Ulta Beauty reported a 9.3% increase in first-quarter same-store sales as growth in customer traffic and mass beauty and skin care sales offset smaller basket sizes and fewer prestige beauty purchases. CEO Dave Kimbell said the retailer has implemented anti-theft measures as organized retail crime has become more common and noted that the beauty sector typically resists economic slumps.
How to create a customer-first checkout experience
Did you know that nearly 70% of consumers abandon their carts in online stores? Want to know what customers want in a checkout experience that can turn them from a shopper into a customer? Get the guide and find out.
Ten pets whose owners submit the best adventure stories will win customizable road trips in PetSmart's promotion of Arcadia Trail outdoor adventure gear. The Arcadia Trail line is designed for people and pets to enjoy the outdoors together, with products like a quick-drying harness and an inflatable dog raft.
Efforts including clearing overstocks, cutting supply chain costs, reconfiguring some management roles and closing underperforming stores helped Gap shore up its bottom line in the first quarter, despite a dip in sales across its retail banners. In addition to its namesake stores, Gap's portfolio includes Athleta, Banana Republic and Old Navy.
Nike has promoted four senior leaders in a bid to sustain brand momentum and deepen integration companywide. Heidi O'Neill has been named president for consumer, product and brand; Craig Williams is president for geographies and marketplace; Sarah Mensah will be president of the Jordan Brand; and Scott Uzzell will be vice president of geographies and marketplace in North America.
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Kroger is marking Memorial Day with special meal bundles and promotions for summer items like propane tanks and sunscreen, while Fresh Thyme Market has discounted grilling essentials like Angus steaks, pepper jack cheese slices and sweet corn. To honor fallen troops, SpartanNash has rolled out a fundraiser to benefit Honor and Remember, Operation Homefront and Convoy of Hope, and Kroger has donated more than $41 million to the United Services Organizations.
Direct-to-consumer bedding brand Parachute's experiential stores are smaller and feature more curated collections than shoppers find in big-box home goods stores, founder and CEO Ariel Kaye said. Parachute's higher-spending customers tend to be the ones who shop in-store first, said Kaye, who announced the opening of the brand's 27th store.
Win Gen Z with rewards they love Fetch, America's Rewards App, is the platform Gen Z uses to explore new products, decide what to buy and share their rewards journey with friends. With Gen Z comprising 30% of the app’s user base, and as the stickiest shopping app for the demographic, the platform is an indispensable partner for brands to develop and nurture lifetime consumer relationships.
Learn more about how Fetch helps brands find, win and retain Gen Z consumers. Read the infographic.
In order to attract a younger customer base, Tailored Brands has been testing and adopting new tech to elevate the customer journey, including the Wedding Wingman digital wedding planner and an AR smart mirror. NRF contributor Bruce Horovitz spoke with Chief Technology Officer Scott Vifquain about Tailored Brands' technology strategy and plans for the future. Read more.
NRF's calculation of April retail sales reflects sporting goods stores were down 3.3% month over month seasonally adjusted and down 9.1% unadjusted year over year. Source: NRF.
Retail theft is a growing concern among communities and NRF's numbers show retail loss is a $100 billion problem. Organized retail crime also poses a serious threat to the safety of workers and customers who are met with violence during the act of the crime. Read more on the difference between ORC and shoplifting and what retailers are doing to stop ORC.
Improved staffing levels have cut the wait time for customers at Red Robin restaurants, with 2% reporting wait times beyond 15 minutes in the first quarter compared to about 10% a year ago, the company said. The improvement is part of a larger turnaround plan under new CEO G.J. Hart that also includes kitchen equipment improvements and supply chain efficiencies.
