Neela Montgomery will step down as Crate & Barrel CEO effective Aug. 1, making her the retailer's third chief executive to step down in the past six years. During her tenure, she has overseen the retailer's omnichannel integration, growth of the sister brand CB2 and the creation of The Table at Crate restaurant.
Kroger Health, the health care division of Kroger, has obtained emergency use authorization from the FDA for a COVID-19 at-home testing kit, which it will initially offer to its front-line workers in 14 states. The tests, a partnership with Gravity Diagnostics, produce results within 72 hours and Kroger has set a goal of processing 60,000 tests a week by the end of this month.
Almost all of Macy's stores have reopened, most with reduced hours and all with safety precautions in place, CEO Jeff Gennette said. The retailer, which reported a $3.1 billion charge in the first quarter related to the pandemic, could adjust store reopenings in some areas where the coronavirus cases are on the rise, but it doesn't expect another full shutdown, he said.
Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison grew up the son of sharecroppers and is now one of just four Black Fortune 500 CEOs, and his firsthand experience of racism has driven his commitment to create more diversity in corporate America, he said during a virtual conversation hosted by NRF. He has increased the number of Black executives at Lowe's, and urges other CEOs and companies to "talk less and do more" to fight racism and increase diversity.
Stop overpaying for address autocomplete Retailers like Michaels and DICK'S Sporting Goods are switching to Radar for address autocomplete and address validation, saving up to 90%. Radar's address autocomplete APIs are part of Radar Maps Platform, the cost-effective, all-in-one alternative to Google Maps and Mapbox.
The coronavirus pandemic has permanently altered Ulta Beauty's customer experience, with the journey often beginning online where a stronger connection is being built with the individual and the brick-and-mortar visit, according to Ulta executive Karla Davis. "The shift to content is a key element of how we show up and really making sure that people aren't seeing us just as commerce and as a last place to go to purchase, but how do they engage with us across their journey in a much more tangible and real and engaging way," she said.
Fireworks sellers are reporting sales growth of up to 300% ahead of July Fourth, as consumers plan for at-home celebrations to replace canceled public displays, American Pyrotechnics Association President Julie Heckman said. Reports of fireworks in cities -- both where they're illegal and legal -- have been rising since May, when sellers kicked off summer sales.
Mall owner Brookfield will team with Fit:Match to start installing contactless 3D body scanners at some malls this fall. The machines gauge customers' sizes in different clothing styles and brands, giving them a way to avoid fitting rooms during the pandemic.
Creating safe shopping experiences, ensuring employees are taken care of and serving the local community are hallmarks that make Lowe's a "good corporate citizen," President and CEO Marvin Ellison said during a discussion in NRF's Retail Leadership Series. Ellison discussed Lowe's action-oriented business model across all levels and departments, encouraging leaders to replicate the retailer's model "to talk less and do more" to ensure effective change and productivity within a company. Watch the full interview.
Albertsons Companies ranks at No. 10 on NRF's annual report on the Top 100 Retailers. The Boise-based grocer has undertaken initiatives designed to make the store shopping experience more pleasant for customers and saw a significant increase in supermarket sales led by the coronavirus pandemic this year. Read more.
McDonald's will put a three-week waiting period in place before it reopens any more of its US restaurants to dine-in traffic amid a surge in new coronavirus cases in some parts of the country. About 15%, or 2,200 of the chain's 14,000 units, had reopened their dining rooms before Wednesday's announcement.
