Merchandising
August 15, 2018 at 10:02 am
August is here, and while many of us are soaking in the last summer beach days, back-to-school (BTS) season is already in full swing. BTS is the second most popular shopping season of the year, bringing excitement, nostalgia and, most importantly, sales. On the heels of the National Retail Federation’s 2018 BTS report, which forecasts…
August 14, 2018 at 9:40 am
Gross profit margin is — and will always be — a key metric in retail, as it enables you to make critical decisions around your assortment, inventory orders, pricing and promotions. For this reason, it’s important to not only measure your gross profit margins, but to continuously optimize them. Here are three tips to help…
August 10, 2018 at 11:17 am
J.C. Penney is expanding the baby products it sells at stores beyond clothing as the department store joins the many other chains trying to claim some of the Babies"R"Us sales up for grabs. The Plano, Texas-based chain is opening baby shops in 500 stores that are near now-shuttered Babies"R"Us locations. That brand closed the rest of…
August 6, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Outside of the holidays, few shopping seasons capture consumer fervor as much as the back-to-school (BTS) season. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported that 2018 BTS spending is expected to reach $82.8 billion. According to Deloitte, that includes 29 million estimated U.S. households buying supplies for the coming school year. Naturally, this has retailers planning for the rush, and the right insights can make or break the BTS season. With that in mind, Wiser set out to collect the consumer data you need to better understand 2018 BTS shopper habits. We surveyed nearly 3,500 shoppers in June to get an inside look at how they prepare to return to the classroom this fall.
August 2, 2018 at 2:14 pm
After an extended winter for most of the country, summer is in full swing. Summer creates two major reactions for most Americans. First, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the warmth and fresh air. Second, it's time for social gatherings with friends and families at someone’s house, preferably the one with the great outdoor…
July 31, 2018 at 11:11 am
The Vitamin Shoppe is looking to facilitate the discovery of new brands and innovative products through a vendor incubation program. Launchpad, as the Secaucus, N.J.-based retailer has dubbed the program, is meant to introduce emerging products and brands to shoppers through its relationships with vitamin and supplement brands, the company said in a press release. The…
July 12, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Grocery chain Kroger is developing its own apparel brand with some help from globally-renowned fashion designer Joe Mimran. The line, called Dip, will launch this fall in more than 300 Fred Meyer and Kroger Marketplace stores. Mimran, notable for launching Club Monaco, Joe Fresh and Pink Tartan, has designed a line that will include men’s, women’s, juniors, kids…
June 27, 2018 at 11:37 am
Meet Jen Forman, the founder and CEO of Charlotte’s Closet, an online platform where teens can borrow designer dresses for every occasion at a fraction of the retail cost. Jen is the subject of our latest installment of the Inner Circle Q&A!
June 11, 2018 at 3:09 pm
J.C. Penney announced last week that it has launched Fanatics shops inside 325 of its stores, with plans to introduce another 325 additional Fanatics destinations by the back-to-school season. Since 2014, sports apparel brand Fanatics has sold its merchandise online at jcpenney.com. Like the online store, the shops-in-shops will house Fanatics shops with local collegiate…
June 11, 2018 at 1:22 pm
In episode 149 of Total Retail Talks, Kerry Gibson-Morris, vice president, merchandising, zulily, discusses the merchandising tactics the online retailer of apparel, home goods and other products uses to target specific customer segments, and millennials in particular. In addition to detailing zulily's strategy, Gibson-Morris shares her advice for other retailers looking to optimize their merchandising…
