Data & Analytics

Ever since the announcement of Amazon Go and its promised checkout-free shopping experience, retailers have been left wondering, “what does Amazon Go mean for the rest of retail?”   

Retail and restaurant executives, architects, suppliers and other industry professionals involved in store design/planning, construction and facility management gathered together for Chain Store Age’s 53rd annual SPECS conference.

The event, held at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Fla., focused on the evolution and innovation of physical stores in a digital age, and explored industry trends that are transforming how stores are designed, built, operated and maintained.

Whether purchasing individual assets or restructuring entire portfolios, top acquirers have plans and stick to them.

Stick to your knitting. That appears to be the mantra for this year’s top acquirers, all of which, save one, have appeared on this list in previous years. Most relate that, in the late stages of a recovery, discipline, tenacity and structure are key to closing deals. This year, staffers at two of these tenacious companies can chant, “We’re No. 1!”

Shoppers are increasingly turning to Amazon for purchasing bulky goods that traditionally haven’t sold all that well online.   

What happens after an order is placed is crucial in driving website traffic and revenue.   

Party City on Tuesday announced earnings and revenue that topped expectations, and said it would launch an online marketplace for party services.  

Office Depot’s profit in the first quarter more than doubled as its reduced store count led to lower operational costs.   The company's net income increased to $116 million, or 22 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 1, from $46 million, or 8 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Its results beat analysts’ expectations.  

As retailers continue to navigate challenging conditions, they need to ensure their people strategies and pay programs are flexible and supportive, not ridged and dated. What follows are different approaches to working through some of the difficult, but necessary, steps to improving retail pay programs to fit the basic actions some retailers must now take.    Being Proactive Not Reactive