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…
COVID-19 created a shakeup for retailers in all categories across the U.S., with brick-and-mortar operations undergoing some of the most significant operational changes they've ever faced. Sales associates have also felt the brunt of those changes; they've been asked to risk their health and press onward while the rest of us have enjoyed — if…
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…
There may still be some uncertainty when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, but one thing is certain: The 2020 holiday shopping season was an anomaly, and this year is going to look a lot different. According to eMarketer, U.S. holiday retail sales are expected to increase 2.7 percent to $1.093 trillion in 2021. While…
The food and grocery retail industry has changed dramatically in recent years, from new competitors through new channels to new consumer preferences, and that's to say nothing of the impact of COVID. Big-box grocery retailers are under increasing pressure to deliver an ever-more personalized experience on choice and value while maintaining availability for the many…
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.…
In the wake of the pandemic, workers across every industry — technology, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, etc. — are putting in their two-weeks notice in favor of better pay, increased flexibility and equitable working conditions. Dubbing it “The Great Resignation,” amongst the hardest hit by mass employee exodus is the retail industry. According to the U.S.…
