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Target just announced that its opened around 100 small format stores. These curated shops -- generally in metropolitan locations -- have helped the big box retailer expand and provide more localized offerings. But past retailers have made the same scaled-back attempt and failed.
As big-box retailers like Target, Walmart and Kohl's are grappling with how to defend their business against Amazon's endless aisles, they are finding that in order to gain sales traction in certain categories, offering a curated, sometimes smaller assortment is key.
Brick-and-mortar remains an important sales channel for any mall-based retailer, but especially those whose most frequent customers are teenagers. According to a study last year from the International Council of Shopping Centers, 95% of Gen Z shoppers visited a mall between February and April 2018, compared to 75% of millennial and 58% of Gen X shoppers.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Nike and Foot Locker announced today that they'll let customers at Foot Locker's newest store, located in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan, use the Nike app in-store. It's indicative of the way that wholesale relationships are evolving.
Children's apparel brand Rockets of Awesome is opening its first pop-up store in New York City on August 8. As a company that caters to both children and parents, it's looking at its store as a way to figure out how they want to shop together.
As grocers look to generate more sales through in-store pickup and delivery they're facing challenges similar to other big box retailers, who have found that stores only double so well as fulfillment centers. Chains like ShopRite and Kroger are looking to build more automated warehouses that can fulfill delivery orders more quickly and more cost efficiently.
Retailers continue to partner with startups to explore implementing Amazon Go-like checkout solutions, but efforts are still in the early stages, particularly as the growth of Amazon Go hasn't quickened as retailers previously feared.
Like other digitally native brands, ThirdLove is opening its retail store to get in front of customers they weren’t reaching online through marketing efforts, or because they didn’t want to shop a brand for the first time online. By opening a store now, ThirdLove is catching up to other direct-to-consumer brands that have already tested temporary retail stores and are opening permanent ones.
Hollister is relaunching its lingerie brand Gilly Hicks by opening four new pop-up stores. This is part of the retailer's strategy to reinvigorate business and catch people's attention using small format, more experiential spaces. This strategic shift follows the lead of DTC brands. But can a large ailing retailer ride the same wave?
Toys 'R' Us is angling for a comeback, but in order to do so, it will have to win over vendors who may be skeptical of working with a brand that's fresh out of bankruptcy. On Thursday, Tru Kids Brands – the new holding company of Toys 'R' Us – announced that it would be opening up two stores, one in Texas and one in New Jersey, in time for the holidays. Tru Kids will be partnering on the new stores with b8ta, a startup that's built both its own physical storefronts as well as a software platform to help retailers build experiential concepts
Last year, VC firm Greycroft announced that it was launching a joint $50 million fund with grocery chain Albertsons to invest in startups and platforms to power the grocery sector. Greycroft partner and co-founder Ian Sigalow, who manages the Albertsons fund, broke down the fund's playbook, how the firm is approaching grocery and how he sees traditional brick-and-mortar chains like Albertsons evolving.
The Dick's partnership is the first time that Story is partnering with another retailer, since it got acquired by Macy's in 2018. While "it's a little atypical for a retailer to sponsor another retailer," it's something that Macy's is looking to do more of, according to Story's founder and now Macy's brand experience offer Rachel Shechtman.
Chicago-based startup Foxtrot, which is building a chain of upscale convenience stores, today expanded to its second market with the opening of a store in Dallas. The startup's expansion comes as chains like 7-Eleven and Wawa are also putting more effort into delivery.
Store fulfillment for online orders is something Target has been investing in heavily. Through a combination of ship-from-store, same day delivery powered by Shipt and in-store order pick-up and drive-up options, Target stores now fulfill 80% of online orders. As CEO Brian Cornell told investors during the company’s first-quarter results for 2019, it’s an operation that’s profitable for Target.
Dollar General is bringing more of its logistics capabilities in-house, seeking more control over its operations as it expands to the fresh and frozen food categories.
Clumsy hyper-targeting hits consumers with the creep-factor. Hyper-personalization is different, incorporating factors like timing and frequency to create an ad experience that's actually welcome. Download the guide to learn more.
Instacart just announced that Seth Dallaire is its new chief revenue officer. Dallaire is an Amazon advertising veteran, who helped build the company's now multi-billion dollar business. His track record points to new horizons for the grocery delivery company.
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