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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Is Target and Levi’s expanding partnership a win-win?
Target plans to expand the availability of its selection of Levi’s premium Red Tab jeans from 500 stores to 800 this spring in a bid to amplify its “status as…
Will swimwear become Victoria’s Secret weapon?
Victoria’s Secret said last week that it has acquired a minority interest in Frankies Bikinis, a women-founded and led beachwear and lifestyle brand. What do you expect Victoria’s Secret to…
Nike heads to the wholesale exits
Nike has communicated its major “account pivots” as part of its marketplace realignment that reduced the number of wholesale partners worldwide over the last four years by more than 50…
Has Backstage found its place inside of Macy’s?
Continuing its fast rollout, Macy’s announced plans to expand Backstage in-store shops to 37 more full-line locations this spring, bringing the off-price concept to nearly 60 percent of the chain…
Should grocery chains bring transportation in-house?
While the Walmarts of the world have owned their supply chain for decades, many smaller chains got out of the logistics business years ago. Since 2017, however, surging demand combined…
Instacart is moving into the ultrafast lane
Instacart is joining the ultrafast delivery race. The company said it is building nano-fulfillment warehouses with the goal of speeding local deliveries to customers in as little as 15 minutes. Do…
How did Abercrombie pull off its comeback?
Abercrombie & Fitch just scored its highest operating margin in over a decade with 2022 expected to show greater annual net store openings than closures for the first time since…
Will a new AI lab make Kroger the freshest grocer of them all?
Kroger is looking to use artificial intelligence to optimize its supply chain and deliver the freshest food to its customers with a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA. Will the use of…
Has Warby Parker reinvented its business model?
Warby Parker now sees room to open over 900 stores in the U.S. to support its newer growth opportunities. Was Warby Parker always destined to open an extensive chain of…
Petco CEO isn’t losing sleep over inflation
Americans may be concerned about rising food and fuel prices, but Petco Health + Wellness Company CEO Ron Coughlin isn’t expecting that worry to have a negative effect on his…
Can Dr. Pepper build a better bottle?
A major name in consumer packaged goods is looking to create a new soda bottle more sustainable than anything that has appeared on the shelves so far. Would a fully…
Giant Food cuts delivery and pickup fees as online biz soars
Giant Food last week did away with the $2.95 fee it was charging customers to pick up their online grocery orders at 159 of the supermarket chain’s stores. Will Giant…
Will a robot chip away at Chipotle’s labor issues?
While ingredient scooping and burrito rolling remain in the hands of human staff at Chipotle for now, tortilla chip-making duties at the chain may soon be managed by robots. What…
Can a rebrand popularize Saks Off Fifth with a new generation?
In hopes of appealing to younger luxury shoppers, Saks Off 5th has undergone a rebrand that includes a new tagline — “Where Fashion Takes Off” — and visual identity that…
Has ‘consumer’ become a bad word?
The term “consumer” is reportedly facing some backlash as over-consumption takes the blame for many environmental issues, according to a new article. Should brands and retailers stop using the word…
How can retailers fund strategic priorities as challenges abound?
More than two years into the novel coronavirus pandemic and retailers are still searching for answers. What can retailers do to competitively fund the initiatives captured in Deloitte’s survey?
H&M opens its e-commerce site to third-party clothing brands
H&M has opened up its e-commerce sites in Germany and Sweden to third-party brands on a trial basis. The retailer is testing to see whether a marketplace model will resonate…
Macy’s lets associates express their style
Macy’s has updated its dress code to encourage associates to dress according to their personal styles so they can be better seen as experts for style advice. What do you…
Will smaller, more localized stores work for Kohl’s?
Kohl’s, at its Investor Day earlier this month, said it plans over the next four years to open 100 small-format stores, at about 35,000 square feet versus the company average…
Google Maps tries to eliminate retail’s last mile headaches
Google last week introduced two Google Maps-infused tools to optimize last mile delivery from order to doorstep. What will be the primary challenges retailers face building their own last mile delivery…
Will retailers stop the presses on print circulars?
Walgreens reportedly ended its print circular last fall, Target last November and CVS at the close of 2021 as comfort with digital circulars and coupons has grown over the pandemic…
