The National Retail Federation (NRF) delivered a reassuring message to retailers after President Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement on April 2. Despite the implementation of tariffs, the NRF expects the inflation rate to remain at current levels of 2.5 percent as measured by the personal consumption expenditure index. In addition, the retail industry is forecast to grow…
Joe Keenan
In episode 478 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Megan Porteous, chief revenue officer of Carve Designs, a women's sustainable swimwear and clothing lifestyle brand. Listen in as Porteous discusses the genesis and mission of Carve Designs (1:45), its various sales channels (2:55), and her career background as well as newfound responsibilities at…
The head of fast-fashion chain Primark, Paul Marchant, has resigned with immediate effect after he admitted an “error of judgment” towards a woman in a social environment. Parent company Associated British Foods (ABF) said in a statement on Monday that Marchant had accepted his actions fell below the standards expected, and the chief executive of…
Kroger countersued Albertsons on Tuesday, escalating a legal battle between the companies following the collapse of their proposed $25 billion merger in December. Albertsons terminated the merger immediately after courts blocked it and sued Kroger, alleging a breach of contract that led to the deal falling apart. Albertsons asked for billions in damages along with a $600 million…
Nike has warned that sales will drop by a double-digit percentage in its current quarter as the sneaker giant contends with new tariffs, sliding consumer confidence, and a slower-than-expected turnaround. In a conference call with analysts, finance chief Matt Friend said Nike expects its sales decline in the fiscal fourth quarter, which is set to…
In episode 477 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ankur Daga, CEO and co-founder of Angara, a vertically integrated online jeweler that sources and procures stones, designs jewelry, and manufactures pieces in-house. Listen in as Daga talks about his background as well as the founding of Angara (1:45), including the white space the…
Consumers spent at a slower than expected pace in February, though underlying readings indicated that sales still grew at a solid pace despite worries over an economic slowdown and rising inflation. Retail sales increased 0.2 percent on the month, better than the downwardly revised decline of 1.2 percent the prior month but below the Dow…
Walgreens Boots Alliance says it has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners as the struggling retailer looks to turn itself around after years of losing money. The pharmacy retail chain announced last week that Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share, giving the deal an equity value just under $10 billion. Walgreens…
Kroger said on Monday CEO Rodney McMullen has resigned after a board investigation found that his personal conduct was "inconsistent" with certain company policies. The conduct is not related to financial performance, operations or reporting, and it did not involve any Kroger associates, the company said. The surprise ouster of the 64-year-old executive comes after…
In episode 476 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Bob D'Loren, CEO of Xcel Brands, a leader in live stream media and social commerce, and co-founder of ORME, a social commerce app that features TikTok-style videos within a shoppable marketplace. Listen in as D'Loren describes the Xcel Brands organization and its mission to…
On Wednesday, Target announced that it has struck a multiyear deal with Champion, the sportswear brand long associated with hoodies and sweatpants. Authentic Brands Group bought Champion from HanesBrand last year. Starting in August, Target will carry an exclusive line of more than 500 items from Champion in most stores and online, including apparel for adults…
In episode 475 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kostas Georgakopoulos, chief technology officer and chief information security officer at Mondelēz International, one of the largest snack companies in the world offering iconic global and local brands in over 150 countries. Listen in as Georgakopoulos describes the Mondelēz organization and his role (1:40),…
Consumers sharply curtailed their spending in January, indicating a potential weakening in economic growth ahead, according to a Commerce Department report released on Friday. Retail sales slipped 0.9 percent for the month from an upwardly revised 0.7 percent gain in December, even worse than the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.2 percent decline. The sales…
Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over the weekend and is looking to shutter its U.S. retail stores where it sold brands like Quiksilver, Billabong, and Volcom. The company said in a Monday press release that it filed for bankruptcy to "implement an orderly monetization and disposition of its businesses." It submitted a…
Beyond has agreed to acquire the rights of the BuyBuy Baby brand for $5 million. The owner of Bed Bath & Beyond said Monday that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with BBBY Acquisition to acquire certain assets, databases, domains, intellectual property, vendor relationships, and content related to BuyBuy Baby. Beyond said the…
