Retail Stores

Amid the shock and fear of the pandemic, shoppers stayed indoors, developing digital buying habits and bypassing their old brick-and-mortar haunts. But consumers have gotten a taste for in-person shopping again. This comes as a relief to many brands that know customers return less and impulse buy more when they shop in-store. Despite this silver…

Walmart raised its full-year forecast Thursday, as fiscal first-quarter sales rose nearly 8 percent and its large grocery business helped offset weaker sales of clothing and electronics. The retailer now anticipates consolidated net sales will rise about 3.5 percent in the fiscal year. Nearly 60 percent of Walmart's annual U.S. sales come from groceries. In the quarter,…

As part of its annual Fastest-Growing Retailers report, which ranks the top 50 U.S-based, publicly traded companies based on year-over-year (YoY) sales growth, Total Retail profiles the top retailers in the ranking. This year that included a profile of Boot Barn, which increased its YoY sales by nearly 67 percent in its 2022 fiscal year, good for…

Consumers barely kept up with inflation in April, as retail sales increased but fell short of expectations, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. The advanced sales report showed an increase of 0.4 percent, below the Dow Jones estimate for 0.8 percent. Excluding auto-related figures, sales increased 0.4 percent, which was in line with expectations. As the numbers are not…

Having survived the greatest pandemic of our lifetime, America’s retail stores and shopping malls have shown their endurance, resilience and continued relevance in our society. Now, they're undergoing an identity change, turning from places to buy things into places to do things, where customers pay not for products, but gather to enjoy experiences. This evolution…

Consumers are back in stores at rates we haven’t seen since the pandemic started. While e-commerce continues to boom, long delivery delays and out-of-stock products have propelled shoppers back to their in-person stores to find what they need and want in hand immediately. This long awaited return to brick-and-mortar shopping is a great opportunity to…

In a post-pandemic world, there's a real opportunity for brick-and-mortar businesses to leverage sensory modalities — especially visual, tactile and auditory — to create a unique experience for their brand. Many of the nation’s largest retailers are transforming their stores from places where consumers simply transact into multisensory experiences to increase brand affinity and loyalty. Music is…

Spring is here, lockdowns are a fading memory and the economic outlook is brighter. Although uncertainty abounds and wallets remain tight, we may be in for a softer landing than previously thought. You can celebrate the good news by looking for creative ways to earn wallet share when online and in-store traffic are more blended…

Bed Bath & Beyond announced yesterday that it has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 to close its business and seek a sale of its assets. The home goods retailer has received a commitment of approximately $240 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Sixth Street Specialty Lending to facilitate the store closing process, pending court approval. Bed…

In episode 397 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Raphael Peck, CEO of Brixton, a Southern California-based apparel and headwear brand. Peck provides an overview of the brand (1:00), details his professional background in retail that led to his current role (2:50), and touches upon his history of growing brands, including his strategy…