Store Associates

In episode 323 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andre Persaud, chief retail officer of Rite Aid, the trusted, everyday care connector operating over 2,500 retail pharmacy locations across 17 U.S. states. Persaud discusses Rite Aid's RxEvolution strategy, how the business is redesigning the in-store experience for its customers, and the internal cross-functional…

COVID-19 created a shakeup for retailers in all categories across the U.S., with brick-and-mortar operations undergoing some of the most significant operational changes they've ever faced. Sales associates have also felt the brunt of those changes; they've been asked to risk their health and press onward while the rest of us have enjoyed — if…

There may still be some uncertainty when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, but one thing is certain: The 2020 holiday shopping season was an anomaly, and this year is going to look a lot different. According to eMarketer, U.S. holiday retail sales are expected to increase 2.7 percent to $1.093 trillion in 2021. While…

The food and grocery retail industry has changed dramatically in recent years, from new competitors through new channels to new consumer preferences, and that's to say nothing of the impact of COVID. Big-box grocery retailers are under increasing pressure to deliver an ever-more personalized experience on choice and value while maintaining availability for the many…

In the wake of the pandemic, workers across every industry — technology, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, etc. — are putting in their two-weeks notice in favor of better pay, increased flexibility and equitable working conditions. Dubbing it “The Great Resignation,” amongst the hardest hit by mass employee exodus is the retail industry. According to the U.S.…

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery store employees overnight became “frontline workers,” contending with everything from empty shelves caused by supply chain disruptions to enforcing purchase limits and in-store social distancing mandates. At this current stage in the crisis, with vaccination numbers increasing and stores returning mostly to business as usual, retailers are…

Following in the footsteps of one of its largest competitors, Target announced Wednesday that it would cover the cost of college for its more than 340,000 U.S.-based part-time and full-time employees working in Target stores, distribution centers and headquarters beginning this fall. The move comes days after Walmart announced it would cover college tuition and books…

In an effort to help curb soaring student loan debts, Walmart announced this week that it will pay 100 percent of college tuition and book costs for its associates, starting Aug. 16. Walmart, the largest U.S. private employer, will drop its existing $1-per-day fee for associates who participate in its Live Better U education program. About 1.5 million…

Across the country, “MASKS REQUIRED” signs have been replaced with “HELP WANTED.” And these signs aren’t coming down anytime soon thanks to a nationwide shortage of workers. Why? Many economists point to low wages, and there's no doubt retailers could do better here, but there's another big factor: retailers don’t make it easy to work…

At its best, shopping is aspirational. Who doesn’t daydream about arriving home clutching bulging bags full of clothes, gadgets or other goodies from their favorite store? During the pandemic, we romanticized in-person shopping even as we placed online orders. Now that we’re all getting vaccinated, consumers are eager to get out for some real-world retail…