Retail Stores
February 22, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Before COVID-19, “contactless” was just a box one needed to check off to modify service. Since the virus arrived in the U.S., however, contactless interactions have become a must-have for some businesses — and could become the standard for others. That shouldn’t, however, dismiss the need for in-person touchpoints at brick-and-mortar locations. E-commerce will continue…
February 17, 2021 at 10:05 pm
Century 21 Stores announced it will officially relaunch in 2021 after going bankrupt last year. The owners of the company, the Gindi family, bought back the intellectual property of the brand following the September 2020 bankruptcy. According to the company press release, the first step of the brand's revival will be for Century 21 to…
February 16, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Five Below plans to open 170 to 180 stores across the country during the next nine months, according to Chain Store Age. The company currently operates 1,051 locations nationwide, and it isn’t letting the pandemic stop its national expansion. The extreme-value tween and teen chain remains one of the few specialty retailers that hasn't pulled in…
February 10, 2021 at 5:54 pm
Aldi plans to open up about 100 new stores in the U.S. and expand its curbside pickup service, CNBC reported. The German supermarket chain hopes to add its curbside pickup service to 500 additional stores by the end of the year. The new store locations will be concentrated in Arizona, California, Florida and the Northeast. With the curbside…
February 10, 2021 at 1:05 pm
A year ago, we couldn’t have imagined that toilet paper would be the hardest thing to find on store shelves, or that we’d be wearing masks in stores and making purchases behind plexiglass barriers. What 2020 has taught the retail industry — and the whole world — is that a lot can change practically overnight.…
February 3, 2021 at 5:01 pm
After a challenging 2020, retailers are eyeing the year ahead with quiet optimism. The arrival of coronavirus vaccines means an end could be in sight to the constant closing and reopening that defined the last year, and stores can look forward to a release of pent-up spending when shoppers venture back out. However, nothing should…
February 2, 2021 at 8:41 pm
The only two Toys R Us stores, which opened in November 2019 as part of a small U.S. comeback attempt by the iconic toy chain, have now closed, reports AP News. The Toys R Us store at the Galleria mall in Houston shuttered on Jan. 15, while the other at the Garden State Plaza in…
February 2, 2021 at 7:37 pm
The events of 2020 have forever altered the ways we live, work, eat and shop. As people come to rely on e-commerce for groceries, household essentials and medicine, there's a renewed pressure on retailers to deliver in lighting speed, enable easy returns, and provide a full product profile. This, coupled with the growing trends of…
January 25, 2021 at 6:40 pm
Target said Monday it will spend $200 million on another round of employee bonuses and extend its coronavirus-related benefits after its strong holiday season. Indeed, Target has been one of the beneficiaries of pandemic trends, as shoppers consolidate trips, fill up bigger baskets and use curbside pickup. That pattern continued over the holidays, boosting the…
January 21, 2021 at 6:53 pm
Teen apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) outlined plans to close hundreds of stores in the coming years, while it looks to grow it lingerie and activewear brand Aerie to a $2 billion business. Chief Financial Officer Mike Mathias said during a virtual meeting with investors that AEO, which has about 880 stores, is looking to…
