Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 4, 2024

Thrasio , one of the highest-profile Amazon “rollup” firms — so-called because they acquire Amazon third-party sellers en masse and roll them up into a larger entity to consolidate operations (and ideally scale profitability) — has filed for bankruptcy in an effort to “strengthen its financial position.” Thrasio said it will continue normal business operations for its hundreds of Amazon FBA brands throughout the Chapter 11 process and that it has received $90 million in new financing from its le

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Operations eCommerce Customer Marketing 244

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Image courtesy Wonder Image courtesy Wonder Image courtesy Wonder Image courtesy Wonder Wonder , the food hall concept from entrepreneur and Jet.com founder Marc Lore, has opened a new location in a Quakertown, Penn., Walmart. This is the 11th Wonder storefront in the U.S., and the first in Pennsylvania. It also is Wonder’s first official partnership with a brick-and-mortar retailer.

Other 283

Other Customer Retail 283

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

J.Crew has already gotten its feet wet in the circular economy, launching a resale program in partnership with its sister brand Madewell in January 2023. Now, the brand has partnered with SuperCircle for a swimwear takeback program focused on responsibly recycling swimwear that would otherwise end up in landfills. The “Second-Life Swim” program will be available both in J.Crew stores and online.

Apparel 270

Apparel Customer Retail Customer Experience 270

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Buzzfeed has sold youth culture media company Complex to livestream shopping platform NTWRK , which plans to use the acquisition to build a “next generation content and shopping experience.” The sale of Complex was part of a larger restructuring at Buzzfeed that also included the layoff of 16% of its workforce, as the company looks to find its way back toward profitability amid a challenging media climate.

Magazine 173

Magazine Definition Consumer eCommerce 173

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Following its first livestream event last fall , discount shopping platform Shein is planning a second shoppable livestream event Sunday, Feb. 25 to showcase its spring and summer fashions. The three-hour “Shein Live: Front Row” event will begin at 12 p.m. PT on the company’s official channels on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram. Fans who want to shop the livestream can tune in on the Shein app for the exclusive shoppable experience.

Fashion 261

Fashion Events Presentation Channel 261

Retail TouchPoints

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

CVS Pharmacy has partnered with Grubhub to make thousands of beauty, household, wellness and convenience items available for delivery from its 6,000+ stores in 48 states. The companies are kicking off the relationship with a collection of Daylight Saving Essentials designed to address the grogginess that often follows the time change, which will take place this year on March 10.

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Customer Marketing Retail Customer Experience 254

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 16, 2024

Build-A-Bear Workshop has deployed a new cloud-native, mobile-first POS and customer engagement solution in 450 stores across the U.S., Canada and the UK, with plans to roll out the technology in additional geographies over the next year. The Jumpmind technology is helping make the unique shopper journey more seamless and enriching for both shoppers and associates.

Customer Data 270

Customer Data Workshop Customer POS 270

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 16, 2024

Personalized experiences are one of the foundation stones of great customer experience, according to conventional wisdom. But is that true across the board? Not necessarily. In some cases, personalization that’s too precise can underwhelm customers at best, and drive them away at worst. The concept of personalization itself needs to be tailored to age cohorts that demand it, those that don’t mind it, and those for whom it creates a negative experience.

Customer 275

Customer Improvements Consumer Recommendation 275

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 16, 2024

If you want to understand Gen Z (and that’s pretty important for any business that wants to grow), you have to understand the dichotomies that define this generation. To take just one pair of juxtaposing facts, Gen Z is indeed digital-first — but they do value the in-store experience, especially if the retailer can deliver “in-person experiences that can be differentiated by allowing for personalization and self-expression,” according to Lindy Li, Head of Customer Activation and Marketing at H&#

Customer Data 271

Customer Data Customer Experience Fashion Customer 271

Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 29, 2023

The humble sneaker has long been a staple item in closets everywhere for consumers of all ages. The consistent appeal of sneakers and sportswear has grown in recent times with customers, particularly from the Gen Z demographic , continuing to favor them as everyday items for leisure and now work. With the growing popularity of the ‘athleisure’ trend, brought on by a renewed focus on both comfort and style, sneakers and sportswear look set to dominate retail for years to come.

Apparel 244

Apparel eCommerce Fulfillment Order Fulfillment 244

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Starbucks has added new flavor to its long-term growth strategy in what it is calling the “Triple Shot Reinvention with Two Pumps.” The five -part strategy aims to continue the company’s current momentum and deliver continued growth by elevating the Starbucks brand , strengthening the company’s digital capabilities and becoming truly global , as well as working to unlock efficiency and reinvigorate partner culture (the last two items are the “pumps”).

Technology 258

Technology Omnichannel Operations Marketing 258

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is predicting robust holiday sales, with U.S. spending forecast to climb 3%-4% over 2022, generating between $957.3 billion to $966.6 billion. While the 2023 growth rate is lower than in recent years, when stimulus spending helped inflate retail sales, it’s in line with the average annual holiday increase of 3.6% seen from 2010 to 2019.

Consumer 256

Consumer Events eCommerce Retail 256

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Amazon will close its two Amazon Style stores, located in Glendale, Calif. and Columbus, Ohio, by Nov. 9, 2023, according to CNBC and other media outlets. The stores had been open for less than two years: the Glendale location opened in May 2022 , although the concept had been reported on as early as January 2022. “After careful consideration, we’ve decided to close our two Amazon Style physical retail stores and focus on our online fashion shopping experience , where we’re offering new, excitin

Fashion 255

Fashion Technology Retail Marketing 255

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Retailers can no longer ignore consumers’ demand for improved sustainability initiatives. From consumer lawsuits to national news headlines calling out failed efforts and empty promises, retail leaders are feeling the pressure to reduce the $ 2 billion in waste they generate each year , but they might not have a baseline for how to do so. For years, grocers have been in the spotlight for their food waste and plastic bags.

Retail 266

Retail Shipping Costs Operations Management 266

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

It’s a common marketer’s dilemma: how do you expand your brand’s appeal beyond its core customers? The specific challenge for women’s apparel and home goods brand Anthropologie was attracting new, younger consumers without alienating women who had grown up, and grown older, with Anthropologie’s vibe and product offerings over the past three decades.

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Channel Apparel Customer Marketing 268

Retail TouchPoints

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

New York City’s Canal Street has long-been prime real estate for the sale of counterfeit and bootleg goods, but Ebay is looking to provide an island of reality there with the opening of a new shop featuring a selection of authentic (and authenticated) streetwear and sneakers from top Ebay sellers. All of the items in the Canal Street Wear retail shop have been verified as authentic through Ebay’s Authenticity Guarantee service, which recently expanded to include streetwear.

Fashion 246

Fashion Retail eCommerce 246

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 6, 2023

This story was originally published on Dec. 9, 2014 UPDATE Oct. 6, 2023 – When this story was first published in 2014, there was no indication of the reasons behind Michael Jeffries’ abrupt departure as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, but new allegations have recently emerged that the executive exploited men for sex, multiple sources report.

Operations 217

Operations Management Other Retail 217

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

After a successful trial, Petco is expanding its partnership with PayPal -owned reverse logistics solution Happy Returns to all its stores nationwide. Petco customers can now bring ecommerce orders they need to return with them while running errands for their pets, with no box or shipping label required. And customers that use Happy Returns Bars in Petco stores also will receive a same-day coupon they can use to get their pet a new toy.

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Shipping Labels PayPal Toys Shipping 266

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

Just six months after it launched, Snap Inc. is closing its AR Enterprise Services (ARES) division, with CEO Evan Spiegel citing the company’s poor business performance and the rise of generative AI as factors contributing to the about-face. The closure will result in the elimination of 170 jobs. “After exploring our options over the past few months, it became clear that it would take significant incremental investment to grow our enterprise offering for retailers and we simply cannot make th

Social Media 240

Social Media Mobile Technology eCommerce 240

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

Consumers are cautious and somewhat “on watch” when it comes to AI, but they know they’ll need to reconcile their reservations. According to Morning Consult, 52% of consumers are convinced that AI is here to stay. As a matter of fact, as accessibility becomes a more prevalent concern in the retail sector, the interplay between new technology and AI represents some good news.

Technology 271

Technology Other Consumer Fashion 271

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

When asked the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of CVS , chances are good that many people will say the receipts. The pharmacy chain’s comically long trail of coupons has practically reached icon status (if being a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle is any indication; take a look at 60 Down from earlier this year). In 2016, then President of CVS Pharmacy Helena Foulkes made a surprise appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to unveil the option for digita

Beauty and Health 263

Beauty and Health Consumer Shipping Costs Travel 263

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

Walmart has onboarded Rina Hurst as the new VP of its Walmart GoLocal delivery service platform. Hurst joins the retail giant from Shipt, where she served as Chief Business Officer (CBO), helping the company drive significant growth and expand its footprint through hundreds of partnerships with retailers including 7-Eleven , Walgreens and Sephora. During her tenure at Shipt, Hurst drove strategic retail, brand and innovation partnerships and played a central role in optimizing order volume.

Article 233

Article Operations Retail Management 233

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

Walmart Connect , the retailer’s retail media arm, has launched a new certification program to help advertisers of all types and levels understand and adopt the company’s evolving suite of advertising solutions. The Walmart Connect Academy Ad Certification program will be open for general access beginning on Oct. 16, 2023. It was initially beta tested by more than 500 commerce-focused employees at media investment company GroupM.

Retail 236

Retail Omnichannel Blog Improvements 236

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

Eight feminine care brands in the menstrual hygiene space have converged to create The Tampon Tax Back Coalition, aiming to abolish the taxation on menstruation products that still exists in 21 U.S. states. As part of this joint venture, August , Cora , DIVA , LOLA , The Honey Pot , Rael , Here We Flo , and Saalt are all reimbursing consumers the amount of the tampon tax, whether they purchase products from these brands online or in third-party retail stores like Target and Walmart.

Consumer 247

Consumer Retail Omnichannel 247

Retail TouchPoints

OCTOBER 12, 2023

Sales during Amazon ’s Prime Big Deal Days, the now-annual fall member sale event, were significant but essentially flat compared to last year when the sale debuted, according to data from Salesforce. Among the best-selling categories during this year’s event — which took place Oct. 10-11 and now marks the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season — were apparel , beauty , home and toys.

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Recommendation Events Beauty and Health Apparel 256

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

While collaborations have always been part of the brand marketing playbook, the multiple facets (and attendant hype) generated by the Barbie movie marketing machine has reinvigorated retailers and inspired them to get even more creative with their partnerships. Beyond creativity, another important part of the equation for success is firm alignment to core business objectives.

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Consumer Marketing Customer Retail 213

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

JCPenney is self-funding its latest turnaround plan, which includes a reinvestment in its core customer and a more focused value proposition. CEO Marc Rosen shared in a briefing that given the retailer’s “strong balance sheet,” it is taking cash flow generated by the business and reinvesting it in core initiatives that will help “make every trip to JCPenney count.

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POS Merchant Services Supplies Improvements 225

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Our regular Editor’s Perspectives column offer insights and opinions from the Retail TouchPoints editorial team as they dig into the latest trends in retail, marketing and tech. As a proud classic movie buff, I thought I’d do a little reflecting on shopping scenes from memorable films made about 40 years apart. The more recent film is Terms of Endearment , the 1983 dramedy/weepie starring Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger that won a slew of Oscars (including Best Picture and acting wins fo

Payment Services 245

Payment Services Technology Point of Sale Retail 245

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

In strong economic times, smaller, newer brands — otherwise known as emerging or up-and-coming brands — have one thing in common: access to capital. This accessibility has historically allowed emerging brands to scale their businesses, gain widespread distribution and seamlessly find their way into consumers’ hands. Fast forward to current conditions and the macroeconomic downturn.

Retail 241

Retail Consumer Marketing Fulfillment 241

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Although Placer.ai’s quarterly index for Q2 2023 found that store traffic for discount and dollar stores were up 4.7% year over year, Dollar General CEO Jeff Owen revealed that the company was “not satisfied” with overall financial results for its Q2, which ended August 3, 2023. Dollar General reported a net sales increase of 3.9% to $9.8 billion, largely driven by positive sales contributions from new stores.

Operations 250

Operations Apparel Supplies Improvements 250

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Rosalind Brewer. Photo credit: Walgreens Boots Alliance Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer has stepped down from her role, effective immediately. The company shared in a statement that Brewer and the Board of Directors “mutually agreed” on the decision, but did not provide further details. Although Brewer has technically spent less than three years at the helm, she played a critical role in the company’s success during the pandemic by “overseeing the critical ro

Consumer 237

Consumer Management Fulfillment Supplies 237

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

In strong economic times, smaller, newer brands — otherwise known as emerging or up-and-coming brands — have one thing in common: access to capital. This accessibility has historically allowed emerging brands to scale their businesses, gain widespread distribution and seamlessly find their way into consumers’ hands. Fast forward to current conditions and the macroeconomic downturn.

Retail 243

Retail Consumer Marketing Fulfillment 243

Retail TouchPoints

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Our regular Editor’s Perspectives column offer insights and opinions from the Retail TouchPoints editorial team as they dig into the latest trends in retail, marketing and tech. As a proud classic movie buff, I thought I’d do a little reflecting on shopping scenes from memorable films made about 40 years apart. The more recent film is Terms of Endearment , the 1983 dramedy/weepie starring Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger that won a slew of Oscars (including Best Picture and acting wins fo

Payment Services 195

Payment Services Technology Point of Sale Customer 195

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 11, 2023

New research from Capterra finds that tip fatigue — exhaustion caused by the pressure to tip more money to a widening array of workers — is a serious problem affecting most consumers who use checkout tablets at restaurants and other businesses. In the past year, over half of surveyed consumers have felt confused or manipulated by tip screens, and 70% feel they’re being asked to tip too often.

Consumer 199

Consumer Payment Services Point of Sale POS 199

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 11, 2023

Mexican grocer Chedraui , Raley’s Supermarkets and Primark Stores have topped the National Retail Federation’s 2023 Hot 25 Retailers list, which ranks the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. The annual ranking is compiled by global marketing consultancy Kantar and is determined by comparing year-over-year increases in domestic sales (in the case of the 2023 list, this means 2021 versus 2022).

Retail 239

Retail Accessories Consumer Subscription 239

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 11, 2023

Midwestern supermarket retailer Hy-Vee has partnered with Uber to add delivery services from 260 of its grocery and liquor storefronts. The two companies are spotlighting their new deal with a sweepstakes offering tickets to the 2023 NFL Kickoff on Sept. 7, 2023. “Uber Eats has been growing in popularity among many of our customers, making this partnership a win-win-for both parties,” said Aaron Wiese, President of Hy-Vee in a statement.

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Operations Consumer Customer Retail 216

Retail TouchPoints

AUGUST 11, 2023

Wolverine Worldwide ’s Board of Directors has terminated President and CEO Brendan Hoffman and he has formally stepped down as a director of the company. The announcement coincides with the footwear manufacturer’s Q2 financial results, which saw a 17.4% revenue drop year-over-year. Christopher E. Hufnagel, who has served as President of the company since June, will take the helm as CEO and serve on the Board.

Omnichannel 236

Omnichannel Retail Consumer 236