Merchandising

articles on merchandising and category management

  1. Merchandising

Retail Is Not Just a Sales Channel: Why Brands Fail in Retail (And How to Win)

For years, growth in commerce has been driven by a digital-first, direct-to-consumer (DTC) mindset. Brands were told to prioritize higher margins, own their customer data, and control every aspect of the customer journey. But that strategy is no longer enough. Today, customer acquisition costs are rising, online competition is more intense than ever, and many […]
4 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Paul Aspden moves on up at Debenhams Group as he takes on Chief Technology Officer position

Debenhams Group has announced the appointment of Paul Aspden as Chief Technology Officer. He joined the retailer in 2023. Most recently Director of Technology, he has been instrumental in developing and scaling the group’s proprietary technology ecosystem which underpins its marketplace model. In his new role, Aspden will focus on scaling Debenhams Group’s technology platform, […]
3 min read
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  1. Retail Ecosystem

How to Approach Large Retail Buyers

Most emerging brands believe a myth that holds them back for years: “I can’t get into major retail stores because I don’t know the right people.” While having a Rolodex full of contacts helps, it is not the only way to get your product on shelves. Retail buyers are not gatekeepers hiding behind an iron […]
5 min read
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  1. Operations & Supply Chain

Why Distributors Are Essential for a Successful Retail Product Launch

Launching a new product into retail is one of the most exciting milestones for any product-based business—but it’s also one of the most challenging. Getting on store shelves requires more than a great product and strong branding. It requires logistics, relationships, and distribution power that most early-stage brands simply don’t have on their own. That’s […]
4 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Winning in Social Commerce with Gildan’s Jason O’Toole & Katie Tripodi

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Jason O’Toole, Head of Connected Commerce & Media, and Katie Tripodi, Director of US Digital Merchandising and eCommerce Expansion at Gildan, a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel. The Company’s product offering includes activewear, underwear, socks, and intimates sold to a broad range of customers, including […]
2 min read
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  1. Merchandising

Emerging Brands Can Win Shelf Space Without Sacrificing Margins – Here’s How

For many small manufacturers, shelf space is treated as the ultimate objective. Placement becomes the milestone. Distribution becomes an achievement. Yet too often, the cost of that placement is not fully understood until long after the contracts are signed and the invoices begin to arrive. Winning shelf space should never mean surrendering sustainability. National retail […]
3 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Kohl’s and Tween Apparel Trends: The Growing Role of Private Label Brands

Download our latest report to better understand where market share is shifting, how private label brands are scaling, and where shoppers are spending across the girls’ apparel market. The girls’ apparel market is evolving as younger shoppers shift toward value oriented, assortment driven, and trend responsive products across retailers. As competition intensifies, changes in market […]
< 1 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Two Examples Of Effective Customer Communications

As frequently mentioned here on MNB, I have a weakness for effective customer communications – I love it when retailers go beyond the simple communication of prices and product. Last week there were two great examples of this, from two of my favorite retailers. First up, on social media Jennifer Mayne, e-commerce director at Dorothy […]
2 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Grocers’ Biggest Strategic Misfire: Chasing Shelf Rent While Consumers Chase Dinner Tonight

  The data is not ambiguous—it is directional and disruptive. According to FMI – The Food Industry Association, the percentage of consumers replacing restaurant meals with deli-prepared foods jumped from 12% in 2017 to 28% in 2025. At the same time, 53% of consumers are assembling hybrid meals, blending prepared foods with items already at […]
5 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Why Wellness is Becoming a Winning Retail Strategy    

Four major retailers are betting big on wellness this year: Ulta, Target, Amazon and Boots have all made significant forays into wellness in 2026. These moves align closely with signals we’ve identified across consumer behavior, category convergence and wellness-led spending.   Consumers are dedicating more of their time, energy and dollars to their own wellness routines. Mintel has been tracking this shift for several years, identifying wellness as one of the most durable, cross-category […]
4 min read
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  1. Department: Beverage

Beer, Basket Building: How 7-Eleven and Budweiser Turn a Holiday into High-Margin Momentum

  Let’s get straight to it: beer isn’t just a beverage—it’s a traffic driver, a margin enhancer, and when merchandised correctly, a meal solution multiplier according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. The latest limited-time promotion from 7-Eleven proves exactly that, leveraging National Beer Day (April 7) as a strategic […]
4 min read
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  1. Holiday & Events

Easter Joy Is Not Optional — It’s Profitable (Especially with Adults)

  Easter is no longer a kids-only holiday—it’s a full-scale adult participation event, and more importantly, a high-margin, multi-day consumption cycle that food retailers and foodservice operators can no longer afford to misunderstand according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA Based Foodservice Solutions®. What began as “Adultoween” has now evolved into a broader […]
4 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

London based omnichannel fashion retailer AllSaints taps Impact Analytics AI powered solutions

AllSaints has selected Impact Analytics as a partner as it looks to modernise and scale its buying and merchandising operations, moving away from a legacy environment heavily reliant on spreadsheets, manual workflows, and fragmented decision-making. By adopting AI native planning tools, it says it is aiming to streamline processes, improve forecast accuracy, and enable teams […]
2 min read
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  1. Merchandising

Why Retail Is Not Just Another Sales Channel (And Why Brands Fail When They Treat It That Way)

For years, commerce has been dominated by digital-first thinking. The rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands promised higher margins, owned customer data, and complete control over brand storytelling. But today, that narrative is shifting. Customer acquisition costs are rising, online competition is intensifying, and many digital-native brands are hitting a growth ceiling. As a result, brick-and-mortar […]
4 min read
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  1. Merchandising

The shelf-edge command centre: Why ESEL strategy matters | Viewpoint: Ed Betts

Electronic shelf-edge labels (ESEL) are having their infrastructure moment. Most retailers still frame them as operational tools: they cut labour, reduce pricing errors, and eliminate the regular chore of relabelling. These are real benefits, but they tell only half the story. As retailers develop more… This story continues at The shelf-edge command centre: Why ESEL […]
< 1 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

AI becomes central to M&S technology transformation: these are the biggest retail stories from March

March is done and dusted, April is up and running, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful month for the retail technology space. Here’s your briefing on the most important stories from March, including VenHub Global, RTS 2026, Zalando, Nomagic, Co-op, VoCoVo, StrongPoint, Iceland Foods, AiFi, Boxbar Tech, Groupe Dynamite, and Manhattan Associates. […]
7 min read
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  1. Merchandising

Strings & Things updates packaging to reflect ‘real cheese’ credentials

Strings & Things has rolled out updated packaging across the full Cheestrings range with a badge saying ‘real cheese’ to highlight it’s ingredients. The new design aims to enable shoppers to quickly identify the natural dairy benefits of 8 at shelf, while reinforcing its position… This story continues at Strings & Things updates packaging to […]
< 1 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Why Foodservice Retailers Must Embrace the Grocerant Era

  The latest NielsenIQ report confirms what  Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has been signaling for years: the convenience channel is losing trips because it is still merchandising for yesterday’s consumer. The data is unambiguous—33% of shoppers say they’re visiting less often, and trips per buyer are down 2.2% […]
4 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

From Pitch to Purchase Order: How to Ace Your Next Retail Buyer Meeting

When it comes to getting your products on the shelf, securing a meeting with a buyer is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in what happens during your time together – whether at the buyer’s office, at an ECRM Session, or in a virtual meeting. To help brands navigate this journey, I sat […]
6 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces
  2. Shopper & Customer
  3. Technology & Innovation
  4. Trends & External Forces
  5. Associates & Employees
  6. Merchandising
  7. Stores & Formats

Walmart to Expand Digital Shelf Labels Chainwide

Walmart will deploy digital shelf labels (DSLs) chainwide this year, doubling the approximately 2,300 U.S. locations currently using the technology (Walmart U.S. operates more than 4,600 stores). With more than 120,000 items in a typical Walmart store, managing price changes manually requires significant associate hours. Additionally, these DSLs are equipped with LED lights that make […]
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