News

Crate & Barrel CEO out
The chief executive of Crate & Barrel is out after less than two years at the top. Doug Diemoz left the home furnishings retailer last week. Most of his responsibilities will be taken over by Neela Montgomery, board chair of Otto Group, the privately owned German company that owns Crate & Barrel, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
Study: Shoppers will share personal data if it benefits them
Despite privacy concerns, consumer will share data with companies if it saves them money or resolves customer service issues faster. This was according to a recent study conducted by YouGov on behalf of customer experience company [24]|7, which tapped 1,145 U.S. consumers. Nearly half (43%) of consumers agreed that they would exchange personal data with companies to save money through personalized promotions, discounts or deals, followed by 39% looking for speedier issue resolution.

Sporting goods giant opens its first U.S. store

A new retail experience is giving shoppers — and sports fans — the chance to feel like a professional athlete. Mizuno, one of the world’s largest specialty sporting goods manufacturers and the official baseball gear partner of the Atlanta Braves, has entered the U.S. retail arena with the opening of The Mizuno Experience Center. It is the first retail store to open at The Battery Atlanta, a 400,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development located just outside the Braves’ new home, Sun Trust Park.
Citibank exec joins Walmart’s digital team

Walmart has appointed Rahul Joshi as senior VP, customer care, U.S. eCommerce, effective immediately. Joshi joins the discounter after more than 25 years at Citibank, most re-cently as the head of consumer operations in Asia, where he successfully led customer-focused teams. He reports to Marc Lore, president & CEO, Walmart U.S. eCommerce.
Walmart in talks to buy another online fashion retailer

Walmart reportedly is about to make its fourth e-commerce acquisition in seven months as the chain continues to beef up its online arsenal and fashion offerings against Amazon. The chain is in advanced discussions to acquire Bonobos, an e-commerce-driven apparel company that designs and sells upscale men’s clothing, according to Recode. Founded in 2007, the brand is known for its hip, stylish threads and expert fit.
Iconic restaurant/retail brand opens first store on West Coast

Nearly 50 years after it opened its first location, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has landed on the West Coast. The chain, which combines a family-friendly restaurant with an old-fashioned country store, has opened Tualatin, Oregon. The location marks a key expansion of the company’s footprint.
Report: Walmart ‘evaluating’ food retail in India

Wal-Mart Stores is still considering a possible entry into the food retail market in India. With new rules allowing for 100% foreign ownership of food retailers selling goods produced in India, Krish Iyer, the president and CEO of Wal-Mart India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart, said the chain is “evaluating” the guidelines, reported The Economic Times. His answer came in response to a question as to whether Walmart was planning on entering the market.
Missguided, Westfield Stratford City, London

British online fast-fashion retailer Missguided makes the leap to physical retail with a high-concept, high-impact store at Westfield Stratford City mall in London. Featuring an “on-air” television studio concept, the 20,000-sq.-ft. space delivers a dynamic live stream of real-time content, fashion and inspiration in a bold environment. It reflects the desire of its young, Snapchat-obsessed core audience for the new by offering a constantly changing space that includes plenty of shareable moments.
Retailers turn in mixed performance in March

A slump in consumer prices helped to keep retail sales in check in March. Retail sales in March inched up 0.3% over February, according to the National Retail Federation. (The NRF numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.) “Various factors were at play in the first quarter, but we are again seeing a pattern similar to previous years — consumer spending was weak but is expected to pick up as we move through the year,” said NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz.
C-store giant steps up compliance efforts

7-Eleven is putting all of its policy data in one place — a move that will enable it to better mitigate risks connected to insurance and claims. The convenience store chain added the Risk Management Information System (RMIS) from Riskonnect, to power its claims management, policy management and property data collection processes in the U.S. and Canada. The cloud-based system breaks down silos to provide a holistic view of risk management.