Strategy

Articles on retail strategy and thought leadership.

  1. Technology & Innovation
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
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. Media & Marketing
  If success does leave clues, then failure leaves many as well.  Regular readers of this blog know that Boston Market, once a pioneer of rotisserie chicken and home-style meals, finds itself facing a slow fade. This isn’t the first time a seemingly established brand has fallen from grace. The story of Boston Market’s decline […]
  1. Data & Insights
Struggling to keep up with the pace of modern retail? You’re not alone. The retail landscape is evolving rapidly, and maintaining productivity can feel like chasing a moving target. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI) – your new strategic partner. Retailers are discovering that AI can do more than just data analysis. It’s time to harness AI […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
Sainsbury’s has today been hit by an IT meltdown following an ‘error with an overnight software update’ that has prevented the grocery retailer from being able to fulfil online orders and accept contactless payments in stores. “We’re experiencing technical issues affecting some stores, our Groceries Online service and our ability to contact customers. Unfortunately, we will […]
  1. Stores & Formats
Dick’s Sporting Goods posted strong results in fiscal 2023, which ended Feb. 3, 2024, with $13 billion in net sales, 5% higher than the previous year, and a 2.4% increase in comp store sales. For the coming fiscal year, the retailer is planning $800 million in CapEx expenditures to fund a major brick-and-mortar expansion that […]
  1. Corporate Strategy
It was a tough week to be at the top in retail with a number of companies announcing CEO switch-ups following disappointing performances, including Petco, Under Armour, Fossil Group and, as Retail TouchPoints previously reported, Allbirds. Former Best Buy COO to Lead Petco While CEO Search Gets Underway Ron Coughlin — who led Petco through […]
  1. Data & Insights
In the contemporary digital landscape, the seamless exchange of data isn’t merely a convenience; it’s an imperative for businesses committed to achieving operational excellence. At the core of this data ecosystem are APIs that connect different systems and enable efficient communication. Among them, conversion APIs stand out as powerful tools proficient in translating data across […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
Late last month, Gartner made a stunning prediction, forecasting an imminent and dramatic decline in search engine traffic. “By 2026, traditional search engine volume will drop 25%,” the research firm said. “with search marketing losing market share to AI chatbots and other virtual agents.” The prediction seemed aggressive, especially given that Microsoft Bing — with its […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Increasing customer loyalty is always top of mind for retailers. Loyal customers spend more money at their favorite businesses, patronize shops more often, and promote the brands they love to other consumers in their networks. To create loyal customers, forward-thinking retailers can utilize the tried-and-true gift card to engage customers and enhance buying experiences. In […]
  1. Data & Insights
Large retailers are under constant pressure to keep up with new and ever-changing customer demands. At the same time, they’re also grappling with sometimes volatile global supply chains and massive amounts of data — everything from sales and inventory data to pricing and customer insights. It’s a significant undertaking. As more organizations continue their digital […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Consumers love paying with installment plans. A recent report confirms that 60 percent of shoppers over the past year chose to pay for their purchases with interest-free installments, and most of those shoppers (45 percent) chose to do so with their own general-purpose credit cards. Even though the consumer is clearly voting with their wallets […]
  1. Corporate Strategy
Kevin Plank, the founder of Under Armour, is returning to the helm of the Baltimore-based athletic wear maker, the company announced in a Wednesday afternoon press release. Plank is set to be president and CEO starting April 1. He will succeed Stephanie Linnartz, who had been in the position for little more than a year. […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
As a product startup, one of your most valuable assets is your intellectual property. This includes any original ideas, designs, or branding elements that set your products apart from others in the market. Without proper protection, these assets are vulnerable to being copied or used by competitors without your permission. In this blog post, we […]
  1. Media & Marketing
The US House of Representatives this week passed a bill that could see TikTok banned in America. It would give the social media giant’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, six months to sell its controlling stake or the app would be blocked in the US. The bill passed overwhelmingly in a bipartisan vote, and now needs […]
  1. Channel: Dollar/Value
Dollar Tree said yesterday that it will close 1,000 stores – most of them Family Dollar units – over the next few years, a decision that Axios describes as “a reversal of the retailer’s rapid expansion, which included its 2015 acquisition of Family Dollar.” Six hundred Family Dollar stores are slated to close before the […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
Tech stacks are large. The empirical stack data we recently shared from Zylo, a leading SaaS management platform, showed that even after a year of belt-tightening, the average SMB (500 employees or less) still has 162 SaaS apps. Mid-market companies (500 to 2,500 employees) have 245. And large enterprises have 650. This isn’t particularly surprising […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Major sporting events have the ability to uplift entire cities, communities and economies. See how positive impact can be sustained long after the athletes and fans have left town. In this webinar you will learn: How World Athletics enhanced their hosting strategy and event delivery Ways to justify investment through long-term value and legacy impact […]
  1. Acquisitions, Divestitures & Mergers
Purple Innovation, Inc., maker of the Purple mattress, and Tempur Sealy International, Inc., have established new partnership parameters amid Tempur Sealy’s planned acquisition of Mattress Firm. The companies also have “amicably resolved” their “various intellectual property disputes,” according to a Purple press release. Tempur Sealy initially announced its plans to acquire Mattress Firm in May […]
  1. Corporate Strategy
In 2024, the demand for sustainable practices in retail is more than just a trend; it has become a fundamental shift in consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. Consumers increasingly make purchasing decisions based on a company’s environmental impact, looking beyond the surface to see which brands are committed to making a difference. Concurrently, governments worldwide […]
  1. Media & Marketing
Building strength through synergy is the same as putting in the reps at the gym. Do you go for runs? Lift weights? Do CrossFit? Or go boxing? We all know a workout is essential for achieving peak physical fitness, that’s why even the doctor tells you to be active. This translates perfectly to business development […]
  1. Stores & Formats
WHP Global is following a familiar playbook for its relaunch of Babies ‘R’ Us. After opening the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location since its 2018 bankruptcy in July 2023, the company has now announced plans to bring Babies ‘R’ Us shop-in-shops to 200 Kohl’s locations this year. After filing for bankruptcy and shuttering all its U.S. stores, Babies […]
  1. Data & Insights
Have you ever received an ad that felt incredibly specific? One that seems to understand exactly what stage of life you’re in and the kind of items you’re looking to buy? That is advanced audience targeting at work.  Follow along as we break down what advanced audiences are, why they matter and how they’re changing […]
  1. Retail Ecosystem
This week we explore some of the content from Steve’s forthcoming book Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption, which is now available for pre-order at book retailers worldwide.  In particular, we go deep on a strategy of being “Special, Not Big” by significantly narrowing the aim of the customers you serve […]
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Editor’s Choice

  1. Media & Marketing
  2. Channel: Restaurants
  3. Department & Category
  4. Department: Consumer Durables
  5. Department: Food
  6. Department: Nonfood
  7. ESG
  8. Media & Marketing
  9. Data & Insights
  10. Shopper & Customer
  11. Technology & Innovation
  12. Trends & External Forces
  13. Merchandising
  Don’t want to cook, don’t want to do dishes, well according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® your kids don’t want you hear you complain about cooking dinner either. Chuck E. Cheese has a new program for that has a great chance to make the entire family happy according […]
  1. Channel: Mass
  2. Corporate Finance
  3. Media & Marketing
  4. Agencies & Vendors
  5. Data & Insights
  6. 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 […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
  2. CPG: Food
  3. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  4. Channel: Grocery
  5. Channel: Mass
  6. Department & Category
  7. Department: Beverage
  8. Department: Food
  9. Department: HBC
  10. Acquisitions, Divestitures & Mergers
  11. Corporate Strategy
  12. Corporate Finance
  13. ESG
  14. Partnerships & Alt Profit
  15. Media & Marketing
  16. Data & Insights
  17. Shopper & Customer
  18. Technology & Innovation
  19. Trends & External Forces
  20. Retail Operations
  21. Associates & Employees
  22. Operations & Supply Chain
  23. Owned Brands (Private Label)
  24. Stores & Formats
Comments from Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen. "Kroger achieved strong 2023 results, in line with our long-term growth model and built upon three consecutive years of historic growth.

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