Retail Stores

When thinking of the 2020 holiday season, “normal” is likely the last word that comes to mind for many retailers. Instead, they might think of the last holiday season as “resilient” or “historic.” E -commerce surged then and now, and as another unique holiday season approaches, pair that uniqueness with much improved consumer optimism. Despite…

Despite hopes that this year’s back-to-school shopping season would mark a return to form after a year marred by COVID-19, foot traffic data at the nation’s top retailers indicate the season missed optimistic expectations. Foot traffic from July 5 to Aug. 31 shows that shopping this year aligned more closely with last year’s trends than…

In episode 323 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andre Persaud, chief retail officer of Rite Aid, the trusted, everyday care connector operating over 2,500 retail pharmacy locations across 17 U.S. states. Persaud discusses Rite Aid's RxEvolution strategy, how the business is redesigning the in-store experience for its customers, and the internal cross-functional…

Back-to-school season has come to a close as parents successfully planned for the first return to school in nearly two years. Marketers who found success undoubtedly had a plan in place to take advantage of the surge, helping them pull share of wallet. With the pandemic-driven boon to e-commerce and our more recent hope for…

The holiday shopping season is pivotal for retail revenue generation. Over November and December, National Retail Federation (NRF) studies have found that American households each spend nearly $1,000 on holiday items — ranging from gifts and decorations to traditional foods. With in-store operations mostly resumed, 2021 holiday shopping is looking more familiar to consumers. However,…

Target announced earlier this week that it's doubling the number of “Apple at Target shop-in-shop experiences,” expanding from 17 to 36 stores in time for holiday shopping. The new concept, which launched in February, doubles Apple’s footprint in select Target stores and brings displays for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, the HomePod mini, Apple TV, AppleCare and other accessories together…

Adobe Analytics is out with its latest holiday shopping forecast, and the analytics firm is predicting record online shopping sales even as supply chain issues continue to challenge retailers. “We're entering a second holiday season where the pandemic will dictate the terms,” Patrick Brown, vice president of growth marketing and insights at Adobe, said in…

Retail sales increased in September as worries about the COVID-19 delta variant pushed consumer spending toward merchandise rather than services like dining, entertainment or travel — despite supply chain disruptions and inflation, the National Retail Federation (NRF)said last week. NRF’s calculation of retail sales — which is based on U.S. Census Bureau monthly retail data but excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants…

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, sure. But it can also create romanticized expectations that are near impossible to meet. While there's certainly a lot to miss about physical shopping, it's possible some consumers have built up the retail experience in their head to the point where it will be hard for stores to deliver.…

For many retailers, this holiday season represents a make-or-break moment in what’s been (another) anything-but-normal year. Right now, retailers are planning their promotions and campaigns in hopes of driving big sales around key dates such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The savviest data-driven retailers will look to segment their efforts this holiday season in…