Supply Chain

COVID-19 has upended the way consumers shop for everything, especially groceries. Last year, delivery represented 3 percent of U.S. grocery sales; in the last month, grocery delivery services like Instacart have shared statistics showing that 9 percent of U.S. grocery sales are now via delivery. As many consumers hesitate to return to any kind of…

COVID-19 has brought new challenges to every aspect of life, and at the same time created opportunities and momentum for new trends and innovations. In an age of social distancing, D-to-C brands are deprived of their routine face-to-face interactions with customers. While a myriad of products are available online, creating differentiation and providing value to…

In episode 245 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paige McFarling, director of mission advancement at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by disadvantaged artisans from more than 120 artisan groups in more than 35 countries. Listen in as McFarling shares the brand's story and mission;…

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to sweep across the globe and leave chaos in its wake, there's a realization from everyone that the disruption isn't ending any time soon. For retailers, there have never been tougher climates to trade in — physical stores have been closed, consumer confidence is low, and peoples are spending less…

The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the retail experience overnight. Suddenly, the standard for fulfillment is contactless delivery and curbside pickup. There’s also an overwhelming consumer demand for essential items, such as groceries, toilet paper, gloves, masks and hand sanitizer — a demand so great that not even an e-commerce behemoth like Amazon.com, which was forced…

From makeup and toothbrushes to mattresses and luggage, the direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) market has grown exponentially in recent years and the shopper experience today is unlike anything we’ve seen before — with virtually no signs of slowing. In fact, according to a 2019 report from eMarketer, there are well over 400 D-to-C companies today, and while…

COVID-19 has changed our world. It’s impacting life itself, including our ability to get access to the right essential goods. It has overwhelmed delivery and pickup networks. Some small, innovative businesses have been able to quickly adapt and focus strictly on curbside or pickup, while larger chains have been challenged to hire fast enough to…

In episode 244 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ben Scrivens, founder and president of Fright-Rags, a designer and producer of original and licensed horror T-shirts. Listen in as Scrivens discusses the history of the brand, Fright-Rags' business evolution during COVID-19, and how the company has dealt with an uptick in orders in recent…

Global circumstances have driven the retail industry into a period of extremes. Some retailers have closed the doors on brick-and-mortar sales and are experiencing year-over-year revenue loss. Others are struggling to keep up with consumer demand and are hiring thousands of new employees. It feels for many like a time of uncertainty, and while the…

The fashion industry is facing its biggest crisis yet — the COVID-19 pandemic. Spanish fashion group Inditex announced the closure of over 3,800 stores across 39 markets. The group, which owns brands like Zara and Massimo Dutti, saw its sales drop 24 percent in early March. For Neiman Marcus, bankruptcy may be a possible outcome.…