Deep Dive: Page 4

Industry insights from our journalists


  • The arms of a person wearing a striped shirt can be seen taking an envelope out of a box filled with clothes.
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    Courtesy of Stitch Fix
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    Stitch Fix to stylists: 'Take ownership of the disappointment, no matter the role the data played'

    Is the apparel e-retailer a tech company? Or not?

    Daphne Howland • May 9, 2022
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    For furniture retail, supply chain chaos has become 'normalized'

    As category players extend lead times and amass inventory to manage delays, they're also building sourcing relationships beyond China and Vietnam.

    Ben Unglesbee • April 25, 2022
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    "Guess Jeans Label" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Guess' Paul Marciano problem is shining a spotlight on boards

    The brand's co-founder remains, while its board of directors is slammed by an activist investor and sued by victims over his alleged sexual crimes.

    Daphne Howland • April 14, 2022
  • Interior of Lego store.
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    Courtesy of Lego
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    Brick by brick: How Lego continues to build a toy empire

    The retailer celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. And with over $8 billion in sales and IP deals that leverage pop culture, it shows no signs of slowing down.

    Kaarin Moore • March 28, 2022
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    Anthony Kwan via Getty Images
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    Can brands stay safe in the metaverse?

    As marketers explore how the metaverse fits into their strategy, brand safety should be top of mind.

    Sara Karlovitch • March 24, 2022
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    roshinio via Getty Images
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    How does Gen Z feel about credit cards? It's complicated.

    Each generation has approached credit differently; Gen Z is no exception. As they turn toward credit cards, industry analysts say these consumers are likely to keep card companies on their toes.

    Caitlin Mullen • March 22, 2022
  • Against a blue sky, a street lamp to the side of a large department store building.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Can Macy's hit the private label bull's-eye?

    Hiring former Target designers is a sign the department store is serious about its promise to overhaul its own brands. But that won't be enough.

    Daphne Howland • March 21, 2022
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    Oli Scarff via Getty Images
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    Amazon is slowing down its fulfillment center spend. What's next?

    Heightened demand put Amazon's distribution buildout into overdrive. To speed up delivery and limit costs, it will have to invest more.

    Max Garland • March 18, 2022
  • After nearly 2 decades of decline, what's next for office supplies stores?

    Home offices are booming. The retailers that specialize in stocking them are not.

    Ben Unglesbee • March 17, 2022
  • Forever 21's metaverse venture lets Roblox players customize virtual fashion stores
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    Courtesy of Virtual Brand Group
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    Should more retailers be on Roblox?

    The platform is used by millions of tweens daily. And ignoring it may cost brands loyalty, revenue and a future audience. 

    Kaarin Moore • Feb. 17, 2022
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    What the Amazon union do-over in Alabama means for the future of retail

    U.S. consumers, especially younger ones, harbor new expectations about the workplace that businesses may not be able to ignore.

    Daphne Howland • Feb. 14, 2022
  • Kohl's launched drive-up service during the coronavirus pandemic.
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    Courtesy of Kohl's media gallery
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    Kohl's has location, partnerships and a savvy CEO: Why isn't that enough?

    Despite the department store's turnaround efforts, activist investors are insisting on dramatic change, including a sale.

    Daphne Howland • Feb. 3, 2022
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    Thomas Lohnes / Stringer via Getty Images
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    The path forward for fashion's sustainable future may be affordability

    Sustainability sells, but how can retailers market around the trendy topic when eco-friendly products are often inaccessible to the average consumer?

    Natalie Black (Koltun) • Feb. 2, 2022
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Supply chains were made to be broken. Will the industry fix them?

    All kinds of things can go wrong with long, complicated networks of firms spanning the globe and often concentrated by geography. Last year, it all went wrong. 

    Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 31, 2022
  • Self-checkout area Safeway store at 415 14th Street, SE, Washington, D.C., on Aug. 11, 2020. Store opened Aug. 12, 2020.
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    Sam Silverstein/Retail Dive
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    Automation beckons retailers as labor challenges endure

    Technologies like self-checkout and ordering kiosks are offering relief to grocers unable to hire enough workers to handle essential functions.

    Sam Silverstein • Jan. 25, 2022
  • Ulta shop-in-shop at Target
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Are Sephora and Ulta on a collision course?

    Signs point to yes. Here's what the retailers' new shop-in-shop partnerships mean for their own competition and the rest of the space.

    Cara Salpini • Jan. 18, 2022
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    How Macy's set out to conquer the department store business — and lost

    At the dawn of the 21st century, the 160-year-old retailer expanded amid the sector's steep decline. What now?

    Daphne Howland • Jan. 10, 2022
  • Containers wait to be picked up by trucks at the Port of Los Angeles.
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    10 retail trends to watch in 2022

    Last year upended some trends and accelerated others. What will 2022 bring for retailers?

    Daphne Howland, Ben Unglesbee, Cara Salpini, Kaarin Moore, Caroline Jansen and Maria Monteros • Jan. 4, 2022
  • Person with a mask on looks into a store window while holding shopping bags.
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    andreswd via Getty Images
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    With omicron landing in the US, do retailers actually need the vaccine mandate?

    The National Retail Federation won a stay against the government's plan to have big companies immunize or test their employees. That squanders a chance to thwart the pandemic, experts say.

    Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2021
  • The boarded up entrance of a Saks Fifth Avenue Men's store.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive/Retail Dive
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    This DC neighborhood used to be synonymous with high-end shopping. Now it's mostly abandoned.

    Friendship Heights was once known for luxury retail in the Washington, D.C. area, but retail options have dwindled.

    Julia Himmel • Nov. 22, 2021
  • Image of Giant Food app showing loyalty program information
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    Courtesy of Giant Food
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    Grocers chase the promise of e-commerce personalization

    Customization tools like shoppable recipes and product recommendations are helping consumers cut through the clutter of center store. But retailers are only scratching the surface of what's possible.

    Sam Silverstein • Nov. 18, 2021
  • There may be more 'teeth' coming to board diversity efforts. What does that mean for retail?

    Nasdaq's diversity disclosure rule could be just the beginning as investors increasingly expect retailers to diversify their boards.

    Cara Salpini • Nov. 18, 2021
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    400tmax via Getty Images
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    Stock buybacks are back, baby

    The largest retailers are spending fortunes repurchasing their own shares. Taxpayers are footing part of the bill while workers and investment may be suffering.

    Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 15, 2021
  • Nike House of Innovation New York storefront
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    Courtesy of Nike
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    These traditional brands are shifting to a DTC model. Here's how.

    Athletics retailers are in some ways leading this shift, but brands across the industry are doubling down on the model to grow margins.

    Cara Salpini • Nov. 11, 2021
  • Nordstrom holiday campaign 2021
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    Courtesy of Nordstrom
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    Is the fun ever coming back to holiday shopping?

    The joy of the season wasn't as prevalent last year. With the continued threat of the pandemic and rise of e-commerce, it hasn't fully returned this year either.

    Cara Salpini • Nov. 8, 2021