BLOG POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR
January 2021
Jan 21
Converting Former Big-Box Stores to Warehouse Space: Challenges, Opportunities
As e-commerce has accelerated, so had the demand for warehouse space. According to a report from CBRE, nearly 14 million square feet of big-box retail space in the U.S. has been converted to industrial space.
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
July 2021
July 30
Health and wellness services drive customer satisfaction with retailers
The surge of delivering primary care services such as vaccinations, routine screenings and physical exams through retail pharmacies has reached an important milestone.
July 30
L Brands settles workplace misconduct lawsuit prior to Victoria’s Secret spinoff
L Brands has reached a settlement to end a shareholder that alleged a toxic workplace culture of sexual harassment and misogyny at its Victoria’s Secret division.
July 30
Survey: Shoppers prefer buying adult beverages in-store, with Walmart top choice
When it comes to buying wine, beer and spirits, stores win out — even during a pandemic.
July 30
Walmart to require masks for store employees in high-risk areas
Walmart Inc. is reinstating its employee mask mandate but, at least for the time being, it does not apply across all its locations.
July 29
NRF urges vaccinations
Retailers are revisiting the issue of whether or not to issue mask mandates.
July 29
Wegmans to open its first store in Manhattan on site of recently closed Kmart
Wegmans Food Markets has signed a 30-year lease for its second store in the Big Apple, this time in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood.
July 29
Amazon reports third consecutive $100 billion quarter; store sales up 10%
Amazon blew past analysts’ second-quarter earnings expectations but its sales — and third-quarter forecast — missed the mark.
July 29
Target giving another bonus to front-line employees
Target Corp. is once again investing another $75 million-plus in its employees.
July 28
Athleta turns up heat on rivals with new wellness platform; supports Biles
Athleta is upping its game.
July 28
Bloomberg: Apple stores to require customers to mask up again
Shoppers in select Apple stores will once again have to wear masks — vaccinated or not.
July 28
GameStop to rebrand stores in Canada
GameStop Corp. is changing the name of the 4,000 stores it operates in Canada.
July 28
Dollar General unveils its first store-in-store concept
Dollar General Corp. is taking its pOpshef retail format in house, to its larger format DG Market stores.
July 28
Coach owner to raise minimum wage; commits to 100% renewable energy by 2025
Tapestry is the latest retailer to add incentives to attract and retain employees amid the ongoing labor crunch.
July 27
Walmart to pay 100% of college tuition, books for employees
Walmart is making a huge investment in its employees amid one of the worst labor shortages in years.
July 27
Cold brews drive strong Q3 sales for Starbucks
Starbucks Corp. reported third-quarter earnings and sales that topped estimates amid soaring U.S. sales of cold beverages.
July 27
Dick’s Sporting Goods details environmental, social goals
Dick’s Sporting Goods remains committed to improving the environment, supporting youth sports and creating an inclusive workplace for its employees.
July 26
Puttshack in U.S. expansion
A new entertainment concept that combines tech-infused mini-golf with food and drink and whose creators include the co-founders of Topgolf is plotting its U.S. expansion.
July 26
Target’s newest limited partnership is with renowned children’s book author
Target Corp. is expanding its kids’ offerings via a new limited-edition collaboration that is designed to help all kids feel included.
July 26
Rue21 to open 15 stores — here’s where
Rue21 is opening new stores just in time for back-to-school shopping.
July 26
Vitamin Shoppe signs its first-ever franchise agreement
The Vitamin Shoppe is expanding its footprint in Texas through its new business model.
July 21
CVS Health e-commerce VP to take reins of beauty retailer
Bluemercury has ended its search for a new chief executive.
July 20
Victoria’s Secret to test ‘store of future,’ updating existing stores
Victoria’s Secret is updating its stores.
July 16
Etsy, Walmart top list of 2021’s fastest-growing e-commerce retailers
The top 15 U.S. retailers by e-commerce sales will account for 72.3% of total e-commerce sales in the United States this year.
July 16
Amazon to donate land for affordable housing
Amazon is making a donation — valued at $40 million — to help create more than 550 new affordable homes.
July 16
Wilson Sporting Goods opens its first-ever store – with more to come
Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has added physical retail to its game.
July 16
Retail sales solid in June
Retail sales edged up in most categories in June and were up across the board on a yearly basis.
July 16
Spirit Halloween sets opening date
Halloween is just around the corner — least for one retailer.
July 16
Consumer sentiment falls amid concern over rising prices
Inflation fears took a toll on consumer sentiment in June.
July 15
Eddie Bauer offers outdoor gear and apparel — for rent
Eddie Bauer is launching its first-ever rental program.
July 15
Abercrombie debuts new Gilly Hicks store concept as brand goes gender-inclusive
Gilly Hicks is stepping out on its own — again.
July 15
Target to offer tax-free weekends, goods under $10 for back-to-school
Target Corp.’s back-to-school plans include a big emphasis on affordability.
July 15
J.C. Penney debuts ‘inclusive’ kids clothing line
J.C. Penney is launching a kids’ clothing line that celebrates diversity — including diversity of abilities.
July 15
Former Victoria’s Secret COO joins It’Sugar leadership team
An L Brands veteran has joined one of the largest specialty candy retailers in North America.
July 15
Bed Bath & Beyond to open in-store Casper shops
Bed Bath & Beyond is giving a big boost to its bedding and sleep offerings via a partnership with Casper Sleep Inc.
July 15
Justice is making a store comeback — at Walmart
Walmart is expanding its assortment for tween girls just in time for the back-to-school season.
July 15
More consolidation: C&S Wholesale Grocers to acquire Piggly Wiggly Midwest
C&S Wholesale Grocers has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Piggly Wiggly Midwest.
July 14
Dollar General to hire up to 50,000 employees — by Labor Day
Dollar General is going on a hiring blitz.
July 14
Study: H-E-B, Chipotle are top grocery, QSR chains in e-commerce experience
Two regional grocery chains earn high marks fulfilling online orders through pickup.
July 14
Jeff Bezos gives Smithsonian its largest donation in 175 years
The Smithsonian Institution is set to receive its largest donation since its founding gift from James Smithson in 1846.
July 14
Giant Eagle pledges to reach net zero Carbon Emissions by 2040
Giant Eagle plans to invest $100 during the next 10 years to reach key environmental milestones.
July 13
Parent company of QVC taps online retail exec as new CEO
Qurate Retail has ended its search for a new chief executive.
July 13
France to require COVID-19 pass to enter shopping malls, restaurants
France is tightening its COVID-19 restrictions in a push to get more of its citizens vaccinated as the delta variant drives France’s virus infections back up again.
July 13
Last Kmart store in Manhattan goes dark — without much notice
Kmart has closed the doors of its nearly 25-year-old location in Manhattan.
July 13
These six retailers earn high marks for on-the-job disability inclusion…
Six retailers ranked as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the 2021 Disability Equality Index.
July 13
Survey predicts earlier holiday shopping season; Black Friday ‘outdated’
Shoppers are poised to get a jump start on holiday shopping this year.
July 13
Tropical Smoothie in strong Q2; on pace to open 130 locations in 2021
Tropical Smoothie Café continues to expand its footprint amid strong sales.
July 12
Report: Monthly child tax credit payments could help retailers — starting soon
Retailers could get a boost in spending from enhanced child tax credits, which will start on Thursday and run through December.
July 12
Nordstrom acquires stake in four fashion brands
It’s a first-of-its-kind deal for Nordstrom — and for a U.K. online giant.
July 12
Last call for L Brands
L Brands is changing its name in connection with the separation of its two businesses.
July 12
Bed Bath & Beyond launches another private brand
Bed Bath & Beyond has added another line to its fast-growing portfolio of owned brands.
July 12
Fossil Group continues digital push with new exec
Fossil Group has added a new position to its executive leadership team.
July 12
7-Eleven franchisees report chronic understaffing — despite wage hikes
Wage increases have not helped solve staffing shortages at 7-Eleven stores.
July 09
Survey: Supply chain disruption affecting store construction/remodels
Supply chain disruption — including orders for store equipment and hardware — and filling open positions were major challenges for convenience stores in the second quarter, with no letup in sight.
July 09
Costco sales strong in June; drops senior hours
Costco Wholesale Corp.’s winning streak continued in June, with the retailer reporting a 16.9% increase in sales and strong e-commerce growth.
July 09
Jones Sign acquires National Mallfront and Design
Jones Sign Company has extended its storefront capabilities.
July 09
Deloitte: Back-to-school spending will be at highest level in years
The retail industry is set for its biggest back-to-school shopping season in recent years as parents and students look forward to returning to classrooms after more than a year of virtual learning.
July 09
Salt Life expanding in brick-and-mortar
Salt Life is committed to growing its physical footprint.
July 09
Swiss chocolate retailer in U.S. retail expansion with Simon
Läderach is expanding its U.S. footprint to keep up consumer demand for premium chocolate.
July 08
Save A Lot to remodel all its 1,000 stores
The discount grocery chain said it will fully rebrand and remodel more than a third of its store fleet in 2021.
July 08
Mickey Drexler is a CEO — again
One of retail’s most celebrated chief executives is once again running a fashion brand.
July 08
CGP forecasts ‘phenomenal’ increase in back-to-school sales
Retailers can expect “warp-speed” growth in back-to-school sales this year.
July 08
Retail cargo imports continue to surge; supply chain disruptions ongoing
Strong consumer demand is keeping up retail cargo import momentum.
July 08
Walgreens, VillageMD to open 29 clinics in Texas as part of 600 planned nationwide
Walgreens Boots Alliance and VillageMD are doubling down on Texas.
July 08
American Dream sets long-delayed opening date for upscale wing
American Dream is finally going to unveil its upscale retail wing — along with its Ferris wheel.
July 08
Mastercard: Retail sales in June up 11% year-over-year and 10.4% over 2019
U.S. retail sales continue to heat up, with June marking the ninth consecutive month of total retail sales growth.
July 08
Facebook exec tapped as CEO of Instacart
The head of Facebook’s app – and one of the highest-ranking female executives at the social networking giant ‑ is taking the reins of Instacart.
July 08
Papa John's offering referral, hiring, appreciation bonuses
Papa John’s International Inc. is adding hiring and other incentives amid a labor crunch that is hitting the restaurant industry particularly hard.
July 07
Bloomingdale’s to debut smaller-store concept
Bloomingdale’s is trying on a small footprint under a slightly altered banner.
July 07
Glossier in new funding round, targets online and physical store growth
Glossier Inc. is doubling down on its direct-to-consumer model as it prepares to reenter — and expand in — brick-and-mortar retail.
July 07
Dollar General makes push into health care
Dollar General Corp. is looking to become a health care destination for its customers.
July 07
Authentic Brands, co-owner of Brooks Brothers, Forever 21 and others, to go public
Authentic Brands Group, which has amassed an extensive retail portfolio by acquiring struggling brands, has filed for an initial public offering.
July 06
John Lewis to build rental homes — some fully furnished with retailer’s goods
John Lewis is tapping into its property portfolio to expand in the housing market.
July 06
Good news for physical retailers in Shopkick’s back-to-school survey
Consumers have bigger budgets and are planning to shop in stores when it comes to buying back-to-school supplies.
July 06
Allure opens its first-ever store
Allure has opened its first physical store, in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.
July 06
BurgerFi ramps up expansion
BurgerFi International is kicking its expansion into high gear after going public in December.
July 06
Target reduces store hours in San Francisco amid 'alarming rise' in crime
Target Corp. has moved up the nightly closing time of its five stores in San Francisco due to the city’s escalating retail crime.
July 02
Retail sales growing ‘far faster’ than expected, says NRF chief economist
The retail industry is seeing not only unprecedented growth from months of pent-up demand as the economy reopens, but momentum as well.
July 02
DSW pilots self-checkouts as retailers react to labor crunch
Retailers are being hit hard by one of the worst labor shortages in recent history, with more retail workers leaving their jobs than employees in any other industry.
July 02
Dressbarn, Pier 1 owner buys U.K. luxury brand
Retail Ecommerce Ventures is adding another brand to its growing portfolio.
July 02
Dollar General expanding fresh produce to 10,000 stores
Dollar General is making a major commitment to providing access to food resources in rural and underserved communities.
July 02
Kohl’s to give hourly employees bonus if they work through holiday season
Kohl’s is getting out in front of what is expected to be a very challenging holiday hiring season for retailers.
July 02
Exclusive: Torrid CEO sees plenty of room for growth
The newly public Torrid is revving up its engines and sees ample opportunity for growth in the $85 billion market for plus sizes.
July 02
Amazon encouraging employees to bike to work — with a new subsidy
As Amazon employees start their gradual return to the office, the company is adding a new benefit to encourage green mobility.
July 02
JLL: Demand for warehouse space is skyrocketing — especially in these three markets
Increased e-commerce operations and the demand for home delivery are driving the need for expanded warehouse space across the United States.
July 01
Walgreens swings to Q3 profit; details growth strategy
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. reported a stronger-than-expected third quarter and raised its outlook for the year.
July 01
T-Mobile stores earn health-safety certification
T-Mobile US has made health and safety a priority at its stores nationwide.
July 01
First Look: Camp combines retail with family-friendly experiences
Experiential retailer Camp has opened a new mall location filled with activities for kids — and merchandise to buy.
July 01
Genesco and activist investor continue to battle
Genesco Inc. is determined to “set the record straight” as it battles activist investor Legion Partners Asset Management ahead of a proxy vote.
July 01
Gap to close all its stores in U.K., Ireland
Gap is going online only in Britain and Ireland and is looking to sell its stores in Italy and France.