Dave Brandon, CEO of Toys“R”Us, took a walk through one of the company's stores recently and decided there needed to be a change. “It kind of reminds me of a garage sale," Brandon said as he looked at bins of cheap toys at the front of the store. "We’re not the dollar shop. We’re a…
Ryne Misso
Last week, Wal-Mart confirmed that it will be bringing back its rollback program to 300 stores. The decision indicates a major shift in its retail positioning, according to an article on SeekingAlpha. "We're focused on low prices, up front, on the shelf," John Forrest Ales, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said in an interview. The rollback program…
Macy’s announced a major strategy shift last week that will affect a significant number of its brick-and-mortar stores. The department store chain will be closing 100 of its 728 locations next year — approximately 14 percent of its stores. These closures signify Macy’s acceptance of the modern retail landscape laid out by e-commerce giant Amazon.com,…
Retailers have been conditioned by consumers to constantly seek out “what’s next,” trying to stay ahead of trends in shopping preferences and behaviors. A driving force behind changes in shopping trends over the past year has been mobile. Consumers are growing more comfortable using their mobile devices to fulfill their shopping needs, whether they're buying…
Consumer attitudes toward supermarket food preparation are changing. A strong demand for gourmet cooking persists over traditional takeout options. According to an article on Forbes, this trend is creating an opportunity for grocers to deliver unique meal options while creating a learning environment for actual chefs. That’s right, more and more supermarkets are hiring experienced…
Among the more common strategies used to engage back-to-school shoppers early is advancing advertising and promotional schedules.
Starting in next year's first quarter, Macy’s will have a new CEO to take on struggling sales and address the greater challenges surrounding the way people shop. Macy's current chief executive, Terry J. Lundgren, will step down and cede the top spot to the company's current president, Jeff Gennette. Lundgren will stay on as executive…
On June 3, Nickelodeon’s new film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" hit theaters across the country. Well before opening night, Nickelodeon partnered with Wal-Mart on a cross-media advertising campaign to drum up excitement for not only the movie, but also the toys and accessories that would launch with it.
Many new dads celebrated their first Father’s Day this past Sunday, and you can add Carolina Panther’s quarterback Cam Newton to that list. With his new dad status, Newton teamed up with Target to offer his fresh perspective to shoppers looking for gifts. The quarterback gave advice to young fans in the Charlotte area as…
Retailers are constantly seeking ways to innovate their use of digital media to drive different consumer actions. From email to online video to display, brands have diversified their advertising strategies to remain top of mind for hyperconnected consumers. Best Buy, for example, has used email for years to alert consumers to limited-time sales. Only in…
In today’s highly competitive environment, it's exceedingly difficult for retailers to differentiate themselves enough to win one trip from shoppers, let alone earn their long-term loyalty. Successful retailers have aimed their focus at consumers, finding unique ways to not only deliver incentives to bring them to the store, but also to interact and build relationships…
