Macy's announced on Tuesday that it will open up to 30 smaller stores in strip malls over the next two years, as the retailer chases customers out of shopping malls and into bustling suburbs. The expansion marks an inflection point for the department store operator, which has looked for ways to refresh its legacy brand, cope with…
Joe Keenan
Toys R Us is plotting a bold comeback in the U.S., as it plans to expand its brick-and-mortar presence with as many as 24 new flagship stores and a separate rollout at airports and on cruise ships starting this holiday season. The toy retailer’s parent company, WHP Global, announced what it called the “Air, Land and…
In episode 421 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Chris Wantlin, chief retail officer at Ashley, the No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer in North America. Among other topics, Wantlin discusses the company's recent rebrand, how Ashley is bringing consumer awareness to its brand refresh, and the internal collaboration needed to execute the…
At the Total Retail Tech conference earlier this month in Denver, generative artificial intelligence was a theme of ongoing conversation. From keynote presentations and panel discussions on stage to peer group sessions and one-to-one meetings off stage, attendees were buzzing about generative AI and its current and future impact on their work and the organizations…
GameStop announced Thursday morning that billionaire activist investor Ryan Cohen would take over as the video game retailer’s chief executive, chairman and president effective immediately — and he won’t be collecting a salary. GameStop’s board, with Cohen abstaining, unanimously voted to appoint the entrepreneur as the retailer’s top executive on Wednesday. Cohen had previously held the title…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com Tuesday seeking to bar the company from allegedly abusing its powers to raise prices for shoppers and levy high fees against businesses that sell on its platform. The lawsuit, filed in Western Washington district court, marks a historic political…
Rite Aid is negotiating terms of a bankruptcy plan that could see a significant number of its more than 2,100 drugstores permanently close, according to a report. People familiar with the company's talks with creditors told The Wall Street Journal that Rite Aid has proposed to close as many as 500 stores in bankruptcy, and either sell…
In episode 420 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Erin Malone, director of digital strategy at Free People, a bohemian women's apparel and lifestyle retailer, part of the Urban Outfitters portfolio of brands. Malone provides an overview of the brand and her role (0:50), how Free People is optimizing the online shopping experience (2:30),…
The U.S. Postal Service, fresh off several consecutive significant price hikes, will not include a surcharge this peak season for mailers and shippers sending items during the holidays. The announcement marks a departure from recent USPS strategy, which has increased its prices between early October and mid-January for the last few years. Postal management pointed…
Last month, online retailer Zulily and Michelin-starred celebrity chef — and dad of two — Curtis Stone ("Iron Chef," "Top Chef Masters," "Top Chef Jr.") teamed up to take the stress out of back-to-school lunchbox planning. The back-to-school season puts a lot of pressure on parents’ wallets, especially at the grocery store, where food prices are increasing. Furthermore, time is…
U.S. retailers will hire the lowest number of seasonal workers for this holiday season since 2008, due to increased labor costs and shaky consumer confidence, according to a report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas provided exclusively to Reuters. Retailers are expected to add just 410,000 seasonal jobs this season, according to an analysis of non-seasonally…
In episode 419 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Greg Elder, chief retail officer at L.L.Bean, a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. During the wide-ranging conversation, Elder provides an overview of L.L.Bean's recently announced 2023 omnichannel growth plans (0:50), the retailer's approach to wholesale partnerships (2:00), and its decision to…
Birkenstock, the iconic footwear company that dates back to the 18th century, made official on Tuesday what’s been rumored for months: it's planning an initial public offering. The company filed its IPO registration statement on Tuesday afternoon. The deal, which comes over two years after the Birkenstock family sold a majority stake in the company to LVMH-affiliated private…
In episode 418 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Lyndsie Adams, former vice president of CRM and loyalty marketing, and James Nelson, director of marketing analytics at Life Time, a chain of athletic clubs in the United States and Canada. Listen in as Adams and Nelson discuss what omnichannel personalization looks like at…
Private equity group Consortium Brand Partners announced Wednesday that it has acquired actress Reese Witherspoon’s fashion and lifestyle brand, Draper James, through a majority stake. According to the deal, Consortium Brand Partners acquired a 70 percent stake in the company for an undisclosed amount while Witherspoon remains a partner and board member in the business.…
