Retail Dive

DECEMBER 26, 2023

An influx of in-store technologies has CIOs leaning toward cloud for integration solutions, according to research by Bain and Aptos.

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 26, 2023

Post-holiday blues are setting in for many consumers who have received less than satisfactory gifts this season. The disappointment amplifies when they attempt to make returns, only to be confronted with unexpected return fees.

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Hyken

DECEMBER 26, 2023

Happy New Year! I want this year to be your best year ever for creating amazing customer service and experiences. And for everything else, too! But as it applies to the customer experience, I thought it would be fun to share some ideas we need to do more of. With that, here are 10 ideas. Many, if not all, will apply to you and your business. Do more in 24!

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 26, 2023

In today’s ever-evolving ecommerce landscape, the battle for consumer attention and loyalty rages on. Among the many factors that influence shoppers’ decisions, one stands out as a game-changer: high-quality product imagery. This insight takes center stage in our Baby Boomers & e-commerce: Understanding Generational Sentiment study, a survey of more than 1,000 consumers.

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Category Management is a cornerstone of a successful retail strategy. While it promotes collaboration between manufacturers and retailers to optimize category performance, challenges persist in its effective implementation due to hurdles in communication and collaboration across teams and partners, and more. In this guide, we outline five essential strategies for success in 2025 that will touch on all the essential pieces of a successful strategy and implementation.

Management

RIS News

DECEMBER 26, 2023

RIS takes a look back at the year, outlining which companies faced shut-downs or massive transformations, where workforce innovation is happening, and the state of labor industry-wide.

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Retail Customer Experience

DECEMBER 27, 2023

As technology evolves, there will be more tools and opportunities for technology to do the work so retailers can focus on expanding product and service offerings and growing the businesses.

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Retail Dive

DECEMBER 27, 2023

The last thing retailers should do is make gift recipients feel guilty for making a return, according to experts.

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Retail Gazette

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Retailers are set to pay for shoppers’ e-waste recycling from 2026 under new UK plans from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). UK producers and retailers are planned to cover the bill for household and in-store collections of electrical waste, the government department revealed in a consultation published today. The measures include the requirement for larger retail companies to create free “collection drop points for electrical items in-store” without needing t

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 25, 2023

People have been saying “Retail is dead” for several years now. The problem is it simply isn’t true. Multinational athletic apparel retailer Lululemon recently announced its net revenue increased 20% (on a constant dollar basis) to $2.2 billion for the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period the prior year. Comparable store sales increased 9%, and the company’s gross margin increased to 58.8%.

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The beer industry is undergoing what appears to be a significant transformation. Current trends suggest that the industry's U.S. shipments will fall to their lowest level in a quarter-century by the end of the year.

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Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

Finance

Retail Dive

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The costs of implementing same-day and next-day delivery might not be worth it given the level of consumer interest in the service.

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Retail Gazette

DECEMBER 27, 2023

WHSmith has sparked confusion with its new logo as part of a mini-rebrand that is being trialled across the country. The high street retailer has renamed several of its branches to ‘WHS’, dropping the surname of founder Henry Walton Smith from its branding. The new logo – the three-letter symbol written out in white font on a blue background – has been introduced to ten of its stores across the UK including in York and Preston.

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 26, 2023

Preliminary data for the period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 showed a 3.1% year-over-year increase in both online and in-store retail sales, according to the Mastercard SpendingPulse , which measures sales across all forms of payment and is not adjusted for inflation. The data also excludes automotive sales. In September 2023 , Mastercard had forecast a 3.7% increase for this period.

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The Portland International Airport has welcomed a comforting pair of therapy llamas to help ease the stress of holiday travelers.

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Advertiser: ZoomInfo

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

Marketing

Retail Dive

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The retail and branding expert discusses the state of the consumer, the habits companies should leave behind in 2023 and what lies ahead in the new year.

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Dezeen

DECEMBER 27, 2023

A curvilinear thatched hut has been paired with terracotta-hued tiles at the Amsterdam store for homeware brand Polspotten, which was designed by local studio Space Projects. The studio created the store to straddle a shop and an office for Polspotten , a furniture and home accessories brand headquartered in the Dutch capital. Visitors enter the Polspotten store via an oversized triangular entranceway Characterised by bold angles and arches , the outlet features distinctive terracotta-coloured w

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 27, 2023

Returns totaled $743 billion in 2023, amounting to 14.5% of all retail sales, according to a report from the National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail. This means that for every $1 billion in sales, the average retailer incurred $145 million in merchandise returns. As is typically the case, online sales saw a higher return rate in 2023 at 17.6% compared to 10.02% for pure brick-and-mortar returns (excluding online orders that were returned in-store).

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The University of California, Los Angeles has acquired control of the Westside Pavilion property.

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When it comes to driving traffic and growing your online presence, businesses often ask: SEO or PPC—what’s the better choice? This guide breaks down the key differences between search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, highlighting their pros, cons, and best use cases. Whether you’re looking for long-term organic growth or immediate visibility through paid ads, we’ll help you determine which strategy—or combination of both—is right for your business.

Advertising

Retail Dive

DECEMBER 29, 2023

To address the rising cost of returns, 44% of retailers have increased return or restocking fees, according to CBRE and Optoro.

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Retail Gazette

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Jigsaw’s parent company Mountain Berg’s profits jumped £700,000 to £1.9m as sales surged 19% to £56.8m in its year to the end of January. The performance mark a stark turnaround for the brand, which had been struggling even before the pandemic amid a tough mid-market fashion sector. However, the fashion chain has thrived post-pandemic in part due to its stronger online offer, where it now sells through Next, according to This Is Money.

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 29, 2023

The humble sneaker has long been a staple item in closets everywhere for consumers of all ages. The consistent appeal of sneakers and sportswear has grown in recent times with customers, particularly from the Gen Z demographic , continuing to favor them as everyday items for leisure and now work. With the growing popularity of the ‘athleisure’ trend, brought on by a renewed focus on both comfort and style, sneakers and sportswear look set to dominate retail for years to come.

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 25, 2023

In the wake of a string of nationwide recalls, the reputable pet food manufacturer, Blue Ridge Beef is the latest to join the list. The company, on December 21, announced a voluntary recall of three of its pet food varieties following contamination concerns, as confirmed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

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AI is rapidly transforming digital commerce, but how do you separate real opportunities from hype? Moderated by Orium, AI for Commerce: Foundations, Aspirations, and Hype , experts from Bloomreach , commercetools , Contentstack , and Fluent Commerce explores where AI is already delivering results and where its potential is still unfolding. This masterclass dives into proven AI applications, emerging innovations , and the gaps between promise and reality in commerce.

Retail Dive

DECEMBER 26, 2023

Online sales of prestige fragrance brands were nearly double the rate of in-store sales in the early part of Q4, according to Circana.

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Retail Gazette

DECEMBER 27, 2023

John Lewis Partnership is to update its turnaround strategy as chief executive Nish Kankiwala promises staff the employee-owned business will prioritise retail. The chief executive told staff he was operating with a “one retail mindset” for the Partnership’s Waitrose and John Lewis business, as well as its financial services and property division. “At the heart of what we want to do, we want to be a brilliant retailer that delights our customer . . .

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The Container Store has promoted two executives as it continues to focus on strengthening its “Custom Spaces” business. Lindy Rawlinson, formerly EVP of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing has been promoted to Chief Digital Officer; and Jennifer Pape formerly of VP of Stores has been elevated to SVP of Stores. Both Rawlinson and Pape will report directly to CEO and President Satish Malhotra.

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 29, 2023

The college football bowl season of 2023 marked the continuation of unique post-game celebrations involving food items.

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Speaker: Ethan Woolley, Director at Kharon

This webinar will explore how companies can proactively address compliance risks–rather than reactively responding to–UFLPA enforcement actions. Ethan Woolley will provide insights into the latest CBP enforcement trends, entity list updates, and industries under increased scrutiny, with a look at potential shifts under the Trump administration. Ethan will also explore how predictive data and strategic due diligence can help organizations stay ahead of regulatory challenges and strengthen complia

ATS

Retail Dive

DECEMBER 24, 2023

The Scandinavian concept of cozy gatherings and togetherness fits in well with the holidays. Until the excessive purchasing begins.

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Retail Customer Experience

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The year 2023 was one of retail innovation when it comes to retail customer experience. In case you missed any coverage, here’s a rundown of top brands and retailers embracing new technology to boost the customer experience.

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Retail TouchPoints

DECEMBER 28, 2023

BCG’s research into consumers’ sustainability attitudes and actions is a very stark expression of three fundamental problems related to sustainability: 1. There are a raft of governmental targets and commitments that have no chance of succeeding unless they are actively understood by consumers and put into practice. 2. There are a host of global brand companies that, though they nod to more sustainable practices and have extensive roadmaps, have not found the investment ambition to bring their c

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Retail Wire

DECEMBER 27, 2023

Wendy's is making sure consumers will be bringing home the bacon.

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Advertiser: ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!

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