Content about Retailing

February 14, 2013
Foresee CEO Larry Freed talks meeting consumers' online shopping expectations

Larry Freed, president and CEO ForeSee, sat down with DSN to discuss the factors consumers are looking for when shopping online and how omnichannel is meeting those expectations. More and more, shoppers are becoming better satisfied with their online shopping experience, with pureplay online retailer Amazon.com garnering the best consumer satisfaction scores of all online merchants. But what does that mean for omnichannel retailers?

Audio Q&A: DSN spoke with Larry Freed, president and CEO Foresee. More and more, shoppers are becoming better satisfied with their online shopping experience, with pureplay online retailer Amazon.com garnering the best consumer satisfaction scores of all online merchants. But what does that mean for omnichannel retailers?

May 14, 2013
Retail navigation app Aisle411 now available in 12,000 stores

Aisle411, a mobile retail navigation service, announced that its mobile shopping and searchable store maps smartphone app is available to use within more than 12,000 retail stores throughout the United States.

ST. LOUIS — Aisle411, a mobile retail navigation service, on Tuesday announced that its mobile shopping and searchable store maps smartphone app is available to use within more than 12,000 retail stores throughout the United States. 

May 3, 2013
Retail sector's success shows the importance of innovation

Jobs data from the Department of Labor released Friday show that among the 165,000 jobs added overall were 29,000 in the retail sector, results that industry trade group the National Retail Federation heralded as possibly boding well for the economy in the future.

While the numbers themselves speak volumes, it's important to consider some of the factors behind them that explain why the sector has thrived.

Jobs data from the Department of Labor released Friday show that among the 165,000 jobs added overall were 29,000 in the retail sector, results that industry trade group the National Retail Federation heralded as possibly boding well for the economy in the future.

While the numbers themselves speak volumes, it's important to consider some of the factors behind them that explain why the sector has thrived.

April 30, 2013
Family Dollar supply chain exec exits company

Family Dollar Stores on Monday announced Charles Gibson, EVP supply chain, will leave the company to pursue other interests effective April 30.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Monday announced Charles Gibson, EVP supply chain, will leave the company to pursue other interests effective April 30.

“Charlie has overseen the growth and development of our supply chain network and has been a valued part of our team,” stated Howard Levine, Family Dollar chairman and CEO. “We appreciate the contributions Charlie has made to the company’s success, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

April 21, 2013
Bricks imitate clicks imitate bricks to catch attention, wallet share of omnichannel shopper

According to research, ownership of smartphones and tablets in particular have grown rapidly over the past couple of years, and that has created a multi-headed omnichannel hydra of a customer who retailers across all channels are desperately trying to appease.

According to research, ownership of smartphones and tablets in particular have grown rapidly over the past couple of years, and that has created a multi-headed omnichannel hydra of a customer who retailers across all channels are desperately trying to appease.

April 15, 2013
Consumers expect consistency between various shopping channels, study finds

If any proof was needed of the importance of omnichannel, it can be seen in a new survey of U.S. consumers.

NEW YORK — If any proof was needed of the importance of omnichannel, it can be seen in a new survey of U.S. consumers.

April 1, 2013
Mini Melts ice cream vending machines hit Walmart stores in time for summer

Walmart customers will enjoy a cool reason to shop at the mass merchandise company this summer as Mini Melts ice cream automated kiosks rollout nationwide.

PHILADELPHIA — Walmart customers will enjoy a cool reason to shop at the mass merchandise company this summer as Mini Melts ice cream automated kiosks rollout nationwide.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Walmart customers throughout the United States, by not only providing a premium ice cream product, but by doing so consistently with Walmart's low-price philosophy," said Dan Kilcoyne, president of Mini Melts USA.

March 26, 2013
Family Dollar creates SVP merchandise operations

Family Dollar Stores on Monday named Scott Zucker to the newly created position of SVP merchandise operations.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Monday named Scott Zucker to the newly created position of SVP merchandise operations. Zucker will be responsible for driving the strategy and execution of merchandise initiatives, category management, merchandise planning and replenishment.

March 22, 2013
Change the channel: More consumers opt for mobile, online shopping

Google is dogfooding a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area to the Internet giant's employees. Target and several other retailers have been named as possible partners.

With Google now looking to compete with Amazon — not to mention Target's growing attention to online and mobile commerce — a growing body of consumer studies and industry trends shows that the most important emerging consumer demographic isn't men, women, old people or young people — but multichannel consumers.

Google is offering a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area to the Internet giant's employees. Target and several other retailers have been named as possible partners.

March 20, 2013
NRF: Easter spending doesn't jump, on par with 2012

According to a new spending survey from the National Retail Federation, consumer spending for Easter 2013 will be flat when compared to the holiday last year.

WASHINGTON — According to a new spending survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumer spending for Easter 2013 will be flat when compared to the holiday last year.

The NRF 2013 Easter Spending Survey, conducted by BIGinsight, was designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to Easter. The poll of 5,050 consumers was conducted from March 5 to 11, 2013.

March 1, 2013
Same-day delivery is going to help separate omnichannel players from pretenders

Sears Holdings is adding some of its own fare to its mygofer.com offering, an online grocery service that "turbo-charges brick-and-mortar retailer assortments by allowing customers to get items from those stores where and when they want them in new, convenient ways."

"At mygofer, your list is our command," Sears tells shoppers on its website. "Shop with us for your prescriptions, groceries, beauty products, clothes, shoes, electronics and a whole lot more you might not expect. So whatever's on your list, we can help you get it — with incredible speed and no hassles. That's convenience."

Sears Holdings is adding some of its own fare to its mygofer.com offering, an online grocery service that "turbo-charges brick-and-mortar retailer assortments by allowing customers to get items from those stores where and when they want them in new, convenient ways." 

February 26, 2013
Reports: Legislation would allow Tenn. supermarkets to sell wine

A state Senate committee in Tennessee is looking into the possibility of allowing supermarkets to sell wine, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A state Senate committee in Tennessee is looking into the possibility of allowing supermarkets to sell wine, according to published reports.

The Memphis, Tenn., Commercial Appeal reported that the proposed law would be subject to approval in local referendums.

Supporters of the bill cited convenience, while opponents — including liquor store owners — said it would be detrimental to public health, safety and the economy, criticizing the legislation as driven by "big national chains" and harmful to locally owned businesses.

February 25, 2013
Chasing the elusive omnichannel shopper

Omnichannel. It's one of the hottest topics in retail. It's seamless retailing in real-time. It's making sure that the brand experience coming out of a retailer is exemplary no matter how a consumer chooses to engage — on the e-commerce site, through an app for the tablet or smartphone, within the brick-and-mortar location or any two of those venues simultaneously.

Omnichannel. It's one of the hottest topics in retail. It's seamless retailing in real-time. It's making sure that the brand experience coming out of a retailer is exemplary no matter how a consumer chooses to engage — on the e-commerce site, through an app for the tablet or smartphone, within the brick-and-mortar location or any two of those venues simultaneously.

February 15, 2013
Retail CFOs to emphasize online, mobile retail in 2013, study finds

Retail executives are moderating their expectations for 2013 following uneven sales in December and January, according to a new survey of CFOs by professional services firm BDO USA.

CHICAGO — Retail executives are moderating their expectations for 2013 following uneven sales in December and January, according to a new survey of CFOs by professional services firm BDO USA.

February 7, 2013
Costco total sales, comps rise in January

Costco's sales increased 7% in January compared with January 2012, the club retailer said.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased 7% in January compared with January 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales for the five weeks that ended Sunday of $9.35 billion, compared with $8.74 billion a year ago. The month was one day shorter than last year due to the timing of the New Year holiday, which reduced total and same-store sales by about 2%, the company said. Comps in U.S. stores were up by 6%.

February 7, 2013
Satisfaction study: Packaging can influence purchase intent, customer satisfaction

MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.”

RICHMOND, Va. — MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.” The study explores the role of packaging in product satisfaction as consumers purchase, transport, use and dispose of products across 10 different categories. 

February 6, 2013
Social media does not replace brick-and-mortar retailers, study finds

Despite nearly half of shoppers using social media every day, less than one-fifth shop through them, according to a new study by PwC.

NEW YORK — Despite nearly half of shoppers using social media every day, less than one-fifth shop through them, according to a new study by PwC.

January 30, 2013
Penniless: Most Canadian retailers ready for phase-out of 1-cent coins, retailing group says

Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of 1-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

TORONTO — Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of 1-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

The Retail Council of Canada said the majority of the country's retail businesses were prepared for the disappearance of the penny and will follow the government's proposals for determining prices.

January 28, 2013
NRF: In 2013, retail sales to grow 3.4%

Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

Washington, D.C. — Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

The lukewarm forecast, released Monday, comes on the heels of a holiday season that went head-to-head with Washington’s political wrangling over fiscal concerns, shifting consumers’ spending plans downward. In the end, holiday sales in 2012 grew 3.0%.

January 28, 2013
Target to launch fresh food departments at nine Detroit stores

Target will dedicate about 10,000 sq. ft. at nine of its stores in the Detroit area to fresh groceries, the mass merchandise chain said Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target will dedicate about 10,000 sq. ft. at nine of its stores in the Detroit area to fresh groceries, the mass merchandise chain said Monday.

The company said the remodeling effort was part of its ongoing effort to remodel stores across the country, and the new layout also would include reinventions in departments such as beauty, home, shoes and baby. Fresh foods will include produce, packaged meat and prepackaged baked goods, as well as frozen and dry food offerings.

January 23, 2013
Nielsen: Retail opportunities for 2013 in big data, omnichannel and fresh

Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon.

CHICAGO — Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon. "The consumer remains in maintenance mode," he said. "Consumers are being pragmatic in their spending. Uncertainty dominates."

January 22, 2013
Club retailers to see higher growth over next three years, Deloitte study finds

Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

The study, by Deloitte, found that consumer products executives expect growth through warehouse club retailers to outpace those of other retail channels, including mass merchandise, supermarkets and online retail.

January 18, 2013
Duane Reade's 'Show Us Some Leg' campaign illustrates power of social media

Duane Reade experienced nearly a 20% boost in sales of its private label hosiery thanks to a seven-week social media campaign dubbed “Show Us Some Leg,” according to a published report.
The important takeaway here is that the success of this campaign speaks to the overall importance of engaging consumers beyond the walls of the bricks-and-mortar store.

Duane Reade experienced nearly a 20% boost in sales of its private label hosiery thanks to a seven-week social media campaign dubbed “Show Us Some Leg,” according to a published report.

The important takeaway here is that the success of this campaign speaks to the overall importance of engaging consumers beyond the walls of the bricks-and-mortar store.

January 15, 2013
Healthy holiday shopping season, but trouble could lie ahead, NRF says

Despite caution among consumers, retailers wrapped up 2012 with a healthy holiday shopping season, according to a new report by a retailing trade group.

NEW YORK — Despite caution among consumers, retailers wrapped up 2012 with a healthy holiday shopping season, according to a new report by a retailing trade group.

The National Retail Federation said Tuesday that holiday retail sales increased 3% over the year before, to $579.8 billion. December retail sales increased 0.8% seasonally adjusted from November and 2.1% unadjusted year over year. Nevertheless, the 3% increase was still below the NRF's projected 4.1% growth. Meanwhile, nonstore holiday sales grew 11.1%.

January 10, 2013
New Year revelations

If you are like a lot of people, hanging a new calendar has inspired you to embrace new beginnings and experimentation. Every January morning begins with plans to put insights into action.

If you are like a lot of people, hanging a new calendar has inspired you to embrace new beginnings and experimentation. Every January morning begins with plans to put insights into action.

And if you are like a lot of other people, you’re feeling desperate for different outcomes in 2013, while still doing things the 2012 way.