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The retail sector has been completely upended over the past year and a half and at the Modern Retail Summit in Palm Springs, brand and retail executives came together about how they are trying to shift strategies in this new world.
In just a few months, quick-delivery grocery companies like Gorillas, Jokr, Fridge No More and others have moved from a relatively niche curiosity to some of the best-funded startups in the grocery industry. As they race to expand, they are also, more subtly, changing the face of retail real estate in major cities.
When Ember launched its temperature-controlling mugs in 2015, the company thought that striking wholesale deals would be critical to building brand awareness fast, Ember svp, head of global marketing and e-commerce Jolene Abbott said at the Modern Retail Summit in Palm Springs, California this week. Six years after launching, Ember is now sold in 10,000 retail locations, including in Apple and Target stores, as well as in Starbucks coffee shops.
Tween and teen-focused accessories retailer Claire's is planning to go public. The company, which went bankrupt in 2018 and has been attempting to modernize since, said an IPO would help it achieve its growth goals. Here's our look into the company's just-posted financials.
This past year, Shopify made a big change to its terms for app developers. The e-commerce platform previously took a 20% cut on revenue generated annually by apps. Starting in August, it allowed developers to pocket 100% of the first $1 million they make on its platform. This change, according to insiders, is giving app developers a much-needed boost.
At Digiday Media's Marketplace Strategies Forum in New York City, industry leaders came together to discuss all things marketplaces, from selling to advertising. Navigating selling on a multitude of new marketplaces, maintaining brand equity amongst third party resellers, and loss of control were top concerns as marketplace retailers and experts shared their experiences.
Ahead of its anticipated IPO, Instacart has been hiring talent from Facebook and luring brands with the promise of granular sales data. But, with competition increasing as new delivery startups emerge, its growth now rests on its ability to monetize more inventory and to deliver incremental sales revenue for advertisers, according to e-commerce ad automation platforms.
When CPG startup Brightland launched in 2018, it launched with just two products: two different varieties of olive oil. Since then, the company has expanded its product line to include four different flavored olive oils, two different varieties of vinegar and this week, launched a line of honey. Brightland typically partners with other companies, and does limited-edition runs, in order to test out new products.
A recent Glossy and Modern Retail survey highlights how DTC brands have increasingly turned to back-to-school promotions this, compared to pre-pandemic times. It's indicative of an overall marketing shift -- especially for online brands known for forgoing sales cycles. Instead, in an attempt to win back sales and attract new customers, more brands are thinking about participating in seasonal campaigns like back-to-school.
In its S-1 filing with the SEC, DTC footwear brand Allbirds unveiled its goal for a sustainable public equity offering,” or an “SPO." The document also unveiled major operating losses and a lack of profitability for the well-funded company.
School is back in session, but the marketing landscape is shifting. Now, many brands are forgoing the opportunity to offer up big promotions around their school-perfect product categories. However, many have returned to investing in back-to-school campaigns to get in front of those in shopping mode.
Warby Parker is the latest direct-to-consumer company planning to go public. The eyewear brand, which was founded in 2010 and currently has 145 stores, is preparing for a direct listing on the NYSE. The debut will come after years of major revenue growth coupled with operating losses.
While most subcategories across apparel grew, menswear, footwear and out-of-category pushes towards home and beauty were highlights in earnings conferences this quarter. To speak to these consumers, retailers curated menswear towards a younger consumer, expanded active and casual footwear offerings and built online and offline hubs to segment their forays into both beauty and home.
LCL shipments have more than doubled in popularity since the start of the pandemic -- a trend that points not just to the rising popularity of LCL itself, but also highlights the extent to which brands are still scrambling to manage a highly volatile and expensive international freight system.
Farmer's Fridge makes fresh salads in plastic bottles that used to be distributed via push-button machines in highly-trafficked areas -- like airports or hospitals. Its model was essentially business-to-business. When the pandemic hit, the company was forced to build out a direct-to-consumer sales channel -- and fast.
Just weeks after Allbirds and Warby Parker filed to go public, online wine club Winc followed suite. The company, founded in 2011, is betting on an IPO to help it scale its DTC and wholesale operations as it attempts to gain market share.
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.
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