Month of June
It all seems to indicate that the worst has yet to come for traditional retail. There are countless brick-and-mortar stores that have closed this year, but, according to various reports, there are still more to follow the same path. Well then, what can be done? Adapt, adapt and continue adapting to a new reality. Be creative, innovative, look for a new way to surprise consumers or attack new niches that you never looked at before. This is what global giants like Nike or Ikea are doing, as well as Amazon, which never ceases to amaze me, with its new applied technologies or operational decisions that go in line with improving its bottom line.
Walmart Inc said on Monday it has hired Scott Eckert to run its investment arm and startup incubator, Store No. 8, whose aim is to expand the retailer’s e-commerce business in partnership with retail startups, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.
Today, a new kind of commerce forming. It is a blend between both offline and online experiences. It involves a combination of customers, retail and e-commerce. We are beginning to see this with companies such as Tesla, Amazon, Walmart and Peloton, as they blend online and offline elements of their businesses and pioneer the future of retail.
It’s been a rough ride for retail stocks.The XRT, which tracks the biggest names in retail, is coming off its worst month in more than a decade after falling roughly 13% in May. But the sector showed some signs of life on Tuesday, gaining almost 3% and posting its best day in about five months.
Tired of the same old retail experience? You’re not alone. Many shoppers experience retail fatigue as they grow tired of repeatedly seeing the same products and services. But shoppers and retailers are about to get a shot of adrenaline with new pop-up shops.
Omnichannel is dead. And in my mind, it’s long overdue. Nearly 16 years since its apparent coining, I think most of us can agree that if omni-channel ever had any real usefulness (debatable), as a concept it is now well past its expiration date.
U.K. retail sales plunged in May, reinforcing a gloomy picture for the industry that’s seen a number of high-profile businesses run into trouble. Industry figures show total sales fell 2.7% from a year earlier, the biggest drop since at least 1995 when excluding Easter distortions.
Most retailers expect their e-commerce revenue to increase, according to a new study from Boston Research Partners (BRP). According to “The E-commerce Effect,” 74% of retailers expect an increase in e-commerce revenue next year, and 72% expect higher mobile website revenue. Less than half of retailers expect revenue growth from channels such as mobile app (49%), social media (47%), and brick-and-mortar (38%).
Vendors that to varying degrees depend on Amazon for their wholesale revenue were once again shaken last week by indications that the e-commerce giant might be eliminating its supplier base within its first-party — aka retail — operations.
Google has agreed to acquire Looker Data Sciences in exchange for US $2.6 billion in order to expand its offering to help its customers manage data in the cloud. The acquisition, announced on Thursday, gives Google a new tool in its initiative to sell more storage and software in the cloud.
Electric vehicle (EV) owners have a friend in Walmart. Working with Electrify America, Walmart has made more than 120 ultra-fast EV charging stations open to the public at stores across the U.S. Walmart intends to become one of the largest retail hosts of EV charging stations in the U.S.
Nike’s flagship London store has introduced plus-size and para-sport mannequins to its redeveloped women’s floor, signaling a further step towards inclusivity for the sportswear brand. Opened Wednesday, the new women’s floor at NikeTown London sells “extended offerings of plus-sizes,” as well as women’s team kits and customized sportswear.
Ikea has already made efforts to accommodate the small spaces many urban millennials live in. However, its latest product launch taps technology to create arguably the most efficient spaces yet. Think trundle bed, but way more advanced.
In an economic climate where the retail sector has constantly been dragged through the mud, many investors have opted to steer away from the sector. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF XRT, which tracks the biggest names in retail, is coming off its worst month in more than a decade, declining roughly 13% in May.