Management
October 25, 2018 at 4:07 pm
It seems that there are only two types of retailers today: those facing deep existential challenges and Amazon.com. This competitive landscape has caused many brick-and-mortar retailers to lose sight of the customer experience. A new horrible term called “Amazonization” (yes, it really has got two "z's" in it) has recently emerged. Aside from the ghastly…
October 23, 2018 at 1:47 pm
Total Retail is excited to present its eighth annual ranking of the 100 fastest-growing publicly traded retailers. This year’s list, as in years past, is based on companies’ year-over-year net sales growth, comparing the 2017 fiscal year to the 2016 fiscal year. For the first time in the eight years that Total Retail has complied…
October 19, 2018 at 9:03 am
In today’s Retail Right Now, Total Retail’s Caitlin Sullivan and Joe Keenan dive into the issues that led to Sears’ bankruptcy filing.
October 15, 2018 at 9:36 am
Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday after years of staying afloat through financial maneuvering and relying on billions of CEO Eddie Lampert's own money. Lampert, who has served as CEO for the past five years, will step down from that post, effective immediately, but remain chairman. As part of the bankruptcy, Sears will shutter…
October 11, 2018 at 1:53 pm
DSW Inc. announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the operations of Camuto Group, a footwear and accessory designer and developer responsible for the Vince Camuto brand and the footwear licenses for Jessica Simpson and Lucky Brand. In addition, DSW is teaming with brand development, marketing and entertainment company Authentic Brands Group (ABG) to acquire several intellectual…
October 10, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Starbucks announced earlier this week new childcare benefits for employees, offering 10 subsidized backup care days for children or adults. This latest news comes on the heels of Starbucks decision to offer its workers an expansive new set of benefits in January. At the time, the coffee chain said that it was giving all baristas sick leave…
October 9, 2018 at 11:31 am
The retail industry saw its rate of announced CEO changes among S&P 500 companies rise to nearly 23 percent last year, from 16 percent, according to the Conference Board’s annual study "CEO Succession Practices," developed in partnership with the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. That was the highest rate the sector has seen since…
October 8, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Specialty mattress retailer Mattress Firm late last week filed voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. The move was made, according to Mattress Firm, to "strengthen its balance sheet and optimize its store footprint." The largest U.S. mattress retailer said it plans to close 700 of its 3,230 company-owned stores. Those stores are…
October 2, 2018 at 2:15 pm
This is an excerpt from an interview conducted with Stephen Hawthornthwaite, co-founder and CEO, and Roth Martin, co-founder and chief creative officer, both of Rothy’s, a San Francisco-based startup that turns plastic water bottles into trendy women’s shoes, which it sells via its website and a brick-and-mortar store in its hometown. Hawthornthwaite and Martin were…
October 2, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Amazon.com said it would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all of its United States workers. The retail giant said the pay increase would include part-time workers and those hired through temporary agencies. Amazon said it would also lobby Washington to raise the federal minimum wage. The new wages will apply to more…
