“Innovate by starting with the customer and working backward.” That’s what Jeff Bezos says. Who wouldn’t agree? From new products to packaging to consumer experiences, you’ve got to walk in your customer’s shoes. Dig deep to understand what they really want and need. How they think. Why they act. Essentially, design thinking. Given today’s super-charged,
Sustainability is generally defined as the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance. The three principles forming its foundation are profit, people and the planet. In today’s market, a superior product is no longer enough to win a consumer’s favor. Shoppers are seeking much more than just features and benefits,
Returns are a touchy subject. When a famous and well-loved retailer, known for its iconic footwear, flannel products and liberal return policies, announced a few years back that it was tightening returns policies, it attracted considerable media attention. The media coverage was primarily negative, and upset consumers lambasted the retailer on social media. Despite the
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — It is now 16 months since Rick Dreiling took the reins at Dollar Tree Inc., and he has not been idle. Suffice to say, the small-box discount sector is about to get much more interesting. Last month Dreiling and the management team he has assembled provided analysts and investors a glimpse of
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General Corp. announced plans to open its first stores in Montana this fall, marking the discount retailer’s entry into its 48th state. “Announcing plans for Montana has an extra element of excitement at Dollar General because our expansion in the Treasure State will complete our presence throughout the lower 48,” says
BOSTON — The drug stores of CVS Health are being recast to be linked more closely to the company’s overarching mission to be the country’s gateway to health care. Musab Balbale, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer, talked about the undertaking at the company’s first annual Retail Supplier Summit. “The new store will feel
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart marked National HIV Testing Day with a pledge to open 80 Specialty Pharmacies of the Community (SPOC) locations across 11 states by the end of the year. This month the company has already opened 70 of the HIV-focused outlets across 10 states, allowing patients to access education and services at the
CHICAGO — Amazon, Aldi, Costco Wholesale Corp. and Walmart are among the U.S. food retailers best positioned for success in 2053, according to a report from dunnhumby. “Grocery 2053: A Data-Driven Gaze into the Future” is the data science firm’s examination of trends that will have the biggest potential impact on grocery retailers over the
NEW YORK — Supermarket retailers this year can expect consolidation to increase, margins to shrink and consumers to remain focused on value, according to a new “Market Navigator” report from Coresight Research exploring the U.S. grocery market and critical factors influencing the sector’s growth. The report forecasts that the U.S. grocery market will grow 5.6%
SAN ANTONIO — H-E-B recently opened a new e-commerce fulfillment center in Plano, Texas, a project that expands the retailer’s commitment to integrate innovative technologies that drive omnichannel growth and provide a better shopping experience for Texans. The 55,000-square-foot facility supports H-E-B’s curbside pickup and home delivery services throughout a fast-growing region of the state.
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) will shutter an additional 300 Boots outlets in the U.K. and 150 Walgreens stores, and cut hours at other U.S. stores, global chief financial officer James Kehoe said during a conference call discussing third quarter results. The actions are among “cost-saving initiatives” that Kehoe noted after the company
CINCINNATI — Kroger Co.’s first quarter same-store sales and net earnings beat analysts’ projections, and the company reaffirmed its guidance for the year. Identical-store sales, excluding fuel, increased by 3.5% for the quarter, topping analysts’ average forecast of a 3.27% gain. Kroger said identical-store sales would have increased by 5.0% had it not been for