Personnel

In its second-quarter earnings report, Lowe's announced it would be doling out over $100 million in discretionary and profit-sharing bonuses to its frontline employees. The home improvement retailer employs roughly 300,000 associates, according to its website. Payscale, a compensation software and data company, estimates the average hourly rate at Lowe's to be $14.74. Shares of…

Between 2023 and 2028, artificial intelligence in retail markets is expected to grow from $7.3 billion to upwards of $29.45 billion — more than a 400 percent increase. But when most of us imagine how those innovations and implementations will transform the retail world, we tend to only focus on how those technologies benefit consumers. However, the…

Employees are an essential component in any brick-and-mortar store and play an important part in creating a positive customer experience. To stay competitive against online retailers such as Amazon.com, physical stores need to invest in their employees and ensure their satisfaction is at its peak. Given the present job market, this has escalated in importance.…

Retailers are facing a challenging hiring landscape, putting an added emphasis on benefit offerings as a compelling talent driver. HR leaders in the retail space have come to these conversations with a unique perspective, informed by the specific needs of their workforce. Consider the demographics of retail employees: Women make up the majority of the…

As the retail market gets more competitive, retailers are looking to new technologies — like artificial intelligence — to help grow their businesses. The global AI market size in retail is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 23.9 percent from 2022 to 2030. AI-driven tools such as automated inventory-taking and smart…

About 340,000 UPS workers who make up the Teamsters union for the company voted overwhelmingly on Friday to strike if their demands for higher wages, more full-time jobs, increased workplace safety and a ban on forced overtime aren't met by July 31 in a new contract. The current contract between the shipping company and the…

When many brick-and-mortar retailers closed their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting operational costs, including payroll, was a primary concern for business owners. Three years later, the retail sector is facing a very different set of challenges. Last quarter, the retail sector’s growth rate outstripped pre-pandemic levels. While that’s a positive trend for retail overall,…

Walgreens Boots Alliance is set to lay off about 500 employees, or 10 percent of its corporate workforce, the Chicago Sun-Times reported last week. Spokesperson Marty Maloney confirmed the layoffs to the news outlet, saying most of the cuts will be at the company's Deerfield, Ill. headquarters or Chicago office. In a letter obtained by…

Talent retention continues to take center stage in the retail industry and for good reason. Retailers are experiencing higher year-over-year turnover rates. For instance, the turnover rate for hourly in-store positions reached 75.8 percent, up from 68 percent in 2021. Furthermore, nearly half of U.S. frontline retail employees and two-thirds of frontline managers report considering leaving their jobs in…

We’ve seen this one before: As prices rise and wallets shrink, consumers are changing their habits. However, not every industry is losing out. Shoppers are still spending, but they increasingly need discounts and convenience.  For dollar stores and convenience stores, this is their moment to shine. Here’s what they're up against and how they can keep…