Deloitte

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is merging its sustainability-focused conference with Sustainable Brands.     Beginning in 2017, the two will produce a single conference together than includes a retail-specific program track, in addition to Sustainable Brands’ usual program, which covers sustainability-led brand innovation across multiple consumer-facing industries.  

Retailers, developers attempt to turn shopping centers into gathering places with stores

Digital moves fast. Business people who disregard the devastating waves of changes it leaves will inevitably be engulfed by them. Consider this rising marketplace tsunami detected by Deloitte Consulting:

Two major retail organizations delivered some early holiday cheer to retailers.   The National Retail Federation and the International Council of Shopping Centers issued their annual holiday forecasts on Tuesday, and both predicted holiday shoppers will spend more this year than they did last year.   

Retailers should see a modest uptick in holiday sales this year. But the news isn’t all positive for big chains or even major online retailers.   

Despite an increase in digitally-influenced retail spending, a gap still remains between retailers and digital shoppers.

Digital interactions influence 56 cents of every dollar spent in retail stores, totaling $2.1 trillion by the end of the year – up from 14 cents of every dollar in 2013, according to Deloitte's new study, “The New Digital Divide: The Future of Digital Influence in Retail.”

Despite an increase in digitally-influenced retail spending, a gap still remains between retailers and digital shoppers.

Digital interactions influence 56 cents of every dollar spent in retail stores, totaling $2.1 trillion by the end of the year – up from 14 cents of every dollar in 2013, according to Deloitte's new study, “The New Digital Divide: The Future of Digital Influence in Retail.”

The back-to-school season is now in motion, kick-starting a series of peak holidays for retailers. Everything that follows is an opportunity.  

From investments to support omnichannel initiatives to energy efficiency programs and equipment upgrades, prioritizing and approving capital expenditures has become increasingly complex for retail CFOs.

“Retail CFOs are performing a high wire balancing act these days,” said Rod Sides, vice chairman and retail and distribution practice leader for Deloitte. “Online sales are growing while the traditional business is flat to declining, but still accounts for 80% of the revenue.