Inventory

Nordstrom Launches Retail Location With No Inventory
September 11, 2017 at 12:14 pm

Nordstrom announced the launch of a retail concept and neighborhood hub where customers can shop and access services in a central location — and without merchandise typically found in the retailer's stores. Nordstrom Local, which will launch in West Hollywood, Calif. on Oct. 3., will have a 3,000 sq. ft. footprint, which is much smaller than an average…

Smartphone Cameras: Let Your ‘Digital Eyes’ Capture Real-Time Data
August 18, 2017 at 8:40 am

We’re at the point where the majority of consumers have a smartphone with them at all times, meaning they also carry a camera wherever they go. Whenever something noteworthy happens in the world, there's almost always a picture or video available immediately. And with each year that passes, camera technology continues to improve while the…

From ‘Shark Tank’ to Amazon, Spikeball's Inventory Management Strategy Shines
August 17, 2017 at 9:42 am

Appearing on the television show “Shark Tank” can be a dream come true for many startups and SMBs — that is if you have a strong inventory management strategy. With millions of viewers, brands featured on the show run the risk of selling too much product with too little inventory. When Spikeball, a manufacturer, distributor…

A Localized Approach to Back-to-School Planning
July 24, 2017 at 12:06 pm

Despite the fact that summer is not yet half way over, many retailers are already rolling out full-blown back-to-school floor sets. In a world where timing is everything, is it really necessary at this point? The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts that consumers will collectively spend $83.6 billion on back-to-school items this year, more than…

Back-to-School Spending to Reach $83B This Year
July 14, 2017 at 8:56 am

Total spending for K-12 and college is expected to reach $83.6 billion, up from last year’s $75.8 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual back-to-school spending survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics. Here’s how the spending breaks down: Families with children in elementary school through high school plan to spend an average of $687.72 each, for…

Target Makes Changes to Private Label Brands
July 5, 2017 at 1:51 pm

Target Corp. is making some changes to the brands it sells. The retailer is beginning to phase out both the Merona and Mossimo clothing lines and, at the same time, introducing four new brands that can’t be found on competing online stores: Goodfellow & Co.: Menswear line, replacing Mossimo A New Day: the new “modern…

RFID: Fact or Fiction?
May 15, 2017 at 11:47 am

The industry has been talking about RFID for 20 years, but it still hasn't come into common use or delivered significant value to retailers. The biggest issue hasn't been the technology itself, but rather the hype and promise around RFID before it was in the right place to deliver. The price of RFID tags has…

Integrated Supply Chain Pays Off for Nebraska Furniture Mart
March 6, 2017 at 10:35 am

In episode 82 of Total Retail Talks, Scott Hansen, general manager, supply chain and logistics at Nebraska Furniture Mart, the largest home furnishing store in North America, discusses how the company has benefited from implementing an integrated supply chain for its online and brick-and-mortar operations.

Survey: Retail’s Disconnect With Shoppers and How to Fix It
February 27, 2017 at 10:33 am

Despite retailers’ heavy spending on value-added services and personalization, shoppers say they see little return on the investments, according to a new survey from Cognizant and Forrester Consulting. In the online poll of 4,500 smartphone-owning shoppers, only 35 percent on average make use of in-store services such as interactive displays and mobile checkout. Personalization receives…

Things Remembered's CEO on Innovation, Testing
January 18, 2017 at 12:24 pm

In episode 69 of Total Retail Talks, recorded at this week's National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City, Total Retail's Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Lisa Gavales, president and CEO of Things Remembered. Gavales discusses what innovation means for the personalized gifts retailer, how testing influences Things Remembered's product selection — both in-store…