Wholesale is so 2019. Enter 2021, a year of continued post-ish pandemic e-commerce growth, countless brands pulling back on wholesale partnerships to go direct to consumer (D-to-C), and the ultimate wholesale-marketing bridge: marketplaces. Retailers spent 2020 duct-taping together broken supply chains, reeling from wholesale partners slashing orders as stores shuttered across the country, and scrambling…
Across the country, “MASKS REQUIRED” signs have been replaced with “HELP WANTED.” And these signs aren’t coming down anytime soon thanks to a nationwide shortage of workers. Why? Many economists point to low wages, and there's no doubt retailers could do better here, but there's another big factor: retailers don’t make it easy to work…
In episode 306 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Emilie Hoyt, founder and CEO of LATHER, top quality products for the body, face, hair and home made from unique, natural ingredients and pure essential oils. Hoyt discusses LATHER's business, what led her to start the brand, and to what she attributes the company's 20-year…
At its best, shopping is aspirational. Who doesn’t daydream about arriving home clutching bulging bags full of clothes, gadgets or other goodies from their favorite store? During the pandemic, we romanticized in-person shopping even as we placed online orders. Now that we’re all getting vaccinated, consumers are eager to get out for some real-world retail…
Bloomingdale’s announced this week that it will use the oft-cited nickname Bloomie's for a new location, opening in Fairfax, Virginia, on Aug. 26. The word Bloomie’s has for decades been used as a term of endearment by fans of the original luxury department store chain. The roughly 22,000-square-foot space will be much smaller than a typical…
In episode 305 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jill Renslow, executive vice president of business development at Mall of America, the nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex. Renslow discusses her current role and 24-year career at the mall, the various entertainment and attractions that set Mall of America apart, and what the…
As state and federal governments lift mandatory safety measures following CDC guidance, businesses have begun cautiously reducing their protocols for the first time for both their employees and customers. National retailers like Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, Target, and Starbucks have announced that vaccinated customers do not have to wear masks, and many have dropped the…
When it comes to how cities serve their citizens, success is a long game. It takes years (and even decades) to shift a city to accommodate changes in how we live, and that’s precisely why city planners, businesses, and real estate agents alike are closely watching recent trends surrounding how and where we live, work…
Retail sales remained at elevated levels in May despite month-to-month fluctuations that masked near-record performance, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said today. The Commerce Department reported on Tuesday that May retail sales declined 1.3 percent month-over-month. However, the industry's largest trade association says the May sales data doesn't tell the whole story. “While May retail sales…
In episode 302 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Gary Lenett, co-founder and CEO of DUER, a Canadian apparel brand combining everyday wear and performance wear for men and women. Listen in as Lenett discusses DUER's business and products, his professional background in fashion, and the inspiration behind launching the brand. He details…
