Author Profile

Despite the pandemic’s persistence, customers just kept buying. A dangerous combination was created: lower supply, higher demand. Now retailers find themselves racing to catch up.

Being the most positively perceived retail brand in the U.S. is a remarkable feat, especially during the challenges 2020 has brought retailers. Uncover which retailers ranked the best and which made the greatest improvement over the past 12 months.

Retail innovation is blazing, even in the midst of the craziest holiday season ever. Nike and Ugg both launched new store concepts this November, while 7‑Eleven and Foot Locker expanded concepts. RIS takes a look at each and gives you the lowdown on the innovation inside.

To help keep online gift orders “spoiler free,” Amazon is offering options for customers to keep gifts a surprise, as well as track and receive Amazon orders. Uncover Amazon's newest delivery locations and Alexa changes.

Walgreens has relaunched its customer loyalty program as part of its mass personalization efforts and rolled out 30 minute pickup. Get the details.

TJX Companies will bring its HomeGoods brand online in the second half of 2021. Uncover how the e-commerce site will allow the retailer to leverage its strength in the home category and the power of its global buying organization.

Will the Black Friday to Christmas Eve stretch be boom or bust? Retailers are certainly tasked with a complicated consumer mindset this year, but preparedness and last minute agility will likely be a winning combo. As the industry enters the throes of the holiday season, RIS reviews the latest expert forecasts and findings.

To guarantee shoppers can continue shop sales successfully during a period of heightened online traffic, retailers must rely on robust strategies at the back end. So what are some last-minute strategies for retail IT teams to handle the shopping surge that will begin this Black Friday season?

More than two years after Amazon bought online pharmacy PillPack, the retail giant is jumping into the pharmacy business with the launch of a new store, Amazon Pharmacy, and an Amazon Prime prescription savings benefit for members. Learn more about this big move.

Changes in customer shopping behavior throughout 2020 have accelerated the shift to e-commerce, and Walmart was “well positioned to catch and ride these waves," resulting in U.S. e-commerce sales swelling 79%. RIS takes a look at three things helping Walmart keep up with shifting shopper trends and demand.

Walmart is dedicating space in 42 of its regional distribution centers to add “pop-up e-commerce distribution centers” to meet the expected spike in e-commerce orders this holiday season, as well as unexpected peaks in the future. Learn the tech that's making it possible.

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first-ever digital-only restaurant, but the concept isn’t new. Hear from experts on why pickup only may need to be adopted in order for retailers to find growth and continued relevance in the face of changing consumer behavior.

Amazon is expanding even deeper into grocery through its physical store plans and a new delivery convenience. Uncover where the behemoth is launching new garage grocery delivery and expanding its Fresh stores to.

Ulta Beauty at Target will debut at more than 100 Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com beginning in 2021. Uncover what the new beauty experience will entail and why the two have joined together.

Bed Bath & Beyond will expand its Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions this year and offer an extra 5% to shoppers picking up orders inside and outside the store. Get the details.

Three tips to differentiate your e-commerce site with a more satisfying and successful customer experience.

Whether selling or shopping in 2020, the only thing that can be expected is the unexpected. To help retailers craft their last minute strategies, RIS dove into the data and talked with experts to provide ammo for peak selling season twists and turns.

Wayfair beat out analysts’ estimates again as consumers continue to invest in their homes and adopt mobile shopping. Uncover how the retailer is benefiting from a rise in e-commerce shopping.

Walmart has turned two stores into labs centers to explore new solutions to operate stores as both physical shopping destinations and online fulfillment centers. From an augmented reality app, to contact-free checkout, learn what it’s testing.

The Home Depot has exposed private order confirmations of hundreds of Canadian consumers. Get the details.

Brian Gregg, senior partner at McKinsey & Company, outlines the five markers that could lead retailers to rapid revenue recovery.

IKEA has been able to accelerate its digital transformation in the face of COVID-19, while keeping an eye on the future. Learn how its implementation of cloud services is setting the retailer apart.

Despite shoppers hesitations to shop in person, Nordstrom and Ross are still growing their physical presence. Find out where the retailers are expanding.

Blood, sweat, and tears have likely been shed in designing, sourcing, and manufacturing products that should be in great demand this season. Unfortunately, supply chain disruptions may impact the best laid plans and latest technology. Here are five trends and areas of focus for retailers to evaluate as they work to serve the demand this holiday season.

The RealReal has opened a Midwest flagship store on Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile. Tour inside the new 12,000-square-foot flagship, the online retailer’s fifth brick-and-mortar store.

Holiday spending is expected, but what at level during a global pandemic? RIS takes a look at two recent surveys for the answer.

For retailers who want guidance on marketing strategies for the fourth quarter, here are a few key steps for holiday success.

CGT and RIS’ first fully virtual event was a three-day experience packed full of inspiring keynotes, and educational content, as well as fun virtual social events to capture the in-person networking experience online. Get a full recap of every session and learn how you can still get all the content.

Retail is, by nature, a world defined and powered by its predictable structure and routine. But with store operations limited and revenue streams cut off, retailers are forced to find another way forward.

The past six months have been a trying time for many retailers and satisfying customers has become a difficult feat under the circumstances. Learn which 7 retailers are still meeting customer expectations in this special COVID-19 customer satisfaction ranking based on interviews with 30,787 customers from April to September.

Kroger shoppers can now get online recipe ingredients matched with the correct and currently available products at each Kroger store, thanks to artificial intelligence. Get the details.

Discover why the 2020 holiday season may be the ultimate balancing act for many retailers.

Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co, has opened the first JBL-branded retail store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. See how the shop is offering consumers a hands-on experience with the brand’s audio products.

Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co, has opened the first JBL-branded retail store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. See how the shop is offering consumers a hands-on experience with the brand’s audio products.

When it comes to grocery fulfillment, Walmart tops the list for buy-online-pickup-in-store services, while Sam’s Club ranked first for curbside pickup. Find out which other retailers are highly ranked and which parts of the experience matter most.

Walgreens Boots Alliance said it will relaunch its customer loyalty program as myWalgreens in November, as part of its mass personalization efforts. Get the latest on the retailer's technology transformation.

Levi Strauss & Co. is investing in its digital transformation with AI and data analytics tech, as it plans to open around 100 smaller footprint stores in the U.S. Uncover how Levi’s is reimagining the store experience and what its new NextGen store concept entails.

Amazon’s annual Prime Day discount event is here and is predicted to bring in $6.17 billion in sales in the U.S. However, plenty of retailers are primed to compete. Get Prime Day predictions and uncover how the holiday selling season is kicking off.

Dollar General will launch a new retail store concept this fall, dubbed popshelf, in which around 95% of the assortment will be priced at $5 or less. Get a look at the look of the new discount store.

In her keynote presentation “Future Retail: Where Do We Go From Here?” Sucharita Kodali, VP, principal analyst, Forrester, gave an insightful overview of retail trends relevant to both retail and brand professionals, citing data throughout. Learn her predictions and recommendations.

Amazon has launched digital gift guides and exclusive storefronts ahead of its annual Prime Day event. Learn how it's aiming to make e-commerce holiday shopping easier and the role its Alexa voice commerce tech will play.

Walmart is selling its supermarket chain Asda for $8.8 billion and has revealed a new store design it's rolling out this year. Get the latest on the digitally enabled shopping experience and the deal for the UK supermarket chain.

Under the leadership of former Target executive Mark Tritton, Bed Bath & Beyond reported its first comp growth since its fiscal 2016. Learn how new retail technology continues to help the retailer transform and capture new customers.