Trends & External Forces

Articles on retail trends and external forces impacting retail (from weather to COVID to governmental regulations)

  1. Trends & External Forces
While retailers typically put a significant emphasis on post-holiday sales, they didn’t resonate with shoppers after the 2023 holiday season. During the week after Christmas, year-over-year sales were down across the board, with only computer software sales seeing an increase from 2022. Department stores, cosmetics stores and clothing stores saw some of the largest declines, […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Joann, the 81-year-old fabric and craft retailer, has filed for bankruptcy as it struggles with customers cutting back on discretionary spending. In a statement released on Monday, the Ohio-based company said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has secured $132 million in funding with most of its financial stakeholders that helps reduce its […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
In episode 444 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Michael Browning, co-founder and CEO of Unleashed Brands, a portfolio of innovative brands that help kids learn, play and grow, including Urban Air, Snapology, and The Little Gym. Listen in as Browning provides an overview of Unleashed Brands (0:55), discusses why he launched the […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Cadbury is today (18 March) launching Cadbury Dairy Milk &More, a new addition to the Dairy Milk range. Comprising two new flavours, Cadbury Dairy Milk Nutty Praline Crisp and Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel Nut Crunch, the bars are available in retailers nationwide from today. The… This story continues at Cadbury launches Dairy Milk &More with […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Following a collaboration with Ghostbusters Afterlife in 2021, Walkers is partnering with Sony to celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, through an on-pack promotion. The promotion is set to give shoppers a chance to win prizes every hour between 6am and midnight. Until 5… This story continues at Walkers and Sony partner for Ghostbusters: […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Parfetts has announced turnover leapt 6.7% to £646m in its latest annual results. The employee-owned wholesaler said it has rewarded staff over the year with a record 10% pay rise and an overall 14% bonus. The Stockport-headquartered company attributed the success to focusing on increasing… This story continues at Developments in Parfetts’ retail offering boosts […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Google wants a bigger piece of the traffic driven by retail media advertising. To start getting it, the tech company has launched a new offsite retail media solution in closed beta. Lowe’s has signed on to be one of the first retailers to test the solution for what will be the first offsite retail media […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
In today’s digital age, where social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook reign supreme, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to stand out and connect with their target audience. One such method gaining traction is the strategic utilisation of QR codes within these social networks. By integrating TikTok QR code into marketing strategies, businesses can […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
As it seeks to find firmer footing, Joann has entered a Transaction Support Agreement (TSA) with a majority of its financial stakeholders and other parties that includes commitments for approximately $132 million in new financing. The 800+-store crafts retailer has initiated voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
WASHINGTON – To kick off the 2024 Annual Meat Conference, the Meat Institute and FMI – The Food Industry Association announced 10 winners for the 2024 Leaders of Tomorrow Program. The winners are: Kaylee Russell, Tyson Foods; Michael Yeater, Albertsons Companies; Tammy Gonzales, Cargill; Mike Van Drie, SpartanNash Co.; Nicole Koch, Seaboard Foods; Liz Holt Welnhofer, Pre Brands; Hillary Niblock, Superior Farms; Marie-Pier Labarre, Cascades; Zachary Stadler, Associated Wholesale […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
LAS VEGAS – Epsilon, a global advertising and marketing technology company, today announced the launch of the next generation of its retail media platform. Epsilon Retail Media applies artificial intelligence and person-first identity in the ad server, unlocking opportunities to drive stronger outcomes with shoppers on retailers’ properties, across the open web or in tandem. […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
CHICAGO – Circana on Monday announced the leading companies in its latest Growth Leaders rankings. The firm analyzed the growth performance of hundreds of public and private consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies ranging from $100 million to $60 billion in annual sales to develop the rankings. Circana will highlight the drivers of success for these […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Kroger and Albertsons have argued in separate legal filings that the federal Trade Commission (FTC) is misguided and flat-out wrong in opposing their $24.6 billion merger. Both retailers contend that the FTC, in suggesting that the deal would give the combined companies an unfair competitive advantage, ignores the fact that they would also be competing […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Bloomberg reports that in the UK, both Tesco and J Sainsbury suffered disruptions over the weekend caused by “technical disruptions.” According to the story, “J Sainsbury Plc, the country’s second-largest grocer, experienced ‘issues’ with contactless payments and won’t be able to deliver the ‘vast majority’ of the day’s online orders … Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Officer […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Washington Post columnist Shira Ovide has a piece in which she tested Rufus, Amazon’s new artificial intelligence chatbot that the company says is designed to help people figure out what to buy based on vocal prompts. She writes, “In general, I thought the shopping bot was at best a slight upgrade on searching Amazon, Google […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
The New York Times had a piece over the weekend about how young people, largely because of the impact of TikTok and other social media sites, have turned Sephora into a “retailer of choice.” According to the story, “Teenagers in the United States have said Sephora is their favorite beauty retailer, surpassing Ulta, according to […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
On Friday, we reported: In Connecticut, the Trumbull Patch reports that “a petition calling for enhanced equipment and improved conditions at a Stop and Shop grocery store in Trumbull has garnered more than 400 signatures as of Thursday night. “The petition, titled ‘Enhance Equipment and Conditions at Stop & Shop Trumbull CT,’ was launched earlier […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
“A lot of business cases, they depend on internal efficiency gains. But if you don’t measure this … then it will never lead to project success or success on the digital shelf … Have a measuring mindset.”            — Ilse Goverts-van Kesteren, Lead Business Consultant, Wunderman Thompson When Wunderman Thompson asked […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is spurring organizations across different sectors to fundamentally reimagine their approach to digital transformation. Nowhere is its disruptive potential more evident than in retail, where Gen AI’s ever-increasing capabilities are powering a new age of customer-centric innovation. Retailers are exploring use cases across a wide range of functions, from new […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
In today’s dynamic world of retail, the spotlight remains on artificial intelligence (AI) — and for good reason. AI is undoubtedly transformative, reshaping the future of retail. In addition to AI, other technologies are also making significant strides. Radio-frequency identification (RFID), replacing barcodes, revolutionizes supply chain and inventory management. Video analytics leverages computer vision to […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Richmond, the sausage brand, has kicked off a £2.6m marketing campaign including a TV ad, video-on-demand, outdoor posters, social media and in-store promotions. The “Good Times” brand campaign is designed to highlight the brand’s “unique heritage whilst also providing a look ahead to the future… This story continues at Richmond sausages roll out new £2.6m […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Central Co-op is raising minimum pay for colleagues to £12 an hour, alongside paid breaks and a suite of additional benefits aimed at enhancing colleague well-being and flexibility. Central Co-op said the pay increase, effective from 1 April, reflects its appreciation of the difference its… This story continues at Central Co-op raises staff minimum pay […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Weetabix has announced its latest family-focused collaboration to promote healthier snacking for kids and families via its exciting new range of Marvel inspired, HFSS-compliant children’s cereal bars. The Marvel Oaty Bars contain just 3.2g of sugar per bar and are available in three flavours: white… This story continues at Weetabix introduces Marvel-inspired, HFSS compliant kids’ […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has praised the work that local shops in Wales do in their communities as part of the launch of the 2024 Welsh Local Shop Report. At the launch of the report last week in the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament),… This story continues at Welsh c-stores commended for job creation, […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
As a nation of animal lovers, it will come as no surprise that more than half of shoppers have a pet and, as they are fed daily, pet food needs to be purchased regularly – on average once every 11 days – meaning the category… This story continues at Tails you win In focus: Petcare […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a recently enacted New York state law that would impose age-based restrictions on the purchase of certain dietary supplements. Passed by the New York legislature and signed […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Retailers know that digital influences the customer journey, from initial awareness to post-purchase. So why is there still such a staggering divide between consumers’ digital and physical brand experiences? We explore the gaps, challenges and opportunities on this week’s Retail Remix with Justin Racine and Zach Zalowitz of Perficient. Together with host Alicia Esposito, they […]
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  1. Trends & External Forces
Target reported Q4 and 2023 financial results at its annual investor day on March 5, 2024. Quarterly comp performance improved sequentially from Q2 to Q4, but 2023 ended with comps down -3.7%. Profitability outperformed expectations as the company realized $2B of operating income growth in 2023 and reported notable gross margin improvements. The stock was […]

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