter conference in Scottsdale. Some interesting observations. First, while much of the country struggles with way-below freezing temperatures you can’t beat … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Web-Exclusive Content

Excitment is in the air

Posted on Jan 11, 2013 by .

Can an opening of a new store really get consumers excited? The answer is yes and a great example is what is happening in … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Web-Exclusive Content

A&P Hits the Mark

Posted on Jan 10, 2013 by .

Stopped into an A&P in suburban New Jersey on a Sunday afternoon and was shocked to see a store that was not only clean … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Web-Exclusive Content

NonFoods Talk: The eye of the storm

Posted on Nov 30, 2012 by .

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc in the Northeast. Mass retailers, as a whole, deserve a solid grade for getting consumers prepared for the storm and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 12 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

Surviving the jungle

Posted on Nov 30, 2012 by .

Amazon.com has just started to make a dent in the grocery business, but there is no doubt that supermarkets are at the top of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 12 Article Archives, Columns

Nonfoods Talk: Read All About It

Posted on Nov 1, 2012 by .

Single-copy magazine sales have declined at supermarkets. Is it a temporary blip caused by the tough economy or the beginning of the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 11 Article Archives, Columns

Nonfoods Talk: A shot in the arm

Posted on Oct 1, 2012 by .

Walmart is instituting a broad vaccination program that will gain consumer attention and build sales and profits. Remember the good old days of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 10 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

From The Publisher: Connecting the dots

Posted on Oct 1, 2012 by .

This strange economic landscape is causing real concerns for retailers and suppliers as they struggle to keep the supermarket sales engine humming. Officials at … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 10 Article Archives, Columns

Nonfoods Talk: Putting pets in their place

Posted on Sep 1, 2012 by .

A new law makes it an expensive mistake not to harness your pet in the car in New Jersey. It could mean more sales … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 09 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

From the Publisher: Supervalu’s wrong turn

Posted on Aug 1, 2012 by .

Financial gurus say that Supervalu’s poor earnings report is a harbinger of things to come for the rest of the industry. That may not … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 08 Article Archives, Columns

Nonfoods Talk: All the buzz

Posted on Aug 1, 2012 by .

A new Fairway Market store in suburban New Jersey is catching the eyes and wallets of consumers from near and far. Will it last? … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 08 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

Nonfoods Talk: Penney’s troubles

Posted on Jul 1, 2012 by .

Most consumers no longer think of J.C. Penney as a cool place to shop. That is one big reason the chain is in such … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 07 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

Nonfoods Talk: The face of the new consumer

Posted on Jun 1, 2012 by .

To paraphrase Bob Dylan, consumers—they are a changin’. As the media reported in late May, the demographics of America have evolved. The press reported … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 06 Article Archives, Columns, Nonfoods for Profit

From the Publisher: Learning from history

Posted on Jun 1, 2012 by .

The chronicles of Walmart, Target and Kmart can serve as a textbook for other retailers looking to make a mark in today’s tough retail … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 06 Article Archives, Columns

Private label’s highs and lows

Posted on May 1, 2012 by .
plabel

A study about to be released by PLMA reveals some interesting facts about the world of private label. Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 05 Article Archives, Upfront