Corporate Responsibility Programs

A year ago, we couldn’t have imagined that toilet paper would be the hardest thing to find on store shelves, or that we’d be wearing masks in stores and making purchases behind plexiglass barriers. What 2020 has taught the retail industry — and the whole world — is that a lot can change practically overnight.…

Starbucks is creating a new $100 million fund aimed at investing in community development projects and small businesses in areas populated by people of color, CNBC reported. The investment, titled Community Resilience Fund, is part of a broader initiative to increase Starbucks commitment to racial and social equality. The company endowed $1 million in neighborhood…

2020 has been marked by a global pandemic and a surge in social unrest and activism. Interest in social impact is at an all-time high, influencing everything from politics to what brands we buy and what companies we want to work for. Now more than ever, social impact efforts can be make or break for…

In episode 268 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jacee Scoular, director of brand marketing strategy at Hollister, a global teen brand. Listen in as Scoular discusses why Hollister decided to launch its "Show Up for 2020" voting campaign, the elements of the effort, and the demographics of the brand's customer base. Scoular details…

Foot Locker, Inc.'s U.S. family of brands has partnered with Rock the Vote for an initiative that will leverage the retailer's store locations as voting registration sites, empowering today's youth to exercise their right to vote. Foot Locker joins Rock the Vote's Brands for Democracy, a nonpartisan effort to empower eligible voters to take civic action.…

As noted in last week's article announcing the release of the latest installment of the Top 100 Fastest-Growing Retailers, Chewy was at the top of the rankings, posting a 37.19 percent increase in year-over-year (YoY) sales for its 2019 fiscal year. For the annual report, Total Retail conducted a YoY comparison of 2019 fiscal year net…

In the early moments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of brands elevated nearly immediately. Some retail stores were deemed essential, and their employees became frontline workers seemingly overnight. Trusted brands also quickly moved to the forefront of the COVID-19 conversation. People, businesses and brands were given the opportunity to improve the greater good, or…

Ryan Gellert was named CEO for Ventura, Calif.–headquartered Patagonia Works, the holding company for the influential outdoor brand Patagonia Inc. as well as separate Patagonia divisions in food, media, investments and joint ventures. Gellert previously served as the general manager for Patagonia’s EMEA/Europe, Middle East and Africa office, which is headquartered in Amsterdam. He came to Patagonia after…

In this video, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Dave Schneider, vice president and chief marketing officer at Red Wing Shoe Company, a global leader in the footwear industry for more than 115 years. Watch as Schneider discusses Red Wing's recent #LaborDayOn initiative, which aimed to help the 25 million unemployed Americans find jobs by switching from promoting…

In this video, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Amanda Patrick, social responsibility program manager at drug store chain Rite Aid. Watch as Patrick discusses Rite Aid's recently released second annual corporate social responsibility report, showcasing rapid progress across environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. Over the past year, Rite Aid has made significant strides to operate a…