Brian Meeks

Interesting article on remarkable turnaround of Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch has experienced a significant turnaround, with sales growing by 30 percent year over year in the last four quarters. The brand's parent company, ANF, saw its share price rise from $35 to $194 in the past year, driven by the success of sibling brand Hollister. The credit for this transformation goes to CEO Fran Horowitz and her team, who undertook a complete reinvention of the brand, focusing on talent, culture, processes, and digital investments. The reinvention of Abercrombie involved re-engineering merchant processes, reinventing the brand, and accelerating digital initiatives. Under Horowitz's leadership, the merchandising function was revamped to give merchants more responsibility and incorporate customer and fashion trends. The brand's evolution involved moving away from its previous exclusive image to become more modern, inclusive, and digitally driven, targeting millennials and adults aged 21-40+. The company's digital strategy has been a key focus, with investments in digital marketing, ecommerce, and unified commerce capabilities. Abercrombie has shifted towards a more digital-centric approach, with a significant portion of sales coming from online channels. The brand's current inclusivity and product offerings are strong, but further differentiation from competitors is needed to solidify its position in the market. #abercrombieandfitch #apparel #turnaround

Hello Retail Friends,   It’s no secret that supply chains have faced unprecedented disruption and volatility in recent years, underscoring the need to address vulnerabilities, improve preparedness, and create innovative strategies.   We surveyed 285 retail, CPG, and wholesale leaders globally in February 2024, exploring the challenges, strategic investment areas, and opportunities for retailers and CPGs over the next 3-5 years.   See how retail and CPG executives are tackling these challenges and planning for the future in our report, State of Supply Chain 2024: Retail and CPG Dynamics.     https://lnkd.in/eQQVdNmN     #supplychain #businesstransformation #supplychainplanning

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As a consumer insights professional, you have to accept you will never understand all of your consumers' behaviors all of the time. For example, there is NEVER ANY REASON TO REACH OVER THE SNEEZE GUARD AT CHIPOTLE. EVER! Even if you are Barack Obama, I can assure you that the worker knows what "pico" or "no corn" or "yes, I know guac is extra" means without your grubby hands reaching into the food area. There is no data or research or analysis that will ever make this understandable or acceptable. #ConsumerInsights #MRX #MarketResearch #Chipotle

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Walmart is offering half off Walmart+ memberships until July 18, ahead of Amazon's Prime Day on July 16 and 17. Until July 18, Walmart is offering Walmart+ memberships for $49 a year, or half off the usual $98 fee. The rivalry between Walmart and Amazon continues, with Walmart aiming to attract customers from the e-commerce giant. Walmart's CFO mentioned that delivery orders surpassed in-store pickup orders, and Walmart+ members are ordering more frequently with fewer items, resembling Amazon shoppers. Walmart has been expanding its marketplace of third-party sellers and utilizing its physical locations to fulfill online orders. The company is implementing upgrades in its stores to boost sales, both in-store and online. Walmart is adopting strategies similar to Target and Amazon to attract and retain customers. #walmart #amazon #primeday #usretail

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Very interesting interview highlighting the impact of macroeconomic factors on shopper behavior and the importance of digital capabilities in retaining affluent customers. Bill Simon points out that Walmart's current appeal to more affluent shoppers during the inflationary period may not last if they are required to shop in-store once the inflationary period slows. This underscores the necessity for strong digital strategies to cater to high-end customers effectively. For me as a shopper/consumer nerd, it reemphasizes why retailers must focus on their core shoppers and provide them with the right incentives for purchasing. Will Walmart retain these new more affluent shoppers over time? Check out the interview for more details:

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Kohl’s Corp. has partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery from all of its 1,172 U.S. stores. Customers can now receive Kohl’s merchandise in as little as an hour through Instacart, with pricing matching in-store prices and the ability to accumulate Kohl’s Rewards. Kohl’s is categorized as an Apparel & Accessories retailer by Digital Commerce 360 and offers a variety of products, including home decor, skin care, and pet items, all available through Instacart. Kohl’s is No. 23 in the Top 1000. The database is Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of the largest North American online retailers Kohl’s Corp. reported net sales declined in both its fourth quarter and fiscal 2023 ended Feb. 3, 2024. Q4 net sales declined 1.1% to $5.7 billion, despite an extra week of trading this year compared to Q4 2022. Kohl’s saw growth in net income. Online sales declined 10% in the quarter but improved as the quarter progressed, with December and January sales only down "mid-single digits" year over year. Instacart's partnership with Kohl’s is part of a series of agreements with retailers, including Hy-Vee and Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG), to offer same-day delivery and expand delivery capacity. Additionally, Instacart announced a partnership with Uber to deliver Uber Eats orders to Instacart customers. #kohl's #instacart #samedaydelivery

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"Technology is not just an enabler anymore. It's actually an innovator and a disruptor in helping you lead your competition." This quote from Walmart executive is revealing the actual frontier of competition between omni retailers and pure-digital players. Interesting to see how Walmart is placing technology within its strategy: extensifying the use of AI within all layers of organization and commercializing the best-performing own technologies like in-store assistant or route planning. It's so exciting to observe that we at X5 regard technology pretty much the same way.

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Key EMARKETER stat: Among US beauty shoppers of all ages, beauty and personal care shoppers are most likely to buy in-stores. But younger consumers are more likely to buy online than older consumers, according to March 2024 data from Ipsos. Beyond the chart: 39% of US consumers 55 and older buy beauty products in-store from discount or warehouse retailers. But for younger consumers, this behavior is less likely, while buying products online to pick up in-store or on social media is more likely. US beauty shoppers are most likely to discover new products shopping in-store, according to our November 2023 survey. But when purchasing new products, US beauty consumers are most likely to buy via retailer websites and apps, per the same survey. #beauty #personalcare #omnichannelretail #consumerinsights

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Given that retailers often ask how they should approach the wild west of AI, I jumped at the opportunity to provide my perspective on how C-stores should utilize AI to accelerate their marketing campaigns. This article, published in CStore Decisions, demonstrates how retailers can leverage their own customer data to create campaigns that, “positively impact open rates, click-through rates and conversions.” ❕ Breaking through the hype of AI and getting to the core of how C-store marketing teams can utilize this capability to drive greater connectivity with their customers, at scale, is a discussion that more retailers should be having. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 Emily Boes 𝘢𝘯𝘥 Erin Del Conte 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦. ⏩ At NexChapter I'm helping clients leverage customer data they possess to drive stronger engagements. 📩 Reach out if you'd like to discuss: matt@nexchapterinc.com #digital #loyalty #convenience #cstores #ai

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Our team talked through the differences in physical retail vs. digital this week. Cole Walker presented some great insight in the differences in Instacart behaviors and typical store patterns. The big underlying theme? Visibility means something entirely different when you’re talking digital vs. physical in retail. One of my favorite things to do in store is tidy up the shelf (most CPG folks I’ve found do this 😆). The physical shelf requires price tags, inventory, some decent packaging, and merchandising to look good. It also is seen by the human eye, which has a wide lens and can capture a lot of info at once. The digital shelf largely relies on inventory, reviews, and an algorithm paired with searches. It has a very narrow lens for viewership (1 listing per 1 inch of screen essentially) and is noisy in its own way. As the two worlds grow more intermingled, it’s imperative to remember the core ingredients that fuel each medium, and the recipe need for success.

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This interview with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is a #retail #masterclass. A bit of context and perspective, combined with a lot of detail about every aspect of their business — #merchandising, #SupplyChain, #stores, #digital / #omnichannel, #international, #technology, #marketplaces, #RMNs, and more. And this will make an excellent base prompt for a retail #AI assistant — one of my #WeekendProjects

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#HotTake: Retail stores aren’t a shortcut to success. Retail offers bigger POs, visibility, and cash flow Yet, it doesn’t ensure brand sustainability Case in point: JLo Beauty Despite celeb status and prime placement at Sephora, She faced challenges resulting in a US exit Retail alone doesn’t secure loyalty or repeat sales Placement isn’t guaranteed forever For lasting success, think beyond the retail PO Some markers of a sustainable brand include: Authenticity, community, differentiated formulas, and true fans Building a lasting brand legacy requires more than a retail presence – 👋🏾 Hi, I’m Monique, a former retail buyer turned beauty industry advisor who helps emerging brands ready to scale at big retail. If you are ready to scale and invest, book a discovery call, and let’s see if we can work together.

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Delighted to see my co written article with Deena Pitzele of The Partnering Group covered by Store Brands. As we look at Walmart launch of #bettergoods and unpick some of our view on the strategy behind the aspiration of achieving a $3b brand and ~300 lines. Is it to target new customers from competitive retailers such as Trader Joe's and Kroger or having seen how the #ukretailers and #australianretailers built their different strategies to combat the aggressive growth of Aldi UK and ALDI Stores Australia in the market, the start of their strategy focusing on the growth go ALDI USA #privatebrands #privatelabel #retail #usaretail #groceryretail #ownbrand #customerfocused #foodanddrink #growthstrategy #discounter #ukretail #australianretail #brandstrategy #productinnovation #consulting Greg Sleter Prof. Consulting Group Deena Pitzele (PLMA) Private Label Manufacturers Association Australia / New Zealand Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) https://lnkd.in/e7gqA_HQ

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During the pandemic, U.S. consumers feathered their nests, spending a staggering $12.1 billion on home goods in Q2 2020. But now, as demand tightens and inflation bites, home-goods retailers face a paradox: accelerated growth beyond the typical cycle, yet no fresh demand until 2025. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: To thrive in this hypercompetitive environment, companies must be laser-focused on traffic generation, conversion, and maximization. AI and machine learning enable hyperlocalization, allowing precise targeting of high-reward consumers—those who’ve recently moved homes or have higher discretionary spend. Home goods retailers need advanced targeting to reach consumers. AlixPartners experts Gaurav 'G' Chhabra and Amol Shah explain the playbook. Read the full article here:

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Thursday, June 6: 🧘🏽‍♀️ lululemon beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates, but issued weak second-quarter guidance as it contends with a slowdown in the Americas, its largest market. 👕 Hanesbrands Inc. will sell Champion to Authentic Brands Group in a deal worth up to $1.5 billion with performance incentives. Authentic owns brands such as Reebok, Forever 21 and Quiksilver. 5️⃣ Five Below cut its outlook for the year, warning that its core low-income shoppers were facing an outsized impact from years of inflationary pressures. It posted an unexpected decline in same-store sales for the first quarter. 👙 Victoria’s Secret & Co. said it was encouraged by demand for its bras, sleepwear and other clothing in May, but the company said it was exercising restraint amid continued caution more broadly among the US consumer. 🏪 Foxtrot intends to reopen several locations in Chicago in the Gold Coast and Old Town neighborhoods. The news comes after Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market closed on April 23. 🌳 Dollar Tree Stores Tree said that it had started a formal review of strategic alternatives for Family Dollar, which it said could include among others, a potential sale, spin off or other disposition of the business. 💵 Walmart is now offering bonuses to its hourly employees in the US., the company announced Wednesday. The longer an associate has been with the company, the higher the associate's bonus potential, to a maximum of $1,000. 📚 In a blow to publishers and authors, Costco Wholesale plans to stop selling books regularly at stores around the United States, four publishing executives who had been informed of the warehouse retailer’s plans said Wednesday. 🚚 Albertsons and Uber have launched a new food rescue initiative that aims to address food insecurity and food waste in several major US cities. The program donates surplus food from the grocer’s stores to local nonprofits. 📸The TJX Companies, Inc., parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said it’s equipping some store employees with body cameras to thwart shoplifting and keep customers and employees safe. 🍔 McDonald's lost a European Union trademark dispute over the Big Mac name after a top European Union court sided Wednesday with Irish fast-food rival Supermac's in a long-running legal battle. ✂️ The Bank of Canada's decision on Wednesday to cut interest rates from 5% to 4.75% is expected to provide financial relief to Canadians and encourage consumer spending. 🧳 Shinola and Filson parent Bedrock Manufacturing Company has appointed Steve Katzman to the role of CEO and Kevin Wertz as chief marketing officer. 🇦🇺 ALDI Stores Australia is moving into the insurance sector, with the launch of a series of homes and contents, car, and landlord products. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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For the vendors and brands building retail point-of-sale reporting, how are you handling the variability in data readiness when presenting metrics back to your report users? A given retailer may sometimes be two or five days behind in providing data. This can vary by metric within the same retailer (i.e., inventory is three days behind, and sales are two days behind). How do you indicate this data variability in your reporting? Are you consistently checking and showing the most recent data across each metic/retailer combination? Are you making your report users wait until all metrics have been successfully loaded for proper WoW aggregate reporting? Are you displaying data availability on your reports as a “key”? Sreenath Reddy // Andrew Hamada // Kyle Volenik // Doug Murless

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“Our new store concept cements Foot Locker’s position as the leader in sneaker culture by offering an engaging, cutting-edge shopping experience for the sneaker passionate,” Foot Locker’s president and CEO Mary Dillon stated in a press release.  I spoke with Inside Retail US and Nicole Kirichanskaya and what this all means for the 👟 retailer. Some of my insights: Foot Locker is headed in the right direction with their ’store of the future’ strategy. In fact, it is long overdue. This strategy will put a spotlight on product obsessed sales associates, hyper-localized assortments as well as curated experiences. Rethinking the physical store will get Footlocker to take customer insights and inform product and store decisions based on location and community. This will make every store different and get customers excited about visiting the retailer. The sneaker industry has lost a lot of its luster. Brands like Nike and Under Armour are overstocked with SKUs, and adidas would have had a rough year if it wasn’t for the Samba. Additionally, there are more brands competing for market share. On and HOKA have taken the running community by storm. Brooks Running is focused on innovation and wholesale while PUMA Group and Reebok are relying on celebrities as creative directors to capture a new customer base. The hype around exclusivity and limited editions is not as exciting for consumers, and it will take a lot more than just the product to persuade shoppers to buy. Retailers like Footlocker have the upper hand if they reimagine the physical store as a destination for innovative and exciting experiences vs. focussing on pushing a handful of brands. It’s all about the customer and getting them to spend time in your store. Find the entire article here --> https://lnkd.in/ebzaEUam Shoutout to Neil Saunders and Marie Driscoll, CFA 🙌🏽 #retail #retailnews #footlocker #footwearnews #stores #cx #merchandising

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