Merchandising

Friday morning’s news that Wal-Mart plans to close 269 stores will certainly have an effect on walk-in retail — especially if you’re on the hunt for inexpensive big-screen televisions, ammunition or Garth Brooks’ exclusive-to-Wal-Mart “Blame It On My Roots” box set. But what effect will the closures have on the way you look when you…

Brands face numerous obstacles when it comes to executing strong merchandising campaigns — insufficient reporting and data, lack of responsibility, and overcomplexity in the retail merchandising process, to name a few. These are magnified tenfold during busy shopping seasons, and many retailers themselves say their stores struggle to achieve compliance when merchandising results are evaluated.…

Forget jeans. It’s all about bras, undies and sleepwear at American Eagle Outfitters. The Pittsburgh-based teen retailer is zeroing in on its small but red-hot Aerie brand — and is expected to amp up the expansion of the brand’s stand-alone stores. And why not? In the three months ended Oct. 31, same-store sales of the Aerie brand…

lululemon athletica is at a turning point. It's been two years since the activewear company brought in Laurent Potdevin as chief executive officer. His task: cut the waste and expense of designing, making and distributing its garments, and rebuild customer trust after the 2013 recall of $98 yoga pants that became sheer when the wearer bent…

I like to remind folks that consumers are actually people who happen to shop once and a while and look for something beyond “stuff.” This past May, I talked about one retailer’s return to past glories, and what I saw for its brick-and mortar future. Here's why chic beats cheap every time. Cheap Chic Recaptivates…

Target is teaming up with SoulCycle on a 10-city tour that will include free cycling classes and pop-up shops, making good on two of the retailer's New Year’s resolutions — to get fit and be cool. SoulCycle is the gold standard for studio cycling, complete with candlelight, rocking music, and A-list devotees including Kelly Ripa…

This interactive webinar will seek to help retailers get the most bang for their buck from their data.

When Ron Boire was growing up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, helping out around the property for $2 an hour, he saw new books as an out-of-reach luxury. “We didn’t have any money, and my mother was a voracious reader,” he said. “I remember telling a friend, when I grow up, I want…

Consumers are getting comfy. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a shift in how consumers dress for both work and play. From casual tennis shoes and T-shirts at work to yoga pants at the local watering hole, fitness wear is moving beyond the gym and hitting the streets. According to NPD Group, "athleisure" clothing…

While Target is holding fast with its decision to market a controversial Christmas sweater, Nordstrom has buckled under the weight of social media criticism, pulling a potentially offensive Hanukkah version from its ugly holiday sweater lineup. The festive blue women's sweater by Faux Real features a large menorah and the words "Chai Maintenance" across the chest.…