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Once known as a mall staple among tween and teen girls, Claire's is attempting to modernize itself for Gen Z consumers. The company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and has since brought on a new CEO to overhaul the brand, wants to use e-commerce to drive sales back to its experience-focused stores.
Nordstrom embraces the wellness category in a new brand partnership with at-home health testing brand Viome Life Sciences. Last year, a slew of formerly-apparel-dominated retailers shifted focus to beauty and wellness, and now retailers like Nordstrom are expanding the scope of the category.
Niche, category-specific marketplaces like health foods purveyor Bubble are offering an increasingly appealing alternative to Amazon for both brands and customers looking for a more curated marketplace experience, explained Bubble CEO and Founder Jessica Young at Digiday and Modern Retail's Marketplace Strategies Forum.
As brands grapple with their physical retail strategy, some are finding opportunity in looking outside the traditional retail hubs. Fashion brand Faherty, for example, has embraced resort and vacation destinations for its new stores. This strategy is a departure from the company's previous store expansion approach, which focused on coastal cities.
The future of co-working spaces, which were first popularized by WeWork and others, was unclear during lockdowns. Now, these concepts are taking on a new life by opening up locations in retail spaces, such as existing shopping centers, restaurants and bars.
The pandemic changed the role of the store, pushing consumers online, slowing in-store foot traffic and upping the demand for convenience. In response, treasure hunt retailers -- formerly devoted to an ambling, in-store discovery process – are now embracing a more modern experience, online and off.
Specialized toy retailers have struggled to regain their market share over the past decade. This has led companies like Toys 'R' Us and Disney to seek out branded partnerships with existing retailers, including department stores like Macy's and big box stores like Target. This holiday season, the shop-in-shops concept is proving to be a go-to strategy for retailers.
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.
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.
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.
For years, retail experts have touted live streaming as the hottest new way to acquire customers and create instant sales. However, executing video commerce isn't a one-size-fits-all strategy, as lingerie brand Adore Me has found.
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