Strategy

When it comes to customer experience, not all grocery chains are created equal.
 
According to the new Customer Quotient (CQ) survey from global customer intelligence agency C Space, Trader Joe’s is the most customer-centric grocer. Conversely, Shaw’s scored the lowest of 27 options.
 

Target is reportedly requesting that many of its suppliers assume up to 3% to 5% more of the cost of promotions and price reductions on some items.

According to Reuters, at least 12 Target suppliers have confirmed they were asked to pay for more of the promotional cost for a variety of slow-moving products. Target reported declining sales in its most recent fiscal quarter and publicly said it would likely enter an extended promotional period.

Fairway Group Holdings Corp., the parent company of Fairway Market, has received a verdict on its May 2016 bankruptcy filing.

The iconic New York food retailer had its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan unanimously accepted by 100% of voting secured lenders and confirmed by Bankruptcy Judge Michael E. Wiles. Fairway is expected to emerge from bankruptcy during the week of June 20, 2016 with approximately $50 million in cash, a $140 million reduction of its debt and a reduction of annual debt service obligations by up to $8 million.

Shoe shoppers know how individual fit can be, and footwear chain DSW Inc. is trying to be as accommodating as possible.
 
DSW is partnering with 3D footwear printing specialist Feetz to create custom fit, sustainably made shoes. Feetz uses a combination of 3D printer technology and human craftspeople to make new pairs of shoes in hours and designed software to custom fit shoe designs to consumers’ feet.
 

Bebe Stores Inc. is building upon efforts to turn itself around and boost its international presence.
 
The specialty apparel retailer, which launched a China growth plan in 2015, has entered into a joint venture with Bluestar Alliance LLC to license its brand domestically and globally. Bebe has received $35 million in connection with the formation of the joint venture.
 

Dollarama Inc. got fiscal 2017 off to a strong start.

Dollarama Inc. reported sharp increases in profit and revenue during the first quarter of fiscal 2017, and intends to open a net of 60-70 new stores by end of the year.
 
Net earnings soared 28% to $83.2 million from $64.8 million the same quarter a year earlier. Improvement of the gross margin and lower selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of sales helped drive net earnings growth.

CVS Health on Tuesday announced that the first CVS Pharmacy locations in Target stores are now open in Washington. 

An organization that has taken the retail world by storm in the past several years just earned another accolade.
 
According to the 2016 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking released by WPP and Millward Brown, Amazon.com has become the World's Most Valuable Global Retail Brand
 

Saving for retirement is like exercising or eating right. We know we’ll feel better when we do it, but many of us fail to make it a priority. It’s all too easy to put off such matters until tomorrow. But after a string of tomorrows, we’ve lost valuable opportunities that would have benefitted us in the long run.

Today’s retailers face significant challenges as online increases its share of wallet, mall-based stores stumble, technology requirements mount, and customer engagement remains elusive for many. The business environment is clearly marked by the need to rationalize store counts, headcount, and product count.
 
As management faces up to these challenges, they seek purposeful justification of expenditures, higher shareholder returns, and greater customer engagement.