Market Buzz& Industry News
brought to you by Gamechangers
Survey: Consumers will shop early, online this holiday season09/27/2020
A survey demonstrates most consumers will maintain traditional holiday spending habits, with a couple of modern twists.
Online apparel reseller Poshmark files for IPO09/27/2020
Poshmark Inc. is looking to go public.
Amazon expanding Canadian tech hub workforce, footprint09/27/2020
Amazon is creating 3,500 new corporate and tech jobs north of the border and leasing additional office space to house them.
Charming Charlie in retail comeback with first store – and more to come09/27/2020
Charming Charlie is back in business months after closing its 261 locations nationwide and selling its trademark at a bankruptcy auction.
Amazon makes it official – Prime Day is coming Oct. 13-1409/27/2020
Amazon's annual sales extravaganza is back — just in time to give the holiday shopping season an early kickoff.
Survey: Consumers often struggle with e-commerce sites09/27/2020
Four in 10 consumers have difficulty with basic tasks on retail websites, with negative implications for e-tailers.
Bed Bath & Beyond taps former Target exec for new role09/27/2020
Bed Bath & Beyond continues to shore up its leadership ranks with new hires.
Allbirds raises new funding to support store expansion, new product categories09/27/2020
The pandemic hasn’t put a dent in Allbirds ability to raise cash.
Kroger will bring next-gen fulfillment center to Michigan09/27/2020
The Kroger Co. is following through on a promise to construct a leading-edge automated warehouse facility in the Great Lakes region.
Syracuse mall asks tenants to leave, shuts for good09/24/2020
Gov. Andrew Cuomo stalled the opening of malls in New York, requiring that air filtration systems be upgraded before they could allow customers in, but ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt, N.Y., could only let in the rain.
Dollar General chief merchant departs; successor named09/24/2020
There’s been a change in the C-suite at Dollar General.
Ipsos: Consumer confidence holds steady09/24/2020
Consumers are not getting any more confident in the economy, but not getting significantly less confident, either.
J.Jill gets more breathing room on forbearance09/24/2020
J.Jill has once again received an extension on two forbearance agreements as it restructures its debt out of court.
Costco Q4 sales climb; annual profit hits milestone09/24/2020
Costco Wholesale Corp. ended its fiscal year on a strong note as consumers continued to shop its stores to stock up on items amid the pandemic.
U.S. retailers get their own Singles Day09/24/2020
A new October omnichannel sales extravaganza looks to compete with Prime Day and the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival.
REI will become carbon neutral in 202009/24/2020
REI is completing a 14-year commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations.
Exclusive Q&A: Lands’ End begins omnichannel design with customer09/24/2020
Chain Store Age recently spoke with Sarah Rasmusen, chief customer officer of vertical specialty apparel retailer Lands’ End, about the company’s highly customer-centric approach to providing an omnichannel shopping environment.
J.C. Penney promotes supply chain sustainability09/24/2020
The J.C. Penney Co. is pursuing three major initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of its supply chain activities.
Survey: Brick-and-mortar shoppers expect digital services09/24/2020
A new survey indicates a strong omnichannel customer experience is key to physical store success.
Neiman Marcus exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy09/24/2020
Neiman Marcus Group has emerged from bankruptcy protection, with new owners and a lot less debt.
Three e-commerce predictions for a Walmart investment in TikTok09/24/2020
If a deal is struck allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., Walmart will likely serve as its exclusive digital commerce provider.
Bed Bath & Beyond closing these 63 stores by yearend09/23/2020
Bed Bath & Beyond has unveiled the first group of stores that it plans to shutter as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts.
Ulta Beauty suspends entry into Canada09/23/2020
Ulta Beauty is putting all its focus on its U.S. operations amid the pandemic.
Academy Sports and Outdoors sets IPO terms09/23/2020
Academy Sports and Outdoors is looking to raise $250 million for its initial public offering.
Report: Amazon selects second high-tech grocery store site09/23/2020
Amazon is reportedly bringing its new Amazon Fresh grocery format to Whittier, Calif.
Rite Aid Q2 loss narrows, sales top Street; gives upbeat forecast09/23/2020
Rite Aid Corp. narrowed its quarterly loss as sales continued to rise during the pandemic.
Gap revamps rewards program across core brands09/23/2020
Gap Inc. is introducing a new corporate loyalty program that will be individually branded for its four major store banners.
Target reveals holiday hiring plans – with focus on online orders, safety09/23/2020
Target Corp. laid out its holiday staffing plans for a holiday season that it said “will be unlike any other.”
CarMax drives omnichannel experience coast to coast09/23/2020
The largest used car dealer in the U.S. has integrated its in-store and online channels nationwide.
Kroger debuting health platform with a little help from famous friends09/23/2020
The Kroger Co. is launching a new Wellness Experience platform, and pop star Jewel is helping spread the news.
Neiman Marcus Group reportedly in major headcount reduction09/23/2020
The Neiman Marcus Group is starting to cut back on staff as it prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Walmart tunes in to TV ad metrics09/23/2020
Walmart is entering into a new partnership which will provide advanced measurement of its TV advertising efforts.
New York regional bank invests in safety with air purification system09/23/2020
Pioneer Bank has taken a proactive approach to indoor air quality across its network.
Amazon certifies eco-friendly products; Climate Pledge gains momentum09/23/2020
Amazon is introducing a new initiative to help customers discover and shop for sustainable products.
Industry group working to phase out barcode-based coupons09/23/2020
The Coupon Bureau is developing a universal digital coupon.
Survey: 50% of retailers received some form of rent relief from landlords09/23/2020
Compromises between retailers and their landlords on outstanding rent obligations has been crucial to many retailers’ survival during the pandemic.
Sephora launches same-day delivery via Instacart09/23/2020
A leading specialty beauty retailer is the latest non-grocer to collaborate with Instacart for same-day online delivery.
Report: Amazon denies ties to ‘Prime Bike’09/22/2020
Amazon may not yet be directly competing with Peloton.
Mexican men’s retailer integrates order management across channels09/22/2020
Haber Holding is enabling omnichannel shopping by centralizing its view of inventory and fulfillment.
Walmart to hire 20,000 seasonal employees to help with online orders09/22/2020
Walmart is beefing up its e-commerce workforce — starting immediately — in anticipation of a busy holiday season online.
QuickChek rewards consumers on the go09/22/2020
QuickChek Corp. is rolling out a mobile scan-based loyalty program.
Michaels’ exec joins leadership team at Bed Bath & Beyond09/22/2020
Bed Bath & Beyond has made a critical hire on its road to becoming a digital-first operation.
Report: Amazon sets Prime Day for Oct. 13-1409/22/2020
An internal Amazon email reportedly indicates the e-tail giant will hold the 2020 edition of its Prime Day online sales extravaganza in mid-October.
New furniture store concept to debut09/22/2020
Loves Furniture & Mattresses has announced its first locations.
Giant Eagle eyes fast, accurate curbside fulfillment09/22/2020
A Midwest/Mid-Atlantic supermarket retailer is equipping its curbside pickup program with mobile location services.
Forrester: More than 25% of all retail sales will take place online by 202409/22/2020
Total retail sales in North America will decrease this year while online sales will experience their fastest growth since 2008.
Sam’s Club enters telehealth market09/22/2020
A leading warehouse club chain is the latest retailer to offer telehealth services to its customers.
Westfield introduces SafeGuard hygiene certification at malls09/22/2020
One of the most troubling issues mall owners and operators are attempting to get a handle on as they prepare for the holiday season is convincing shoppers that their properties are safe.
Cushman veterans exit to form ‘new age’ retail brokerage09/22/2020
The Cushman & Wakefield brokers who helped Restoration Hardware and Showfields forge a new era in experiential retail in New York City have left the firm to cultivate the trend within their own company.