News

Gen Z shoppers are gearing up to hit the stores for back-to-school purchases — and their top destination is Walmart.    Thirty-six percent of boys and girls cite Walmart as their first choice for back-to-school shopping, more than double that of any other retailer, according to a survey conducted by strategic retail advisory firm HRC Retail Advisory.    

An important demographic for many retailers appears to be staying home more these days.   In remarks at  Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech Conference in Aspen, Colorado, Target CEO Brian Cornell cited an 11% dip in shopping activity among Hispanic consumers in the past several months. (A Target spokesman said later he was referencing industrywide data from the NPD Group, The Star-Tribune reported.)   “There’s almost a cocooning factor,” Cornell said.  

Amazon isn’t wasting any time in entering the booming meal kit category.  

A clothing brand know for its "radical transparency" is putting down roots in its hometown.   Everlane will open its first permanent brick-and-mortar location, in San Francisco. The opening date hasn't been announced yet, but the company has posted a variety of available jobs, including "flagship store leader," on its website.  The storefront, on Valencia Street in the city's Mission District, is already identified with the brand's "100% Human"  tagline.   

Expensive, ineffective loyalty programs are in need of a makeover.   Retailers that shift to digital-centric programs that engage and promote brand advocacy will retain the loyalty of customers, according to the “Intelligence Report: Loyalty 2017.” The report, from L2, evaluates the successes and pitfalls of loyalty programs for 99 consumer brands across activewear, beauty, big box, department stores, and specialty retail.  

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has stepped up its efforts to combine physical retail with online in the supermarket space.   

Pizza Hut is making big moves to improve the accuracy and reliability of its delivery experience.   The subsidiary of Yum! Brands plans to hire nearly 3,000 new drivers a month through the end of the year. The hiring effort, which will include full and part-time positions, will add approximately 14,000 new drivers across its delivery fleet, according to the company.   

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. is shutting down its women's fashion/fitness store format.    Dick's is closing its two existing Chelsea Collective stores on August 6. Dick's launched the brand in 2015, but it never expanded it in any signficiant way.