Fri.Jan 17, 2025

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Holiday Sales Grew 4% to Top $994 Billion, Exceeding Expectations

Retail TouchPoints

Bearing out earlier reports of solid sales increases during the 2024 holiday season, U.S. Census Bureau data revealed that core retail sales increased by an unexpectedly robust 4% over 2023 to a record $994.1 billion , topping the National Retail Federation (NRF) s forecast of 2.5% to 3.5% growth. Full-year 2024 retail sales also showed healthy growth of 3.6% over the previous year, reaching a record $5.28 trillion.

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Walgreens Replaced Refrigerator Doors With High-Tech Smart Screens, But There’s a Problem

Retail Wire

High-tech smart screen doors are causing more problems than solutions for Walgreens.

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Walmart Makes Deal to Purchase Robotics Tech for 400 Pickup and Delivery Centers

Retail TouchPoints

Walmart will sell its Advanced Systems and Robotics business to Symbotic for $200 million. As part of the deal, the robotics solution provider will engage in a Walmart-funded development program to enhance the retailers current online pickup and delivery fulfillment systems. Walmart has committed to purchasing and deploying systems from Symbotic for 400 Accelerated Pickup and Delivery centers (APDs) over a multi-year period, with an option to purchase additional ADPs in coming years.

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NRF 2025: RetailWire CEO’s Top 5 Takeaways

Retail Wire

NRF 2025 is now over, and with the clarity that exhaustion brings a few days later, I felt that what the world needs is the 423rd version of: the top five takeaways from my time at NRF.

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5 Ways You Can Win Faster with Gen AI in Sales

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.

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Exclusive Q&A: B2B Cruise Retail Player Comes Ashore to Support Resort-Based Luxury

Retail TouchPoints

Stacy Shaw wants to make it very clear that Starboard Group is specifically in the business of vacation retail, as opposed to the broader travel retail category. Thats where our expertise lies not with the business traveler, not duty-free airport shops, said Shaw. She is SVP at the 65- year-old company, which supports and operates shipboard retail stores on nearly 100 ships operated by 15 cruise lines.

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Progresso Releases Chicken Noodle Soup-Flavored Hard Candy

Retail Wire

Progresso is going viral for its new take on hard candy.

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More Trending

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PepsiCo Slammed by FTC Over Alleged Price Discrimination in Favor of Walmart

Retail Wire

The FTC is accusing PepsiCo of working with a large retailer in a price discrimination scheme.

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Kurt Geiger is ‘Going Big in North America’ with Plans for 50 U.S. Stores

Retail TouchPoints

British footwear and accessories label Kurt Geiger has unveiled plans to bring its London verve across the pond in a big way. Following the opening of its first U.S. store, at the Mall at Millenia in Orlando in early 2024, the brand has opened its next three U.S. stores at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, N.Y., Del Amo in Los Angeles and Fashion Valley in San Diego.

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John Deere Sued by the FTC Over Its Tractor Repair Monopoly

Retail Wire

John Deere is in trouble with the federal government.

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The Secret to Solving Retail’s $743 Billion Returns Problem: Intelligent Customer Support

Retail TouchPoints

With returns siphoning off a staggering $743 billion from retailers bottom lines in 2023, its clear that the industrys approach needs an overhaul. But instead of leaning on rigid policies that risk driving customers away, retailers can use this as an opportunity to rethink returns. The key? Customer-first strategies that not only reduce returns but also boost experience and loyalty.

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The Evolving Retailers Fulfillment Strategy: Meeting Demands with Agility

Speaker: Becky Parisotto and John Vurdelja

Fulfillment is no longer just about getting products from point A to point B – it's about crafting seamless, scalable, customer first experiences. Flexible fulfillment strategies are more important than ever for those aiming to stay ahead and build resilience as retail enters a new era in 2025. Learn how to optimize fulfillment processes, tackle complex, multi-vendor orders, and create seamless customer experiences – from white-glove delivery for high-value items to quick-ship solutions for ever

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AMC Stubs Members Who See More Than 8 Movies in a Year Can Get Free Upgrades and Perks

Retail Wire

As of Jan. 1, AMC Stubs Insider members who see at least eight movies or earn at least 5,000 AMC Stubs points in a calendar year will be upgraded to the all-new AMC Stubs Premiere GO! status.

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Next batch of Homebase stores to reopen as The Range by end of January

Retail Gazette

CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range, Wilko , and Homebase, is set to relaunch three former Homebase stores as The Range Superstores by the end of January. The new openings in Stroud, Leicester, and Blandford Forum will mark the latest step in the company’s transformation of up to 70 ex-Homebase locations since its acquisition. The new stores, which will open on 31 January, will offer customers a “fresh shopping experience” by combining The Ranges renowned product v

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Barilla Brings Back ‘Love Pasta’ To Celebrate All Forms of Love

Retail Wire

"Love Pasta" by Barilla is the ultimate Valentine's Day meal.

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In pictures: The Range opens first rebranded Homebase store

Retail Gazette

The Range has opened its first set of rebranded Homebase stores following its acquisition of the DIY retailer last November. The discount giant unveiled its converted branch in Christchurch in Bournemouth, which stocks the retailer ‘s full range and is one of the first to display its new ‘Garden Centres by Homebase’ concept. Today (17 Januarry) also marked the opening of The Range superstores in Pollokshaws in Glasgow and Kings Heath in Birmingham.

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10 Ways to Leverage Buyer Signals and Drive Revenue

In today’s ultra-competitive markets, it’s no longer enough to wait for buyers to show obvious signs of interest. Instead, sales teams must be proactive, identifying and acting on nuanced buyer behaviors — often before prospects are fully ready to make a purchase. In this eBook from ZoomInfo & Sell Better, learn 10 actionable ways to use these buyer signals to transform your sales strategy and close deals faster.

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Amazon RTO Hampered by Office Theft, Cramped Parking Lots, Lack of Office Space

Retail Wire

After kicking off its return-to-office policy on Jan. 2, Amazon's corporate employees are issuing a litany of complaints.

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Walmart opens new Arkansas corporate headquarters

Retail Dive

About 15,000 associates will occupy the new campus that includes collaborative work and gathering spaces, public retail, eateries and a hotel.

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TikTok Ban: Supreme Court’s Ruling Sets Stage for App Shutdown

Retail Wire

A TikTok ban is looming, unless Chinese company ByteDance finds a buyer.

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Next CEO Lord Wolfson: National Insurance hike will hit entry-level jobs

Retail Gazette

Next CEO Lord Wolfson has warned upcoming tax changes in April, including an increase in National Insurance, will make it harder for individuals to enter the workforce. Speaking to the BBC , Wolfson warned that the higher NI contributions required from employers will have a significant impact on the retail sector. He added that the axe [had] fallen particularly hard on entry-level positions.

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Modernizing the Frontend Experience on Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Unlock agility, boost performance, and gain control over your Salesforce frontend with the latest masterclass from Composable.com : Modernizing the Frontend Experience on Salesforce Commerce Cloud Featuring experts from Algolia, Ember, Netlify, and Stripe, this masterclass focuses on practical strategies for optimizing your Salesforce Commerce Cloud storefronts using modern composable commerce integrations.

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Taco Bell Refreshes Its Menu With a New Twist on a Fan-Favorite Drink. Here Are the Details

Retail Wire

Taco Bell continues to update its menu.

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The Weekly Closeout: Foot Locker taps Sonia Syngal for board and New Balance sales hit a record

Retail Dive

Also joining the footwear retailer’s board is Ace Hardware CEO John Venhuizen. Meanwhile, New Balance landed $7.8 billion in global sales last year.

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Microsoft 365 Will Now Cost You 30% More, Thanks to AI Copilot

Retail Wire

Microsoft 365 will now cost you significantly more, that is, if you want to access Copilot.

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Amazon to lay off 200 people in its North America retail operations

Retail Dive

The e-commerce giant said it is cutting a small number of roles after a routine evaluation of its team structures and ability to “move fast.

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Signal-Based Selling: How to Leverage 4 Key Buying Signals

As prospects define their problem, search for solutions, and even change jobs, they are generating high-value signals that the best go-to-market teams can leverage to close more deals. This is where signal-based selling comes into play. ZoomInfo CEO Henry Schuck recently broke down specific ways to put four key buying signals into action with the experts from 30 Minutes to President’s Club.

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“I Matter Too” campaign launches urging retailers to prioritise accessibility ahead of the European Accessibility Act

A1 Retail

As the June 2025 deadline for the European Accessibility Act approaches, Nexer Digital has launched a new campaign, I Matter Too , to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive online experiences. The campaign aims to encourage online retailers to act now and embrace digital accessibility as a core part of their strategy, not just to meet legal requirements but to go beyond compliance and deliver true inclusivity.

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Spanx adds new activewear collection

Retail Dive

The line, called Spanxsmooth OnForm, features light compression and is designed for low-intensity exercise and casual dressing.

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centre:mk surpasses a decade of footfall benchmarks with strong start to 2025

A1 Retail

centre:mk, one of the top 10 prime retail destinations in the UK, has reported a strong start to 2025, following a successful 2024. Setting the pace for another positive year ahead, the first week of 2025 saw an impressive footfall increase year-on-year of 20 percent at centre:mk. Marking 10.8 percentage points ahead of high street destinations and 11.3 percentage points above other shopping centres, centre:mk outperforms competing assets due to its unique regional pull.

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Lowe’s to rebrand, add features to its Digital Home Platform

Retail Dive

MyLowe’s Home will debut in the spring, as the retailer aims to enhance the homeowner experience through AI.

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Website Security Essentials: Protect Your Site and Strengthen Cybersecurity

In a digital-first world, website security is non-negotiable. This comprehensive guide explores the critical importance of securing your site against hackers and vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and malware. Discover tools like SiteLock for threat monitoring and CodeGuard for seamless backups, ensuring robust protection for your data and operations.

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Quest for adventure, opulence, sustainability and nostalgia to drive independent retail’s must-have products in 2025

A1 Retail

Online wholesale marketplace Faires 2025 forecasthas revealed four major consumer and product trends transforming how independent retailers can connect with shoppers this year Independent retailers will stock more adventure-inspired accessories, opulent vintage pieces, natural goods and playful nostalgic items this year, according to the 2025 forecast from online wholesale marketplace Faire.

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Retailers have made progress on phasing out harmful chemicals, nonprofits say

Retail Dive

Reports from Toxic-Free Future and Clean Production Action analyzed how companies are addressing PFAS, PVC and other chemicals of concern in plastics, packaging and more.

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The North Face Transforms Regent Street Flagship Store

365 Retail

The North Face has unveiled a completely reimagined flagship store on London’s Regent Street, using cutting-edge technology and innovative design to create an experiential retail environment. In collaboration with Mood Media , the outdoor retailer has transformed its 10,000-square-foot space into a destination for engagement and exploration. Experiential Retail at the Heart of the Transformation The centrepiece of the flagship store is a 360-degree projection dome, offering an immersive &#

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Tariffs may add to ‘a toxic brew for consumers’

Retail Dive

Retailers and consumers will feel added pressure if proposed tariffs are implemented, industry analysts and experts told Retail Dive.

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Activating Intent Data for Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing leaders have reached a tipping point when it comes to using intent data — and they’re not looking back. More than half of all B2B marketers are already using intent data to increase sales, and Gartner predicts this figure will grow to 70 percent. The reason is clear: intent can provide you with massive amounts of data that reveal sales opportunities earlier than ever before.