The retail industry will feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for months to come, but as the percentage of Americans who have received the COVID-19 vaccine increases, signs are pointing to a return to out-of-home spending. The world of traditional retail is on fire, and in order to last, brands must learn to adapt…
After a year of social distancing, quarantines, and Zoom calls, it's no wonder people are yearning for human contact and physical experiences more than ever. In fact, 25 percent of online shoppers agree that online shopping is less satisfying than visiting a brick-and-mortar store, according to Kantar’s COVID-19 Barometer. However, the brands that thrive moving…
Retailers across the U.S. have prioritized safety throughout the pandemic in order to keep their employees and customers safe and their businesses open. However, employers are hesitant to require their employees to get vaccinated given potential negative implications and pushback from those employees who do not or cannot get a vaccine. And looking further down…
J.C. Penney's new owners, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management, announced last week that they have cut the corporate staff of more than 3,500 by about 100 people. In addition, field operation was cut by 550 people. When J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020, there were about 84,000 associates employed y the…
Macy's cannot offer the use of its Scan and Pay app for purchases from departments where employees make commissions, and must pay back commissions on such purchases, a labor relations arbitrator has ruled, reports RIS News. The determination applies to three collective bargaining agreements between Macy's and employees at stores in Boston and other New…
Store-within-a-store (SWAS) strategies are nothing new, from the more traditional cosmetic brand and department store relationships, to the ongoing partnerships we’ve seen between brands like Best Buy and Sony. And while the concept is a familiar one, this past year has brought a new flurry of activity in this space: Target with Ulta, Kohl’s with…
The National Retail Federation's (NRF) chief economist Jack Kleinhenz said yesterday that the U.S. economy could see its fastest growth in more than three decades. “While there's a great deal of uncertainty about how fast and far this economy will grow in 2021, surveys show an increase in individuals being vaccinated, more willingness to receive…
As vaccines continue to roll out and states begin to open up, many retailers will be opening their doors to the public again, perhaps for the first time since early last year. However, operations won’t return to 100 percent normal; after 2020, the customer experience will look a bit different. If you’re planning on reopening…
There’s no question that physical retail has changed forever, thanks to the pandemic. Stepping into a store looks dramatically different than it did a year ago, and retailers will be adjusting their store experience long after COVID-19 has been contained. The need to do so is confirmed by a recent study by First Insight, which…
Between mid-July 2020 and early August 2020, NAPCO Research conducted an in-store review of 100 top retailers’ COVID-19 safety measures based on 29 unique criteria, including signage, safety messaging, traffic, technology, and friendliness/experience. The resulting report highlighted the top performing retailers, emerging trends in COVID-19 readiness, best practices for retailers, and the main areas for…
