Amid "increasing uncertainty" and an effort to "grow the co-op over the long term," REI Co-op laid off 167 employees this week. CEO Eric Artz noted that REI has made changes at its headquarters to refocus resources in an effort to reach its 2023 goals, including "getting back to profitability as quickly as possible." This…
Joe Keenan
Customer loyalty is increasingly sought by retailers and brands in today's challenged and hypercompetitive consumer landscape. However, attaining that loyalty is easier said than done. Here's some data to back that up: two-thirds of consumers are open to switching brands if a competitor offers a better experience; a third of consumers will abandon a brand…
In episode 386 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Monica Rigali, vice president of global brand management at JanSport, a VF Company. Listen in as Rigali provides an overview of the heritage backpack brand (1:01), her current role and professional background (2:25), and how JanSport engages Gen Z consumers (3:51). She shares how…
Duluth Trading Company is known for its durable, quality products and cheeky marketing campaigns that connect with its primarily male customer base. That formula has served the company well over the years. However, Duluth Trading Co. recognizes that to continue to grow the business it can't rest on its laurels. The business must evolve to…
Foot Locker is making cuts to its staff and store fleet as it looks to trim costs under new leadership. The footwear retailer on Thursday announced that it would eliminate an undisclosed number of “corporate and support roles,” which the company expects to account for about $18 million in cost savings on an annualized basis starting…
Walmart announced Tuesday that it's raising its minimum wage for store employees to $14 an hour, representing a roughly 17 percent jump for the workers who stock shelves and cater to customers. Starting in early March, store employees will make between $14 and $19 an hour. They currently earn between $12 and $18 an hour, according…
Satish Malhotra is approaching his two-year anniversary as the CEO and president of The Container Store (TCS). During a fireside chat at the ICR Conference in Orlando, Fla. earlier this month, Malhotra answered questions on a variety of topics, including his feelings on his current job, how TCS is evolving in a post-pandemic market, long-term…
In episode 385 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Scott McCabe, senior vice president of e-commerce at True Religion, a retailer of high-quality premium denim and sportswear for men, women and kids. Listen in as McCabe provides an overview of the brand (0:40), why the company recently launched its mobile app (2:15), and…
Wayfair plans to announce on Friday its second major round of layoffs in less than six months, as the online retailer continues to deal with falling sales and supply chain tangles. The expected cuts follow a 5 percent layoff by Wayfair in August. The earlier round of cuts was part of a $500 million cost-saving plan, but Wayfair executives…
In a world where consumers have their phones with them seemingly at all times, which of course show the time of day, one would think that there would be little need to wear a watch. However, that line of thinking discounts the emotional connection that consumers have to certain products, notably jewelry and watches. That…
In episode 384 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Tom Nolan, CEO of Kendra Scott, a fashion-lifestyle jewelry brand with a focus on philanthropy and community. Nolan provides an overview of the Kendra Scott brand (0:45), his professional background that led to his current role (2:28), and how the jewelry brand differentiates itself…
Walmart wants to sell more of its technology and services to other companies. On Thursday, it announced a deal with Salesforce to ramp up sales of its GoLocal delivery service, which drops off purchases at customers’ doors; and Store Assist, which helps employees more quickly and accurately pick and pack orders for curbside pickup and delivery. Starting this…
In episode 383 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Abigail James, senior vice president of marketing at Macy's. During the wide-ranging conversation James discusses Macy's 2022 holiday season strategy (1:03), the customer behavior trends the department store chain has observed over the past few months (3:30), and how those behaviors will influence its…
Stitch Fix founder Katrina Lake on Thursday told employees the company will be cutting 20 percent of its salaried workforce and she will reassume her post as CEO as the fledgling apparel company continues to grapple with low sales, a dwindling customer base, and a reduced market cap. The brand’s current CEO, Elizabeth Spaulding, who joined the…
Total Retail recently published its Top 50 Tips of 2022 report. This annual feature includes advice on how to run a more efficient and profitable retail business, and covers multiple functions for doing so, including marketing. Below are five tips designed for retail marketers that will help them position their brands for success in 2023…
