Pilot Pen G2 Edge

Issue 01-30-2023

Holiday sales fall short of forecast

WASHINGTON — Retail sales during 2022’s November-December holiday season grew 5.3% over 2021 to $936.3 billion, falling short of the National Retail Federation’s forecast amid continuing inflation and high interest rates, NRF said. While holiday growth was less than expected, sales for the year grew 7% over 2021 to $4.9 trillion, meeting NRF’s forecast of

DG, Ibotta to debut rewards program

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General is partnering with Ibotta to launch a cash-back rewards program. “We are excited to provide an additional innovative option for our customers to help stretch their budgets,” says Emily Taylor, Dollar General’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. “Ibotta’s cash-back rewards program further complements our continuous efforts to provide

NRF’s Kleinhenz sees consumers still spending

NEW YORK — National Retail Federation chief economist Jack Kleinhenz sees a challenging economy ahead in the coming year, but he’s not convinced it will qualify as a recession. “I do expect a meaningful slowdown,” he said, but he added that he was still confident about consumer spending, which has mostly held up despite interest

Cornell: Female leadership is Target’s ‘culture in action’

NEW YORK — Brian Cornell, Target Corp.’s chairman and chief executive officer, led a discussion of the company’s culture in a marquee session at NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show earlier this month. Joining Cornell on stage were four of the company’s leaders: Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief growth officer; Kiera Fernandez, senior vice

Buechel: Whole Foods loyalists aren’t going away

NEW YORK — In pioneering the natural and organic food movement in the United States, Whole Foods Market has probably done as much as any retailer to unite shoppers around the idea of a purpose-driven business. But in today’s uncertain economic environment, can consumers be expected to remain committed to notions of sustainability and purpose?

NRF Foundation honors raises close to $3 million

NEW YORK — The eighth annual NRF Foundation Honors event was held at the New York Marriott Marquis earlier this month to recognize the outstanding leadership of retail executives, award student scholarships and highlight retail as an industry of opportunity. The event raised nearly $3 million to fund the NRF Foundation’s career development programs and

Walmart expands Associate-to-Driver Program

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal­mart is expanding its Fleet Development pilot program to allow more associates the opportunity to become truck drivers for the retailer. According to a blog post by Fernando Cortes, senior vice president of transportation for Walmart, the launch of the retailer’s Fleet Development program last year gave supply chain associates in selected

Acosta: shoppers think there’s already a recession

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Acosta, a national sales and marketing services provider, has identified several opportunities and challenges for brands and retailers as they navigate a dynamic and uncertain consumer marketplace in the coming year. “The economic challenges of the past year will continue to impact consumer behavior in 2023, providing overarching context for what shoppers

Associations cannot be static

The reordering of mass retailing, which is rapidly transforming the industry and making old definitions obsolete, is quickly accelerating. So it is that such traditional drug chains as Walgreens and CVS are transitioning into health care providers. The retail outlets once easily identified as discount stores are now challenging traditional food retailers for leadership in