Four of the major U.S. mid-tier and mass retailers are launching new beauty concepts, three this month and one in the fall. All have in common a focus on younger shoppers, synergies between in-store and online executions, and an emphasis on products for consumers of all ethnicities. The goal is to capture new consumers at […]
Archive | Retail
Second-Hand Shopping
Platforms that facilitate the donation and purchase of gently used, “pre-loved” clothing represent one key part of the circular fashion eco-system, along with other post-first-sale techniques such as recycling, upcycling, and rental. In the past month alone, several fashion brands and retailers have made moves to strengthen their position in the second-hand sales space: Luxury […]
A High Point for Low-Priced Craft Supplies
The arts and crafts segment proved to be one of the beneficiaries of the pandemic-driven stay-at-home era—as measured by increased sales levels—thanks to families looking for things for their kids to do while in isolation and adults using their unexpected leisure time to try a new craft or revisit a hobby they had abandoned. It […]
Going Home
The fast-fashion sector, which was built on low-priced, in-and-out collections that have been perceived almost as disposable, has been one of the most distressed in all of retail. Not only were many chains impacted, like the rest of the apparel industry, by consumers turning away from fashion during the COVID stay-at-home orders. They also face […]
Taste of Japan
Boxes of food—DIY meal kits, restaurant takeaway meals, and direct-to-consumer gift boxes filled with treats—have gained traction during the pandemic, thanks to their convenience, simplicity, and experiential characteristics. In the past couple of months, a mini-trend has emerged within this segment as purveyors of Japanese food in the U.S., U.K., and Europe have paired with […]
Eating Out, At Home
The challenges faced by restaurants during COVID-19, especially those that do not have strong take-out, curbside, or delivery infrastructures in place, have been well-documented. Perhaps that is why there has been a flurry of announcements about new retail brand extensions—most often in the form of licensing deals—into the food and beverage category in the past […]
A Weapon in the Chicken Sandwich Wars
Quick-service restaurants specializing in fried chicken, not to mention other fast-food chains including hamburger, taco, and pizza specialists, have introduced chicken sandwiches to great fanfare over the past couple of years, leading to the current so-called “chicken sandwich wars.” Experts trace the start of the war to a skirmish between an early Popeyes sandwich and […]
Crafting a New Future
Craft and hobby retailers, for the most part, have seen positive sales results during the pandemic, which has spurred consumers to try new DIY pastimes and/or renew their interest in past creative hobbies. Crafts and DIY activities had already been on the upswing for some time before the crisis began, thanks in part to the […]
Celebrities Crave QSR Tie-Ins
For quick-service restaurants, the past six months have represented somewhat of a golden age of celebrity tie-ins, as more and more athletes, musicians, influencers, and gamers have entered into promotional partnerships with fast food restaurants. Each initiative is unique, with some skewing toward the endorsement end of the spectrum, some being meal-centric, and others highlighting […]
Denim DTRs
In the last two weeks, three of the biggest names in blue jeans announced they had signed deals to extend their brands into new categories with the help of leading retailers. All of the agreements put a premium on sustainability: On January 29, Levi Strauss & Co. said it was partnering with Target to launch […]