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With the lingering effect of inflation, consumers are facing new woes and worries that are reflected in their spending and shopping habits. These inflationary pressures will continue to impact shoppers’ habits, and retailers must adapt quickly to ensure they don't miss out on the next decade of growth and profit potential. Recent consumer research tells…

In a larger-than-life Broadway theatrical production, the audience can often take for granted what happens behind the curtains to produce a stunning show. Instead, they bask in the delight of the show before their eyes. In retail, it’s not all that different. Shoppers tend to focus on the shelves or delightedly engage in the many…

The whirlwind of the pandemic and the fluctuating economy over the last few years has left retailers quickly adapting to the new demands of today’s consumers. Now that the dust has settled a bit, retailers continue to look for new ways to provide the best experience for shoppers — both in-store and online. Furthermore, they're…

Whipsawed by supply chain volatility and the massive overordering that resulted when retailers placed bigger bets on stock, the retail ecosystem has absorbed some harsh inventory blows over the past two years. Heading into the 2022 holiday season, an estimated $66 billion in unwanted surplus inventory sat on retailers’ shelves. But there’s hope. As retailers…

During the early 2000s, while the retail industry was getting battered by e-commerce, grocery stores were seemingly safe. Twenty years — and a pandemic — later, much has changed; e-commerce and delivery services have transformed grocery retail. Today, when consumers visit a store, they enter with much higher expectations. A convenient and smooth, seamless shopping…

Consumers are tightening budgets in preparation for a softer economy, shifting how often they shop and what they shop for in effort to maximize their spending power. Pair this shift with financial market instability, ongoing supply chain pressures, and the continued need for an elevated omnichannel shopping experience, and it’s no wonder retailers are looking…

Despite sales performing solidly, the retail industry continues to keep up a heady pace of evolution. Retailers are constantly seeking out new technologies to optimize and future-proof their operations as well as to improve efficiency. One area where technology is making a significant impact is in the realm of inventory management. One such technology that…

We're increasingly living in a world driven by technology, with new services and new applications appearing almost on a daily basis. It’s new, it’s the latest thing, it must be good, we need it ... right? Wrong. In the rush to be seen to be deploying the latest technology, there's a risk of losing sight…

Achieving repeat business in retail — a primary sign of success — means identifying and overcoming challenges in an ever-changing landscape. Today’s consumers expect a high-quality buying experience whether they’re shopping online or in a brick-and-mortar store, and retailers are adjusting to ensure a consistently great experience across all channels. It’s all about the experience. Customer…

Ever since Josiah Wedgwood first marketed high-end china in the 18th century by seeking the sheen of associating with royalty, brands have sought celebrity endorsements to elevate their products in the public’s eye. But along with the reward of celebrity association comes risk, a lesson once again delivered in 2022 when major consumer brands found…

Each year, NRF: Retail's Big Show acts as the curtain-raiser for some of the retail industry’s most advanced and innovative technology solutions. While 2022’s event saw NRF’s return to New York’s Javits Center, attendee turnout remained unusually low due to the world being in the early stages of the post-pandemic recovery. However, 2023 saw attendee…

The last two years have been a roller coaster for fashion brands. The supply chain disruptions of 2021 led to many merchants struggling to get their hands on enough inventory, and then overbuying to compensate. Now, with an economic downturn looming and the threat of reduced spending increasing, retailers that overstocked during the pandemic are…

It’s no secret that today’s retail margins are under intense pressure. They’ve been cut dramatically over the past decade, exacerbated by intense competition, higher fulfillment costs, and higher return rates. Furthermore, consumer behaviors and preference are rapidly changing and retailers are trying to adapt. In CommerceNext’s 2022 Digital Trends and Investment Priorities Report, 57 percent…

2022 was a tough year for retailers and e-commerce sellers. With supply chain snarls around the globe, they’ve struggled to get the products they need. Now that those snarls are easing and products are flowing, sellers face diminishing consumer demand, which poses the threat of inventory sitting around unsold. In a survey of retail executives…

Consumer behavior and shopping experiences have arguably changed more in recent years than ever before. Throughout the pandemic, shoppers became more accustomed to online ordering and the inevitable ease that comes with shopping from the comfort of your own home. This has inspired consumers to come up with a whole new set of demands and…

Last year took grocery retailers for a wild ride as the industry worked to please shoppers amid turbulent times. The pandemic refused to go away. Inflation was higher than it has been in 40-plus years. Supply chain snarls continued. So, too, did the labor shortage. All these factors and more took a toll on the…

Retailers’ bearings for demand forecasting are now better calibrated than they were just a couple of years ago, although shockwaves from supply chain and distribution disruptions persist in some areas. These challenges create a disconnect between what retailers think is the "new normal" vs. what their actual "new normal" likely is. This dichotomy hinders their ability…

This holiday season, retailers prepared for an influx of in-store and online shoppers at levels even larger than before the pandemic. With 42 percent of consumers planning to shop equally in-store and online for the holidays, it’s essential for retailers to create an omnichannel strategy that reaches all shoppers — no matter which buying journey…

Consumer spending accounts for nearly 70 percent of U.S. economic activity. In the first half of 2022, shoppers buoyed the economy — or at least kept it from falling deeply into recession. However, they’re starting to feel the pinch from inflation and rising interest rates. The supply chain was more stable in 2022, but retailers…

With holiday shopping in full swing, retailers are executing on months of planning to ensure consistent sales in an ever-changing consumer climate. By focusing on the omnichannel consumer journey and delivering a consistent experience for customers throughout their path to purchase, brands will be able to maximize their efficacy this season and beyond. According to…