Kohl's stresses newness, discovery with store changes | Best Buy entices brands with first-party data offerings | Sources: Potential Barneys buyer in licensing talks with Saks
Kohl's is making changes ahead of the holidays with the watchword "newness" in mind, from new private-label lines to a collection of select new brands dubbed Curated by Kohl's that will roll out to 50 stores. "We feel strongly that we want to become more known for discovery...it's more opportune to launch new brands," Chief Merchandising Officer Doug Howe said.
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.
Best Buy is enticing more brands to utilize its first-party data by highlighting its 1.5 billion annual customer website interactions, 2 million visitors each day and potential interest-and-behavior-based targeting, writes Kristina Monllos. Its niche technology focus compared to Target, Amazon and Walmart "may limit the pool of advertisers the company will be able to woo," however, Monllos adds.
Authentic Brands Group's proposed acquisition of Barneys New York for approximately $270 million includes a plan to license the Barneys brand to Saks Fifth Avenue, sources said. The deal could reportedly include opening Barneys-branded departments in some Saks stores, and Saks could also operate the Barneys e-commerce site while Authentic Brands would run the Barneys stores.
Luxury conglomerate LVMH's division called LVMH Luxury Ventures focuses on discovering emerging brands that help keep the company's portfolio fresh. Its most recent investment is in Los Angeles-based Madhappy, whose premium-priced sweats and T-shirts with optimistic messages are resonating with aspirational millennials and members of Gen Z, Pamela Danziger writes.
Increase your retail acumen The right tech can boost customer experience with personalization and data. Are you aware of what technology is being used to succeed in retail? Learn how to harness the power of emerging technology. Register Now.
Most of ALDI's customers say the grocer is simpler to shop than other supermarkets, carrying only the most popular varieties of particular items, according to a Kantar study. The study also revealed that nine out of 10 ALDI shoppers believe the retailer is more cost-effective than other stores.
Travel retail is on the rise around the world, fueled by big-spending Chinese tourists and growing demand for beauty products, according to Generation Research. Total travel retail sales grew 12.9% to $79 billion last year, and beauty sales in the channel grew 23%.
German discount supermarket chain Lidl is preparing to launch online grocery sales, according to published reports. Lidl's current UK site isn't set up for e-commerce, but the grocer's major competitors in the UK offer online ordering and delivery.
Startups including Standard Cognition, Zippin and Veeve are developing cashierless checkout systems at brick-and-mortar stores in a bid to challenge Amazon Go stores. Veeve's technology totals shoppers' purchases inside of a smart cart, while Standard Cognition and Zippin rely on advanced cameras and machine learning to charge customers.
Retailers were encouraged by news that the US and China had announced a tentative trade deal and that a tariff increase scheduled for Tuesday has been delayed. "We urge both sides to stay at the negotiating table with the goal of lifting all tariffs and fundamentally resetting US-China trade relations," said David French, NRF's senior vice president for government relations.
NRF forecasts that 2019 holiday sales will grow between 3.8% and 4.2% over 2018 to between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion. NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz joins this episode of NRF's Retail Gets Real podcast to discuss what's behind those numbers and the state of the economy heading into the holidays. Listen and subscribe.
The luggage industry is in a major shakeup as both new brands and established companies adapt to consumer expectations with pop-up stores and collaborations with cutting-edge designers. Read more from NRF's STORES magazine on how Rimowa and Crash Baggage are providing luxury, playfulness and innovation. Read more.
Taco Bell's seventh annual "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" campaign is enabling fans to bet real money on which World Series player will steal the first base through a partnership with Roar Digital's BetMGM. The push features a 15-second spot, free Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos once the first base has been stolen and Taco Bell's Will Bortz says, "We can't wait to see fans engage with the program like never before and, of course, we're excited to see if their predictions come true."
