Simon and Brookfield Pursue Kohl’s to Join Rival J.C. Penney
America’s Preeminent Mega-Mall Has Always Been Thinking Big…and Small
America’s Preeminent Mega-Mall Has Always Been Thinking Big…and Small
Forbes.com 05.03.22 Multiple news sources ran a story which first appearing in the New York Post, on April 25th reporting that Simon Property Group SPG +4% in partnership with Brookfield Asset Management, have thrown their very handsome hat into the ring, with a $68-a-share offer. This values Kohl’s at more than $8.6 billion, and may wel
Forbes.com 05.03.22 Multiple news sources ran a story which first appearing in the New York Post, on April 25th reporting that Simon Property Group SPG +4% in partnership with Brookfield Asset Management, have thrown their very handsome hat into the ring, with a $68-a-share offer. This values Kohl’s at more than $8.6 billion, and may well be their best option in insuring the department store’s long-term viability. https://bit.ly/38KHBnW
America’s Preeminent Mega-Mall Has Always Been Thinking Big…and Small
America’s Preeminent Mega-Mall Has Always Been Thinking Big…and Small
America’s Preeminent Mega-Mall Has Always Been Thinking Big…and Small
The Robin Report 05.01.22 Two years ago, following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, many of the South Minneapolis businesses were destroyed during the unrest that followed. With input and guidance of community leaders, Mall of America opened its Community Commons in October –a rent-free 5,000 square-foot collective for 16 displaced u
The Robin Report 05.01.22 Two years ago, following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, many of the South Minneapolis businesses were destroyed during the unrest that followed. With input and guidance of community leaders, Mall of America opened its Community Commons in October –a rent-free 5,000 square-foot collective for 16 displaced urban merchants and a new breed of entrepreneurial retailers. https://bit.ly/3kz1h0B
A Redeeming Venture: Turning Gift Cards Into Donations
America’s Preeminent Mega-Mall Has Always Been Thinking Big…and Small
A Redeeming Venture: Turning Gift Cards Into Donations
Forbes.com 04.12.22 The United States Gift Cards Market was estimated at $158.26 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $167.71 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a 6.25% annual rate, and reach $227.82 billion by 2030, according to Digital Journal. According to CardFunder’s founder and CEO Russ Howard, over $3 billion of wort
Forbes.com 04.12.22 The United States Gift Cards Market was estimated at $158.26 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $167.71 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a 6.25% annual rate, and reach $227.82 billion by 2030, according to Digital Journal. According to CardFunder’s founder and CEO Russ Howard, over $3 billion of worth of those cards go to waste annually, totaling over $40 billion over the past decade. https://bit.ly/3vGWAIK
A Defining Moment For Kohl’s
The MetaMall: The Next Big Retail Development Will Be in Cyberspace
A Redeeming Venture: Turning Gift Cards Into Donations
Forbes.com 04.05.22 A common theme from all of the activist suiters is their alleged intent to “extract greater shareholder value” along with instigating a “course correction” away from the strategic rebuilding that CEO Michelle Gass has been leading since May of 2018. The August 31st letter states “Macellum is promoting an ever-changin
Forbes.com 04.05.22 A common theme from all of the activist suiters is their alleged intent to “extract greater shareholder value” along with instigating a “course correction” away from the strategic rebuilding that CEO Michelle Gass has been leading since May of 2018. The August 31st letter states “Macellum is promoting an ever-changing narrative, misinformed claims, and value-destructive proposals, all of which reveal a reckless and short-term approach that is not in the interest of driving long-term, sustainable value.” https://bit.ly/37eUK8u
The MetaMall: The Next Big Retail Development Will Be in Cyberspace
The MetaMall: The Next Big Retail Development Will Be in Cyberspace
The MetaMall: The Next Big Retail Development Will Be in Cyberspace
The Robin Report 04.04.22 Shopping in the metaverse operates with your avatar going into a store, such as an art gallery, where your avatar can click and buy a digital NFT asset (such as artwork) and/or also place an order to have a real-world item bought and shipped to you in the real world. https://bit.ly/38x7ibH
Activist Letter Sends Bed Bath & Beyond Stock Soaring
The MetaMall: The Next Big Retail Development Will Be in Cyberspace
The MetaMall: The Next Big Retail Development Will Be in Cyberspace
Forbes.com 03.08.22 A letter addressed to the Bed Bath & Beyond board on Sunday March 6th, created a whole new round of trauma for the retailer. It’s another in a string of “activist investor” acts intended to increase shareholder results. The letter’s author is RC Ventures LLC, headed by Ryan Cohen, GameStop’s Chairman and co-founder of Chewy.https://bit.ly/3ybKs3N
Target Provides A Robust Outlook And Strong Holiday Earnings
Walmart’s New Store Design Sends Another Department Store ‘Wake-Up’ Call
Target Provides A Robust Outlook And Strong Holiday Earnings
Forbes.com 03.03.22 Team Target met with the investor community in New York this morning for the first time in over two years. And over the course of two and a half hours shared the strategies and tactics that have enabled Target to grow from a $70 billion in 2017 to a $106 billion company in in 2022. https://bit.ly/3kDbsl2
The Sustainability Tsunami
Walmart’s New Store Design Sends Another Department Store ‘Wake-Up’ Call
Target Provides A Robust Outlook And Strong Holiday Earnings
The Robin Report 02.22.22 As a lifelong trend watcher and forecaster, I have often witnessed the influence of “trend convergence” when specific events and circumstances combine to create major attitudinal changes. These convergences have indelible results. The generation that lived through the Great Depression in the early part of the 20
The Robin Report 02.22.22 As a lifelong trend watcher and forecaster, I have often witnessed the influence of “trend convergence” when specific events and circumstances combine to create major attitudinal changes. These convergences have indelible results. The generation that lived through the Great Depression in the early part of the 20th century became very frugal, and mindful of waste throughout their lives having lived through a time of great economic turmoil and scarcity. https://bit.ly/3LMqlNJ
Walmart’s New Store Design Sends Another Department Store ‘Wake-Up’ Call
Walmart’s New Store Design Sends Another Department Store ‘Wake-Up’ Call
Walmart’s New Store Design Sends Another Department Store ‘Wake-Up’ Call
Forbes.com 01.31.22 Last week two media outlets, Retail Dive and Fast Company gave us a peak at Walmart’s second prototype redesign or test store, in as many years. The first, revealed in 2020, focused on vastly improved wayfinding and signage, along with integrating the online and offline experience. https://bit.ly/34Y4DFY
Walmart’s Bringing The Farm Closer To The Store
Walmart’s Bringing The Farm Closer To The Store
Walmart’s New Store Design Sends Another Department Store ‘Wake-Up’ Call
Forbes.com 01.28.22 Walmart clearly wants to bring the farm closer to the store. This dovetails with their pledge to meet a plethora of sustainability targets and become a net-zero emissions business by 2040. The beauty of this remarkable type of farming is that it checks every sustainability box imaginable. Besides cutting down on costl
Forbes.com 01.28.22 Walmart clearly wants to bring the farm closer to the store. This dovetails with their pledge to meet a plethora of sustainability targets and become a net-zero emissions business by 2040. The beauty of this remarkable type of farming is that it checks every sustainability box imaginable. Besides cutting down on costly shipping of produce, reducing spoilage, and controlling a food source, its efficiency is mind-boggling. https://bit.ly/3GTzfWt
Walmart, Tempur-Pedic And AT&T Experience Recognized For Store Design Excellence
Walmart, Tempur-Pedic And AT&T Experience Recognized For Store Design Excellence
Walmart, Tempur-Pedic And AT&T Experience Recognized For Store Design Excellence
Forbes.com 01.26.22 In October, the Retail Design Institute named twenty-five finalists in its 50th annual design competition. They make up RDI’s “Class of 2020”, for retail projects open between January 1 through December 31, 2020. This year’s competition attracted submissions from sixty-two retail teams around the globe, culminating in
Forbes.com 01.26.22 In October, the Retail Design Institute named twenty-five finalists in its 50th annual design competition. They make up RDI’s “Class of 2020”, for retail projects open between January 1 through December 31, 2020. This year’s competition attracted submissions from sixty-two retail teams around the globe, culminating in judges selected twenty-five finalists. https://bit.ly/3rQ0KMw
Kohl’s Is Fielding Takeover Offers From At Least Two Suitors
Walmart, Tempur-Pedic And AT&T Experience Recognized For Store Design Excellence
Walmart, Tempur-Pedic And AT&T Experience Recognized For Store Design Excellence
Forbes.com 01.25.22 Kohl’s stock spiked 36% Monday morning because of two takeover bids in the past few days. Private equity firm Sycamore Partners appears to be willing to pay $65 per share, upping the $64 per share offer that lesser-known Acacia Research, backed by activist investment firm Starboard Value offered for Kohl’s last week. https://bit.ly/3JrKZRD
Costco Will Spend $4 Billion In 2022
Walmart, Tempur-Pedic And AT&T Experience Recognized For Store Design Excellence
Livestream Selling: Channel Agnostic Nirvana
Forbes.com 01.17.22 Costco continues to be on a roll, and like its select, best-in-category competitors, weathered the pandemic’s demands well. The company ended fiscal 2021 with 61.7 million paid household memberships, which represents a 13% increase from the same period in 2019. https://bit.ly/3JrnQyH
Livestream Selling: Channel Agnostic Nirvana
Target Holiday Foot Traffic Increases, Surpasses Walmart and Best Buy
Livestream Selling: Channel Agnostic Nirvana
The Robin Report 01.10.22 While livestreaming may at first appear to be today’s version of “shoptainment,” its real and enduring value will be in closing the gap between online and offline selling. Livestream hosts can build deeper customer connections as well as answer key product questions in real time. https://bit.ly/3tCKY8J
Target Holiday Foot Traffic Increases, Surpasses Walmart and Best Buy
Target Holiday Foot Traffic Increases, Surpasses Walmart and Best Buy
Target Holiday Foot Traffic Increases, Surpasses Walmart and Best Buy
Forbes.com 01.10.22 In an e-mail, Ethan Chernofsky, VP of Marketing at Placer.ai said “Target showed once again the unique strength and customer relationship it has developed. Even with visits down on key shopping days like Black Friday and Super Saturday, and major concerns around supply chain holdups, labor shortages, and COVID cases, t
Forbes.com 01.10.22 In an e-mail, Ethan Chernofsky, VP of Marketing at Placer.ai said “Target showed once again the unique strength and customer relationship it has developed. Even with visits down on key shopping days like Black Friday and Super Saturday, and major concerns around supply chain holdups, labor shortages, and COVID cases, the company still drove monthly visits growth even when compared to a strong season in 2019.” https://bit.ly/3rMquZU
The Future Of Niche Retailing Is Building Brands Around Tribes
Target Holiday Foot Traffic Increases, Surpasses Walmart and Best Buy
Target Holiday Foot Traffic Increases, Surpasses Walmart and Best Buy
Forbes.com 01.02.22 Millennials’ adulthoods have been defined by political decent, economic recession, and massive amounts of debt caused by the staggering costs of higher education. My eldest, thirtysomething daughter fits that bill. And like many other of her cohorts who look to passion projects to balance their stressed lives, she chose gardening. https://bit.ly/3sCnRJn
2021 Year in Review – Reflecting and Projecting What’s Ahead For Retailers in 2022
Despite An Early Shopping Start, Holiday Traffic Sustained, Stoking Near Double Digit Gains
Despite An Early Shopping Start, Holiday Traffic Sustained, Stoking Near Double Digit Gains
Forbes.com 12.30.21 In reflecting on my 2021 retail musings, I discovered a full two-thirds of the nearly three-dozen articles touched on five main topics – Sustainability and Conscious Consumerism, Big Box Specialty Stores, Big Discounters’ Dominance, Direct-to-Consumer Brands (DTC), and Mall Fall and Overhaul. A brief recap may provide
Forbes.com 12.30.21 In reflecting on my 2021 retail musings, I discovered a full two-thirds of the nearly three-dozen articles touched on five main topics – Sustainability and Conscious Consumerism, Big Box Specialty Stores, Big Discounters’ Dominance, Direct-to-Consumer Brands (DTC), and Mall Fall and Overhaul. A brief recap may provide a guide for what will be on our radar in 2022. https://bit.ly/3JTfOzZ
Despite An Early Shopping Start, Holiday Traffic Sustained, Stoking Near Double Digit Gains
Despite An Early Shopping Start, Holiday Traffic Sustained, Stoking Near Double Digit Gains
Despite An Early Shopping Start, Holiday Traffic Sustained, Stoking Near Double Digit Gains
Forbes.com 12.27.21 Despite every possible stumbling block that could be placed in the way of retailers and customers this holiday season, Mastercard SpendingPulse announced Monday that year-over-year spending rose 8.5% compared to the 2020 holiday. They had expected a 7.4% increase. The retailer’s record sales also beat pre-pandemic 2019 by 10.7%. https://bit.ly/3pWGdVz
The Furniture Resale Business Is Ripe For Disruption, Kaiyo May Be The Disruptor
Despite An Early Shopping Start, Holiday Traffic Sustained, Stoking Near Double Digit Gains
The Furniture Resale Business Is Ripe For Disruption, Kaiyo May Be The Disruptor
Forbes.com 12.22.21 The problems surrounding furniture waste is complex and have been exacerbated by the popularity of lower-quality “fast furniture” which get randomly discarded. These products are often difficult to recycle, as they contain multiple materials, requiring costly disassembly. In some cases, they contain toxic chemicals, making them impossible to recycle. https://bit.ly/3HDIlHQ
Peloton Needs To Punch Up the Power, But It Will Take More Than ‘Shadow Boxing’
Peloton Needs To Punch Up the Power, But It Will Take More Than ‘Shadow Boxing’
The Furniture Resale Business Is Ripe For Disruption, Kaiyo May Be The Disruptor
Forbes.com 12.08.21 Peloton, the pandemic poster child has hit the skids. Subscription rates are down, and subscribers are working out less frequently, down from a high of twenty-six times per month to its current 16.6 times. In early November it adjusted its fiscal 2022 sales to $4.4 billion, down from the previous quarter, when they had
Forbes.com 12.08.21 Peloton, the pandemic poster child has hit the skids. Subscription rates are down, and subscribers are working out less frequently, down from a high of twenty-six times per month to its current 16.6 times. In early November it adjusted its fiscal 2022 sales to $4.4 billion, down from the previous quarter, when they had been predicting revenue of $5.4 billion https://bit.ly/3HDIlHQ
Target Beats Earnings Expectations, Thanks To Pent-Up Shopper Demand
Peloton Needs To Punch Up the Power, But It Will Take More Than ‘Shadow Boxing’
Target Beats Earnings Expectations, Thanks To Pent-Up Shopper Demand
Forbes.com 11.14.21 Early Holiday shoppers provided Target with a stocking full of great third-quarter earnings. Target earned $1.5 billion or $3.04 per share, beating the Street’s estimates of $2.82. Sales rose to $25.65 billion, which also beat estimates of $24.55 billion, and were up from last year’s blockbuster $22.63 billion quarterly sales number. https://bit.ly/3JDkzxg
With Little Supply Chain Pain, Etsy Posts Strong Sales This Quarter
Peloton Needs To Punch Up the Power, But It Will Take More Than ‘Shadow Boxing’
Target Beats Earnings Expectations, Thanks To Pent-Up Shopper Demand
Forbes.com 11.04.21 Etsy has been generating spectacular results since the pandemic’s onset. As the fourth largest e-commerce site, by customer visits, last year’s third quarter revenue soared 102% year-over-year to $451.5 million. And while growth has come down recently, their loyal customers are shopping more often and spending more money when they do. https://bit.ly/330stA6
Immune To Supply Chain Woes, Secondhand Retailers Foresee Seasonal Wins And Big Changes
Immune To Supply Chain Woes, Secondhand Retailers Foresee Seasonal Wins And Big Changes
Immune To Supply Chain Woes, Secondhand Retailers Foresee Seasonal Wins And Big Changes
Forbes.com 10.29.21 Supply chain disruption this holiday season is likely to yield dividends for the entire thrifting world. Retail resale comes closer than any retail entities to having “closed loop” sourcing. I fully expect that companies like Poshmark and ThredUp are going to reap benefits this holiday season, beyond the seismic growth the category has been experiencing. https://bit.ly/3mH2Xr3
The Supply Chain Debacle And A Possible Alibaba-Style Workaround
Immune To Supply Chain Woes, Secondhand Retailers Foresee Seasonal Wins And Big Changes
Immune To Supply Chain Woes, Secondhand Retailers Foresee Seasonal Wins And Big Changes
Forbes.com 10.14.21 The painful reality is that goods are going to be late. How much, and how late is anybody’s guess. For the goods that arrive late, it’s unknown as to how much discounting will be necessary to clear the backlog of “late arrivals” in January and February? There is an opportunity hiding in this potentially awful scenario
Forbes.com 10.14.21 The painful reality is that goods are going to be late. How much, and how late is anybody’s guess. For the goods that arrive late, it’s unknown as to how much discounting will be necessary to clear the backlog of “late arrivals” in January and February? There is an opportunity hiding in this potentially awful scenario that could ameliorated the steep discounting sting. https://bit.ly/3CFij4H
‘Zon is Coming to Your Hood
Immune To Supply Chain Woes, Secondhand Retailers Foresee Seasonal Wins And Big Changes
Costco Addresses Supply Chain Pains By Chartering Their Own Ships
Robin Report 10.3.21 Amazon is both the world’s preeminent retail disruptor and a very effective PR machine. The latest post-Bezos buzz revolves around their latest physical store foray: the Department Store. But after the feeding frenzy around that chub, I believe it’s more of a red herring. Simply put, what Amazon is planning will look,
Robin Report 10.3.21 Amazon is both the world’s preeminent retail disruptor and a very effective PR machine. The latest post-Bezos buzz revolves around their latest physical store foray: the Department Store. But after the feeding frenzy around that chub, I believe it’s more of a red herring. Simply put, what Amazon is planning will look, feel, and operate like no department store of our time. https://bit.ly/3moIsOf
Costco Addresses Supply Chain Pains By Chartering Their Own Ships
As Shoemaker Allbirds Files For IPO, It May Become The First ‘Sustainable Public Equity Offering’
Costco Addresses Supply Chain Pains By Chartering Their Own Ships
Forbes.com 9.24.21 Costco beat Wall Street expectations, with Q3 revenue up 17% and comparable store sales up 9.4% with demand for home furnishings, sporting goods and jewelry being particularly strong. But the good news seemed to be overshadowed by the announcement that they would begin limiting purchases on items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies and bottled water. https://bit.ly/3ukJ0Za
As Shoemaker Allbirds Files For IPO, It May Become The First ‘Sustainable Public Equity Offering’
As Shoemaker Allbirds Files For IPO, It May Become The First ‘Sustainable Public Equity Offering’
As Shoemaker Allbirds Files For IPO, It May Become The First ‘Sustainable Public Equity Offering’
Forbes.com 8.31.21 Allbirds, credited as having literally created the category of woven footwear, has officially filed for its initial public offering (IPO) and will be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker BIRD. Their sustainability focus brings with it both benefits and challenges. Its offering status will be assessed by an independent thi
Forbes.com 8.31.21 Allbirds, credited as having literally created the category of woven footwear, has officially filed for its initial public offering (IPO) and will be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker BIRD. Their sustainability focus brings with it both benefits and challenges. Its offering status will be assessed by an independent third party, evaluating its commitment to environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) criteria. https://bit.ly/3if1ANh
Here's Why Home Depot, Lowe’s And Ace Rank Among Most Trusted Retail Brands
As Shoemaker Allbirds Files For IPO, It May Become The First ‘Sustainable Public Equity Offering’
As Shoemaker Allbirds Files For IPO, It May Become The First ‘Sustainable Public Equity Offering’
Forbes.com 8.12.21 Among the top 20 most trusted brands outlined in Morning Consult’s “Why Brand Trust Matters”, three of the top five played unique roles in our coming home, and pretty much staying there from April of 2020, through this Summer. Home Depot placed #1, Lowe’s placed #3, and Ace Hardware placed #5. https://bit.ly/381jopE
Campus Crunch: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond Battle For Higher Earning
With Looming IPO, Warby Parker Is Following Allbirds And Honest Co. Toward Wall Street
Campus Crunch: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond Battle For Higher Earning
Forbes.com 8.5.21 This year’s collegiate competition between Target and Bed Bath & Beyond, both online and offline, made for a particularly interesting comparative exercise. The subtext being that the “Targetization” of BB&B by CEO Mark Tritton, a Target alumnus, has brought the culture, merchandizing chops, and brand sensibilities of BB&B more in sync with Target. https://bit.ly/2XC1mZe
Macy’s Needs Some Fireworks In Its Retailing
With Looming IPO, Warby Parker Is Following Allbirds And Honest Co. Toward Wall Street
Campus Crunch: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond Battle For Higher Earning
Forbes.com 7.13.21 Between fourth-of-July extravaganzas, and venerable Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parades, Macy’s shows it knows how to produce a grand experience. So, what’s with their stores? My problem with the "Polaris-like" initiatives is they appear to focus on tactical “adjustments” designed to support a stock price, and short-term
Forbes.com 7.13.21 Between fourth-of-July extravaganzas, and venerable Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parades, Macy’s shows it knows how to produce a grand experience. So, what’s with their stores? My problem with the "Polaris-like" initiatives is they appear to focus on tactical “adjustments” designed to support a stock price, and short-term returns, rather than strategic long range initiatives. https://bit.ly/3y7BD77
With Looming IPO, Warby Parker Is Following Allbirds And Honest Co. Toward Wall Street
With Looming IPO, Warby Parker Is Following Allbirds And Honest Co. Toward Wall Street
With Looming IPO, Warby Parker Is Following Allbirds And Honest Co. Toward Wall Street
Forbes.com 6.23.21 Warby’s Co-founder Neil Blumenthal recently told the Wall Street Journal “We’ve seen retail sales bounce back faster than we anticipated." He went on to report that while transactions are well split 50-50 between store and online sales, like many other omnichannel retailers, 75% of their customers that end up buying in
Forbes.com 6.23.21 Warby’s Co-founder Neil Blumenthal recently told the Wall Street Journal “We’ve seen retail sales bounce back faster than we anticipated." He went on to report that while transactions are well split 50-50 between store and online sales, like many other omnichannel retailers, 75% of their customers that end up buying in stores began their “path-to-purchase” online. https://bit.ly/3AyT1Vo
Pandemic Pet Adoptions Add To Chewy’s Tailwinds, But Is Sustainability In Store?
Pandemic Pet Adoptions Add To Chewy’s Tailwinds, But Is Sustainability In Store?
With Looming IPO, Warby Parker Is Following Allbirds And Honest Co. Toward Wall Street
Forbes.com 6.20.21 Millennials that are delaying having children are adopting four-footed friends and treating them like children. Meanwhile empty nesting baby boomers are seeking out breeders for surrogate tail-bearing grandchildren and spoiling them accordingly. Full confession, our home applies. https://bit.ly/3hdaOcT
Carbon Is the ‘New Calorie’ and Allbirds Is Counting
Pandemic Pet Adoptions Add To Chewy’s Tailwinds, But Is Sustainability In Store?
Dick’s Stealthy First Quarter Results And Bold Moves Suggest Best-In-Class Model
Forbes.com 6.08.21 It is becoming increasingly clear that consumers of all ages are interested in carbon transparency as well as supporting brands that make a targeted effort at carbon neutrality. Gaming company Logiteck’s CEO Bracken Darrell said in a recent Fast Company interview that “Carbon is the new calorie and we must empower customers in their purchasing choices…” https://bit.ly/35pcbOQ
Dick’s Stealthy First Quarter Results And Bold Moves Suggest Best-In-Class Model
Pandemic Pet Adoptions Add To Chewy’s Tailwinds, But Is Sustainability In Store?
Dick’s Stealthy First Quarter Results And Bold Moves Suggest Best-In-Class Model
Forbes.com 5.26.21 Dick’s blew the doors off first-quarter 2021 expectations, both theirs and the streets. Upbeat would be an under-statement for today’s investor presentation. Chairman Ed Stack said "We are in a great lane right now, and 2021 will be our boldest and most transformational year. [The] future of retail is experiential, omnichannel operating model." https://bit.ly/3wtdVTh
Bed Bath & Beyond Executes A Simply Stunning Brand Makeover
Art Gensler: Remembering An Architectural Icon & Apple Store Designer
Bed Bath & Beyond Executes A Simply Stunning Brand Makeover
Forbes.com 5.24.21 Two months ago Mark Tritton, Bed Bath & Beyond’s CEO made the media rounds introducing the first three of an estimated ten private brands expected to be launched over the next two years. “We’ve built ... a game plan for our store associates to communicate our new brands, the benefits, and how they can build real joy in our customers’ homes.” https://bit.ly/3fvrVG5
It’s Been Two Decades Since Apple Opened Its First Store
Art Gensler: Remembering An Architectural Icon & Apple Store Designer
Bed Bath & Beyond Executes A Simply Stunning Brand Makeover
Forbes.com 5.19.21 When Apple took the wrappers off its first stores on Saturday, May 19, 2001 at Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia, and the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California, it was shortly after industry critics almost universally called the move a colossal mistake. https://bit.ly/3fWfpyr
Art Gensler: Remembering An Architectural Icon & Apple Store Designer
Art Gensler: Remembering An Architectural Icon & Apple Store Designer
Lowe’s Is Placing Design Top Of Mind To Further Differentiate Itself From Home Depot
Forbes.com 5.17.21 I was saddened to learn of the passing of Art Gensler, Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates’ 85-year-old founder. Art and his wife Drucilla who died in 2017, started a small three-person interior design shop in 1965 and grew it to the largest Architectural practice in the United States. https://bit.ly/3vzHPEQ
Lowe’s Is Placing Design Top Of Mind To Further Differentiate Itself From Home Depot
Lowe’s Is Placing Design Top Of Mind To Further Differentiate Itself From Home Depot
Lowe’s Is Placing Design Top Of Mind To Further Differentiate Itself From Home Depot
Forbes.com 5.11.21 Lowe’s is taking a cue from leading retailers in many segments that are moving their focus from product-based to solution-based retailing. This tactic goes beyond selling things and begins to tap into the depths of how purchases relate to a larger quest involving home, family, personal style, and well-being. Lowe’s app
Forbes.com 5.11.21 Lowe’s is taking a cue from leading retailers in many segments that are moving their focus from product-based to solution-based retailing. This tactic goes beyond selling things and begins to tap into the depths of how purchases relate to a larger quest involving home, family, personal style, and well-being. Lowe’s appears to be making it a point of brand differentiation. https://bit.ly/3hicVN7
Mall Footfall’s Back, But in The ‘New Retail’ Centers Evolve or Devolve
Lowe’s Is Placing Design Top Of Mind To Further Differentiate Itself From Home Depot
Mall Footfall’s Back, But in The ‘New Retail’ Centers Evolve or Devolve
Forbes.com 4.30.21 The mall's futures no longer revolves around storing and selling goods. Unified commerce reassigns these spaces into places of exploration, brand building, socialization, and community. It requires bringing new meaning and a broader purpose to the malls. https://bit.ly/2RdTFW2
Urban Outfitters Is Growing and Its Flagship’s Newest Design Shines
Lowe’s Is Placing Design Top Of Mind To Further Differentiate Itself From Home Depot
Mall Footfall’s Back, But in The ‘New Retail’ Centers Evolve or Devolve
Forbes.com 4.26.21 In direct comparison to the aftermath of the 2008 economic melt-down, the youth are leading the way back to spending. According to a Piper Sandler 2021 survey “Taking Stock with Teens”, Teens “wallet share” is the highest since 2013, which is driving spending to Nike, Abercrombie, and Urban Outfitters. https://bit.ly/3aWPHbk
Iconic Design Brands Herman Miller And Knoll Join Ranks
eBay Is Helping Gen-Y and Gen-Z Get Their Investment Kicks
Iconic Design Brands Herman Miller And Knoll Join Ranks
Forbes.com 4.19.21 No two companies have so influenced the 20th Century contemporary design as have the iconic brands Herman Miller and Knoll. So, it seems quite fitting that these design powerhouses should come together with the combined companies will have the pro-forma annual revenue of $3.6 billion. https://bit.ly/3ucvTsa
Macy’s Backstage Move Is An Escalator Down, Not Up
eBay Is Helping Gen-Y and Gen-Z Get Their Investment Kicks
Iconic Design Brands Herman Miller And Knoll Join Ranks
Forbes.com 4.17.21 If Macy’s continues to anchor the surviving mall properties, then their survival revolves around moving up market, not down. This includes improving the customer experience, presentation, visual merchandising, and service. They should leave the discounting to the discounters. https://bit.ly/3unObqB
eBay Is Helping Gen-Y and Gen-Z Get Their Investment Kicks
eBay Is Helping Gen-Y and Gen-Z Get Their Investment Kicks
Kohl’s And Target: Product-Based Vs. Solution-Based Retailing
Forbes.com 4.12.21 eBay has begun a series of pop-up authentication events, intended to give their collectors and sellers a new source to both authenticate and value their rare kicks, as well as high-end watches, and collector cards. https://bit.ly/335Y3Jp
Kohl’s And Target: Product-Based Vs. Solution-Based Retailing
Nike Takes A Brand Stand, Reportedly Exits Six More Retailers, Incl DSW, Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Kohl’s And Target: Product-Based Vs. Solution-Based Retailing
Forbes.com 3.31.2021 For store-based retail to survive and prosper, the stores must elevate the customer experience beyond a three-dimensional e-commerce website. Merchandising implies a mixture of art and commerce. It includes contextual theming, storytelling, cross selling and solution-based rather than product-based retailing. https://bit.ly/2PVqYwc
Nike Takes A Brand Stand, Reportedly Exits Six More Retailers, Incl DSW, Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Nike Takes A Brand Stand, Reportedly Exits Six More Retailers, Incl DSW, Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Nike Takes A Brand Stand, Reportedly Exits Six More Retailers, Incl DSW, Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Forbes.com 3.26 2021 The department stores and specialties that had long been the haven for these manufacturers, have slowly moved from custodian, caretakers of their sacred national brands, to purveyors and peddlers. https://bit.ly/2PmeiPr
Dollar General Has The Capacity To Become A 30,000 Unit Retailer
Nike Takes A Brand Stand, Reportedly Exits Six More Retailers, Incl DSW, Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Nike Takes A Brand Stand, Reportedly Exits Six More Retailers, Incl DSW, Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Forbes.com 3.18.2021 Fortunately, Dollar General is stepping up to the plate in broadening both its consumables and non-consumable items. They have expanded cooler equipment to deal with perishable items, as well as offering “better for you” products at affordable prices. https://bit.ly/3cI0wiS
Betting Against A Bed Bath & Beyond Turnaround Would Be Unwise
Betting Against A Bed Bath & Beyond Turnaround Would Be Unwise
Betting Against A Bed Bath & Beyond Turnaround Would Be Unwise
Forbes.com 3.12.2021 | Mark Tritton commented that “Bed, Bath was focused on creating custom products for customer’s homes at affordable prices.” He further noted that while increased margins can become a nice dividend to the strategy it was not the prime motivator for private label. http://bit.ly/38LF5uW
TARGET CAPTURES $15B MARKET SHARE IN 2020
Betting Against A Bed Bath & Beyond Turnaround Would Be Unwise
Betting Against A Bed Bath & Beyond Turnaround Would Be Unwise
Forbes.com 3.2.2021 | Tuesday’s investors call was a celebration of a company that was firing on all cylinders. Not only did they meet the demands, but they changed the game. The tendency for shoppers to consolidate the number of places they shopped during the pandemic translated into guests shopping across more Target categories. http://bit.ly/3beSvky
SELLING WELLNESS
Betting Against A Bed Bath & Beyond Turnaround Would Be Unwise
BILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BRANDS, NO SWEAT
Forbes.com 2.11.2021 | Certainly, if Bezos and company can change the paradigm (and financial incentives) from treating diseases to incentivizing preventative practices, they may very well crack the code that has been so elusive for so long. http://bit.ly/3uXYx0G
BILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BRANDS, NO SWEAT
BILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BRANDS, NO SWEAT
BILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BRANDS, NO SWEAT
Forbes.com 2.8.2021 | All in Motion now becomes the tenth #Target private label brand to generate over a billion dollars in annual sales. And it did so in its introductory year. This speaks volumes for how in touch Target is to the market and its customers. https://lnkd.in/ey8sqcP
MACY'S MISERY
BILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BRANDS, NO SWEAT
GRAND MALL OVERHAUL
Forbes.com 1.22.21 | Regrettably, Macy’s has succumbed to a sad dichotomy playing out across the category. Struggling retailers are too often forced to stop the bleeding through cost cutting, while at the same time needing to improve the sub-par value proposition, which got them in trouble in the first place. http://bit.ly/2NTW7jl
GRAND MALL OVERHAUL
BILLION DOLLAR HOUSE BRANDS, NO SWEAT
GRAND MALL OVERHAUL
Forbes.com 12.27.20 | COVID-19 will likely be viewed as an historic inflexion point in consumer behavior. Shoppers feel more connected because of the pandemic’s shared experience. According to Accenture ACN , the pandemic has given rise to a more conscious consumerism, as well as a desire to buy locally. http://bit.ly/38bxmG0
POST PANDEMIC RETAIL EFFECTS WILL BE LONG LASTING
Young and Hurting - Macy’s and Simon Announce Painless Plans To Appeal To Gen Y and Z Shoppers
POST PANDEMIC RETAIL EFFECTS WILL BE LONG LASTING
Forbes.com 12.11.20 | There is no doubt that there is increased interest in shopping small, keeping local and regional merchants from going out of business, and keeping dollars in the community. http://bit.ly/2MPZDKY
REDEFINING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Young and Hurting - Macy’s and Simon Announce Painless Plans To Appeal To Gen Y and Z Shoppers
POST PANDEMIC RETAIL EFFECTS WILL BE LONG LASTING
Forbes.com 10.29.20 | Since its inception in 2016, Shoptalk established a new zenith for what retail industry conferences will be judged. Big, brash, tight, and epic are all adjectives that describe the Las Vegas event that has become, at least in my opinion, retailing’s “must attend” annual gathering. http://bit.ly/3rkfaS7
Young and Hurting - Macy’s and Simon Announce Painless Plans To Appeal To Gen Y and Z Shoppers
Young and Hurting - Macy’s and Simon Announce Painless Plans To Appeal To Gen Y and Z Shoppers
Young and Hurting - Macy’s and Simon Announce Painless Plans To Appeal To Gen Y and Z Shoppers
Forbes.com 10.7.20 | Retailers are working overtime to reengage the Generation Z demographic, which still wants to touch and feel the goods. Eighty-one percent of this cohort group prefer the instore experience, according to buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) leader Afterpay. As a result, retailers and the fast-growing BNPL industry are mounting a
Forbes.com 10.7.20 | Retailers are working overtime to reengage the Generation Z demographic, which still wants to touch and feel the goods. Eighty-one percent of this cohort group prefer the instore experience, according to buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) leader Afterpay. As a result, retailers and the fast-growing BNPL industry are mounting a multifront, seasonal attack aimed at this valuable consumer, on and offline. http://bit.ly/3bWO1OM
Mall Of America Extends A Hand Of Unity To Challenged Local Retailers
Klarna To Raise An Additional $500M In Capital, An IPO May Be In Its Future
Young and Hurting - Macy’s and Simon Announce Painless Plans To Appeal To Gen Y and Z Shoppers
Forbes.com 9.26.20 | Mall of America, for all its “bigness” is not a stranger to small entrepreneurs and independent retailers. Now it is providing a lifeline to some Minneapolis businesses hard hit by the pandemic and the civil unrest resulting from the death of George Floyd. On October 1, the mall will launch a new, temporary rent-free venue called “Community Commons” http://bit.ly/30k9Hid
Klarna To Raise An Additional $500M In Capital, An IPO May Be In Its Future
Klarna To Raise An Additional $500M In Capital, An IPO May Be In Its Future
Klarna To Raise An Additional $500M In Capital, An IPO May Be In Its Future
Forbes.com 9.10.20 | Klarna has a Facebook-like origin, as it was founded by three business school friends back in 2005. The company has been profitable almost since its inception. It is currently undergoing major global expansion including in the U.S., where it reported over 1 million new U.S. customers between May and August of this yea
Forbes.com 9.10.20 | Klarna has a Facebook-like origin, as it was founded by three business school friends back in 2005. The company has been profitable almost since its inception. It is currently undergoing major global expansion including in the U.S., where it reported over 1 million new U.S. customers between May and August of this year, alone. Globally, its sales across the entire platform, over the first six months of 2020 amounted to $24.9B, representing a 44% year-over-year growth. http://bit.ly/3uSOXwd
Hims & Hers - Featured At Target, Goes Where Few Brands Have Dared
Klarna To Raise An Additional $500M In Capital, An IPO May Be In Its Future
Klarna To Raise An Additional $500M In Capital, An IPO May Be In Its Future
Forbes.com 8.31.20 | The brand offers access to experienced, licensed medical professionals who can both consult and treat a wide range of medical conditions. Last year the brand claimed more than 1 million virtual patient appointments. Additionally, since late-March Hims & Hers expanded its offerings to include COVID-19 screenings and se
Forbes.com 8.31.20 | The brand offers access to experienced, licensed medical professionals who can both consult and treat a wide range of medical conditions. Last year the brand claimed more than 1 million virtual patient appointments. Additionally, since late-March Hims & Hers expanded its offerings to include COVID-19 screenings and sessions dealing with anxiety and depression, brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. http://bit.ly/3sRgIna