News

Generations Y, Z differ in key shopping attitudes, habits
A new study of the retail habits of Generations Y and Z shows that the different age groups differ when it comes to using computers for online purchases versus shopping at brick-and-mortar stores.

A new GfK survey revelaled that Baby Boomers have been slower to adopt the smartphone as a shopping device. But when it comes to making purchases with a desktop or laptop computer, Boomers registered similar levels to Generation Y (40% and 43% respectively), while Gen Z came in at just 32%.
Kohl’s invites America to celebrate #AllTheGoodStuff
Kohl's is leveraging the popularity of the Oscars to kick-start the retailer's spring marketing campaigns in true omnichannel style.

The retailer announced that for the first time ever, the company will be the exclusive retail sponsor of the Oscars, which air this month.

Nordstrom rolls out campaign to attract young fashionistas

Nordstrom is launching a new national marketing campaign withprint, digital and video components as the retailer seeks to improve its connection with younger customers.
Target embraces special needs community with a Caroline's Cart at each store

Target is rolling Caroline’s Cart out to all of its stores nationwide beginning March 19, the retailer recently announced. The vast majority of Target locations, with the exception of smaller format stores where there are no full-size carts, will have at least one Caroline’s Cart, and many will have more, depending on their guests’ needs, Target said.
One to watch: Sally Beauty becomes a real looker

Sally Beauty Holdings observed a major milestone recently with the opening of its 5,000th location, but the $3.8 billion Texas-based retailer has even bigger ambitions for more stores and new services as it vies for market share with mass and specialty players.
PetSmart launches protein bar for dogs

PetSmart has become the first pet retailer to ink a deal with the founder of one of the newest and most exciting innovations for dogs: meal replacement bars.

The specialty pet store announced it will carry TurboPUP portable meal bars for dogs in more than 900 PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Canada this year. Last week the founder of TurboPUP bars appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank with the news of her exclusive, national retail deal with the retailer.
Activewear brand in store expansion mode

Fabletics, the athleisure brand co-founded by actress Kate Hudson in 2013, continues to expand in the physical space. The e-commerce retailer, which opened its first brick-and-mortar outpost in 2015, plans to open 12 stores in 2017, giving it a total of 30 locations throughout the continental United States in just 23 months.
Expectations run high at Home Depot's pro desk

The Home Depot is planning (conservatively, it says) to be a $100 billion retailer in 2018 – growing by $13 billion, or the equivalent of 357 stores, without any major change of its footprint.

Where’s growth going to come from? A lot of it from the pro customer, who currently makes up only 4% of Home Depot’s customers, but account for about 35% of total sales. Clearly, this is a customer with clout.
Study: Holiday returns performance misses mark

Retailers may find themselves banished to the Island of the Misfit Toys if they do not improve their handling of returned holiday purchases.

According to new data from Kurt Salmon, it took an average of 13.3 days for retailers to credit returns to accounts during the 2015 holiday season. This marked an improvement from the prior year’s 16.8 days, but still far from customers’ expectation of about seven days.
PriceSmart offers unconventional reason for comp decline

It’s been quite common of late to hear retailers cite warm weather and intense competition as sources of sales weakness, but the prize for originality goes to PriceSmart after the warehouse club operator reported a January same-store sales decline.