Stay in Touch
Fred Segal is mixing its e-commerce investments with a return to storefront expansion and relaunching trendy retro brands like Camp Beverly Hills for a new audience. Lotman spoke to Modern Retail about reviving what was once cool again, translating Los Angeles sensibilities to other places and the shortened brand lifecycle at a retailer like Fred Segal. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
In July, sales of hand sanitizer and medical face masks were up 24% and 16%, respectively, compared to June a Instacart. Now, however, consumers are looking for more stylish and buzzier versions of formerly un-sexy necessities. To play to this new consumer, brands like Rowing Blazers and Touchland are investing in more fashionable styles and sexier messaging.
The hair salon industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic. Now, service providers are looking to double down on growth opportunities. One of these is blowout specialist Drybar, which is looking to open hundreds of new franchise locations in the coming years.
Convenience store startup Foxtrot is trying to become a national name. Over the last few weeks, the company announced a series of expansion plans. For one, it plans to open 50 new locations over the next two years. Foxtrot is also launching a national delivery program called Foxtrot Anywhere. The retailer's CMO Carla Dunham joined the Modern Retail podcast and spoke about the company's big ambitions.
Modern convenience store chain Foxtrot plans to open 50 new stores over the course of the next two years, expanding to New York City, Austin, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and Houston. Under the expansion, Foxtrot will retain its commitment to under thirty minutes delivery and under five minutes pickup, data-driven merchandizing and 40% local goods.
Health care is shaping up to be the next area of interest for big-box retailers, with companies like Dollar General and Walmart searching for ways to boost their medical credibility. Two recent announcements highlight the new arms race.
The line between store and e-commerce retail associates continues to blur. This month, Apple became the first major company to test a "flex" work schedule for its retail associates beyond the pandemic. The tech giant is reportedly allowing the pilot program's participants work both in-store and at-home during the test run.
This summer, several brands are abandoning the traditional showroom and getting on the road. As pop-ups and showrooms return, brands including Cuyana and Maker&Son are bringing their inventory to customers via a showroom-on-wheels concept.
This month marked the first time that two million passengers were screened in airports on a single day. Suitcase and travel brands are embracing the return of air travel by offering new products, expanding into new markets and doubling down on brick-and-mortar.
In 2020, the retail industry was completely upended. Some stores closed, others were forced to pivot. Now, longer-term business decisions are being made once again. Modern Retail mapped out all the ways that retail might be changing within a single city block.
As cities open back up, out of home is coming back into play -- but a new strategy is emerging. For one, subways still aren't the holy grail they once were. Instead, brands are increasingly turning to digital signage -- as well as outdoor spaces where people feel more comfortable.
Grocers like Walmart and Kroger saw explosive growth in 2020. Now, in an attempt to both keep growth apace and figure out more profitable revenue streams, they're looking into ghost kitchens.
Before the pandemic, there were distinct lines between New York's most popular neighborhoods for shopping -- from Soho to Fifth Avenue. Now, no one knows exactly what the most sought-after New York City retail neighborhoods will be going forward, and retailers are operating in a holding pattern until more office workers and tourists return to Manhattan.
Brands are carrying outdoor retail experiences into a post-pandemic future. During the pandemic, outdoor malls outpaced indoor shopping and were better equipped to accommodate social distancing regulations. In response, traditionally indoor retailers and brands experimented by pushing their shopping experiences outside, hosting open-air popups or building outdoor structures. Now, these brands and retailers are incorporating the outdoors into their future retail plan.
When customers place an order through Amazon’s Prime Now program -- its two-hour grocery delivery service that the company is now rolling into its main shopping app -- the order is routed to a network of Amazon workers, called Amazon Shoppers, to pick the orders. Modern Retail spoke to one shopper who shared how her job has changed.
The Nation Retail Federation predicts record Halloween sales of $10.14 billion this year with candy and costumes, in particular, growing 20% and 28%. Still, while in person shopping opens up alongside an in-person holiday, Halloween e-commerce continues to thrive in 2021. And retailers are preparing accordingly.
Read MoreAt the Modern Retail Summit, retail marketers will discuss everything from the Amazon effect to new infrastructure to the shift in the direct-to-consumer world.
Book Passes
