Retail Stores

L.L.Bean's Retail Chief on Powering Omnichannel Growth With New Stores, Tech
September 18, 2023 at 12:13 pm

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…

Prepping Your Retail Location for Peak Season Success
September 18, 2023 at 10:49 am

As we transition from Back to School to Black Friday and full-scale holiday shopping, foot traffic in stores continues to rise. Shopping-related destinations started the year off with a 20 percent increase in foot traffic compared to the year before and the lift is expected to be seen into the holiday season ahead. On the other hand,…

Tech Tools That Can Create More Interactive and Informative In-Store Navigation
September 6, 2023 at 7:21 pm

If you were to sit and watch a video of your customers browsing your store, you would undoubtedly see a mix of those who know exactly what they want and can intuitively find it, combined with a sea of shoppers baffled by the array of products offered. Shopping is meant to be a comfortable and…

Embracing the Return of Brick-and-Mortar: A Win-Win for Retailers and Real Estate Developers
August 29, 2023 at 8:13 pm

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, one trend has resurfaced with undeniable force: the return of brick-and-mortar stores. In fact, this trend presents a unique opportunity for retailers to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The fusion of physical and online shopping experiences isn't just a renaissance for traditional retail; it's a dynamic and unprecedented…

Retail Sales Increased 0.7% in July, Better Than Expected Amid Prime Day, Back-to-School Sales
August 15, 2023 at 4:57 pm

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that overall retail sales in July were up 0.7 percent from June and up 3.2 percent year-over-year (YoY), reports CNBC. The advanced retail sales report showed a seasonally adjusted increase of 0.7 percent for the month, better than the 0.4 percent Dow Jones estimate. Excluding autos, sales rose a robust 1 percent, also against a 0.4 percent…

Report: Majority of Back-to-School Shoppers Plan to Purchase at Mass Retailers
August 14, 2023 at 6:04 pm

Eighty percent of back-to-school shoppers are planning to buy their supplies at mass retailers (e.g., Walmart, Target, etc.), while 20 percent plan to shop at dollar stores, and 15 percent plan to shop at club stores. These are a just a few of the findings from data and tech company Numerator's 2023 Back-to-School Preview, which includes data…

How Physical Retailers Can Stay Ahead of the AI Curve
August 3, 2023 at 3:09 pm

Any retail expert worth their salt knows that personalization is the one true key to profitability. This is only becoming more important as the market grows saturated and customer expectations keep getting more demanding. But how will artificial intelligence technology change the ever-evolving retail landscape? Personalization is all about providing engaging customer experiences, which is…

Digital Transformation: How to Take a Store From Survival to Success
July 24, 2023 at 4:22 pm

A lot has changed since the pandemic, yet one debate continues to divide retail experts and it involves the uncertain future of brick-and-mortar stores. Pessimists argue that the return on investment is too low, and that the migration to e-commerce is only just beginning. Others believe that in-store shopping serves an experiential purpose, which cannot…

June Retail Sales Rise Minimally, But Showcase Resiliency
July 18, 2023 at 7:11 pm

Reuters reports U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in June, increasing 0.2 percent month-over-month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Data for May was revised higher to show sales gaining 0.5 percent instead of 0.3 percent as previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales gaining 0.5 percent. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services,…

Deloitte: Back-to-School Spending to Drop by 10%
July 13, 2023 at 3:37 pm

Shopping for back-to-school essentials, such as clothes, shoes and electronics, will be a bigger struggle for families this year who are trying to manage their household budgets with less disposable incomes because of inflation. Back-to-school spending by parents with children in grades K-12 is expected to decrease 10 percent this year over last year to…