Mass retail sales, by their very nature, are all about large volume and quick turnover. Yet sales of CBD products are typically a far more consultative process. And if one thing was driven home to me during my recent visit to the Planet 13 dispensary in Las Vegas, it’s this: If retailers want to become
NEW YORK — The full force of the coronavirus pandemic slammed the overall economy and the mass market retail industry in March, requiring unprecedented operational responses from chain managements and workers. While the ultimate impact of the outbreak, both on companies and on millions of individuals remains unclear, essential retailers have emerged as perhaps the
NEW YORK — U.S. consumer confidence has tumbled in recent weeks as the coronavirus impact has taken a bigger toll on the economy. Nearly three in five consumers expect the COVID-19 pandemic will last more than three months, according to an analysis by IRI. Consumers are exhibiting “recession-like sentiment,” said the market research firm, which
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Jody Pinson, one of the most respected faces in mass market beauty retailing, has retired after 30 years at Walmart. Pinson held myriad positions through the years at Walmart, from tagging apparel in a warehouse to participation in the management training program. She was promoted to a buyer role in 1999 and
NEW YORK – In addition to serving their customers by keeping stores open during the coronavirus pandemic, mass retailers are working to support their communities through grants and charitable giving. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a $25 million commitment to strengthen the global public health response, bolster food security and support the needs of
NEW YORK — The COVID-19 pandemic is shaking up the calendar for retail and supplier executives. Last month the National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced that the 2020 Annual Meeting will not be held. The event had been scheduled for April 22 through April 28 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The final decision was made after
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. unveiled a new logo as part of a broader rebranding initiative intended to burnish the retail pharmacy chain’s appeal as a health and wellness destination. The revitalization plan, dubbed RxEvolution, rests on three pillars: becoming the dominant mid-market pharmacy benefits manager, unlocking the full potential of Rite Aid’s
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. last month made a $1 billion deal to bolster its e-commerce operations, acquiring Innovel Solutions, a logistics firm specializing in the storage and delivery of big and bulky items. The move is seen as helping Costco support online sales of such products as furniture, large appliances, fitness equipment and
ST. LOUIS — Discount grocer Save A Lot announced this month it had reached agreement with a majority of its lenders to recapitalize the business and deleverage its balance sheet. Save A Lot said the deal eliminates $500 million in debt and provides $350 million in new capital that will support operations and the acceleration
The hundreds of thousands of employees who make the retail marketplace function, those staffers who are frequently overlooked, routinely unnoticed by their superiors, and all-too-frequently underpaid, undervalued and underappreciated, have emerged as the heroes and heroines of the coronavirus pandemic. They have routinely accomplished the impossible, working exhaustingly long hours with little rest and less
For retail companies that sell essential merchandise and remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis has created new exigencies that are testing their mettle. With consumer preferences and shopping patterns undergoing sudden and dramatic shifts, stores have had to scramble to meet unprecedented demand, while at the same time doing everything they can to
Keeping up with today’s consumers can be all consuming. The consumer packaged goods industry is at this critical turning point. The established players are being forced to listen, as owning and selling a big global brand no longer guarantees survival. The rise of plant-based, lactose-free, vegan-friendly, “clean,” natural and organic products is testament to the